ASTM International, formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), is a globally recognized leader in the development and delivery of international voluntary consensus standards. Today, some 12,000 ASTM standards are used around the world to improve product quality, enhance safety, facilitate market access and trade, and build consumer confidence.
Just released, an ASTM International standard will cover the emergence of infant sleep products with sleeping surfaces of greater than 10 degrees. The standard (F3118, Consumer Safety Specification for Infant Inclined Sleep Products) addresses issues such as maximum incline angles, side-to-side surface containment, and side height requirements.
The standard will establish safety performance requirements, test methods, and labeling requirements to minimize potential hazards to infants in inclined sleep products. Such products are typically used for infants up to about 5 months of age, or when the infant begins to roll over or pull up on sides. In addition, F3118 provides requirements for variants that are used with other juvenile products such as play yards and variations used only for newborns.
ASTM member Mike Steinwachs, senior manager, quality engineering, Fisher-Price, notes that use of infant inclined sleep products has become popular as parents sometimes feel that babies sleep better on an inclined rather than flat surface. Manufacturers, test labs and retailers will be the principal users of F3118.
To purchase standards, visit www.astm.org and search by the standard designation, or contact ASTM Customer Relations (877-909-ASTM; [email protected]). ASTM welcomes participation in the development of its standards. Become a member at www.astm.org/join.
