The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a final rule, effective September 29, 2014, adopting a voluntary industry standard for soft infant and toddler carriers.
Defining such carriers as wearable, fabric products designed to carry a full-term infant or toddler upright and close to the caregiver, the agency notes that the new standard addresses several falling-related and other safety hazards associated with the products, including fastener problems, large leg openings, stitching and seam problems, and slippery straps. Between September 11, 2012, and July 15, 2013, the agency received 31 infant-carrier related incident reports, including two fatalities. See Federal Register, March 28, 2014.
