Policy Statement for Playpen Accessories

February 26^th, 2010

Mechanical and Electrical Hazards Division
Consumer Product Safety Bureau

Scope

The purpose of this document is to provide information and recommendations concerning the safety of playpen accessories. This information applies to all playpens sold, imported or advertised in Canada.

Notes

In the United States, playpens are sometimes referred to as "play yards" or "non-full size baby cribs".

Definition

For the purpose of this policy, Health Canada defines a "playpen accessory" as a framed apparatus that attaches to the main frame of a playpen. Playpen accessories include, but are not limited to, the following: bassinets, change tables, canopies and mobiles. Playpen accessories do not include the following:

• items that hang outside the occupant areas, such as organizers and storage bags,
• items that attach only to another accessory and not directly to the playpen, and
• canopies that have no rigid frame running alongside any top rail of the playpen.

Background

Due to its structure, location, movement or failure, a playpen accessory may expose a playpen's occupant to a number of possible hazards, including openings that present an entrapment hazard.

Hazards

Between 1996 and 2009, Health Canada's Consumer Product Safety Bureau has received 8 complaints related to playpen accessories, including 3 deaths. In 2005, a one year old baby died when its head became trapped between the top rail of a playpen and the bottom rail of a change table that was attached to the playpen. In November 2008, a 7 week old infant died after being placed to sleep on a playpen change table accessory. Most recently in February 2009, a two month old infant died in a bassinet accessory, where the child had been placed to sleep with blankets and a stuffed toy. Other reported incidents included falls from bassinet accessories.

Current Legislation

Under the authority granted by the Hazardous Products Act, the Playpens Regulations were issued in 1976 for the purpose of reducing accidental injuries or deaths, which might occur in playpens. The regulations address entanglement hazards related to the size of the openings in any mesh walls and any catchpoints on the product.

Furthermore, in addition to containing requirements pertaining to the product's latching and locking mechanisms and overall product stability, the regulations dictate requirements concerning the following hazards: flammability, accessibility, choking, strangulation, scissoring, shearing, pinching, as well as finger and toe entrapment.

The Playpens Regulations do not address playpen accessories, such as removable bassinets or change table inserts. Typically, these accessories are attached to the top of a playpen and are not intended to be used when a child is in the playpen.

However, despite manufacturer warnings to the contrary, caregivers might leave these accessories in place while the child user is in the playpen.

Recommendations

In order to further protect the safety of children, Health Canada recommends that playpen retailers, importers and advertisers meet the applicable sections of the ASTM International Standard for playpens (play yards) with regards to playpen attachments. Specifically, playpens sold, imported or advertised in Canada should meet the specifications outlined in the following sections of ASTM's F406-08a Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Non-Full Size Baby Cribs/Play Yards:

• 5.16 Entrapment in Attachments
  • 5.16.1
  • 5.16.2
  • 5.16.3 Rationale
• 8.21 Entrapment Tests

As well, Health Canada recommends bassinet accessories be tested for structural solidity. Thus, every part of the mattress support of a bassinet should be capable of supporting a load of 24 kg uniformly distributed over an area of 2.3 × 10⁴ mm² for a period of one minute without causing any damage to any component of the bassinet.

Additionally, the following warnings, in both official languages, should be indelibly printed on, or otherwise permanently affixed to, the accessory in a conspicuous location:

Furthermore, specifically concerning bassinet inserts, Health Canada recommends that the upper surface of the mattress support of a bassinet should be at least 230 mm lower than the upper most surface of the lowest stationary side of the playpen to which it is attached.

Any warnings or precautions provided on the playpen accessory (or in its accompanying material) serve as supplementary safety information targeted to the caregiver.

However, on their own, these warnings or precautions do not yield a sufficient level of safety to the occupant of the playpen. Therefore, Health Canada is making the recommendations stated above. Companies are expected to ensure that their products and all accessories, sold, imported, and advertised in Canada are safe for consumer use and comply with all regulatory requirements.

Conclusion

In addition to fulfilling all of the mandatory requirements prescribed by the Playpens Regulations, Health Canada also recommends that all playpen accessories advertised, sold or imported in Canada meet the design, testing and labelling specifications outlined in the Recommendations section of this policy. The application of appropriate safety precautions, such as those listed in the Recommendations section, will help reduce the number and severity of injuries to children placed in playpens.