Commission Decision of 2 July 2010 on the safety requirements to be met by European standards for certain products in the sleep environment of children pursuant to Directive 2001/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (2010/376/EU)

SPECIFIC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR SUSPENDED BABY BEDS

RISKS: The main risks associated with the product are entrapment, suffocation and injury due to structural failure and instability.

Safety requirements

1. General safety requirements

Articles shall not jeopardise the safety or health of children when used as intended or in a foreseeable way, bearing in mind the behaviour of children.

The ability of the users and their carers shall be taken into account, in particular for articles which, by virtue of their functions, dimensions and characteristics, are intended for use by children below 12 months.

Labels on articles or on their packaging and the instructions for use which accompany them shall draw the attention of carers to the inherent hazards and risks of harm involved in using the articles and to the way of avoiding them.

2. Specific safety requirements

Chemical requirements

Suspended baby beds shall comply with EU legislation.

Fire and thermal properties

Suspended baby beds shall not pose flammability risks in the child’s environment. They shall be composed of materials which fulfil at least one of the following conditions:

• they do not burn if directly exposed to a flame or spark,

• if they do ignite, they shall burn slowly with a low rate of spread of the flame,

• if they do ignite, they shall burn slowly and shall not produce flaming debris or melting drops.

In addition, combustible materials shall not release toxic fumes during combustion.

The use of chemical flame retardant substances should be kept to the minimum. If chemical flame retardant substances are used, their toxicity during use and end-of-life disposal should not endanger the health of the users, carers and the environment.

Physical and mechanical properties

Entrapment hazards from gaps and openings

Suspended baby beds shall be designed and manufactured in order to prevent any entrapment of the child’s head, fingers, limbs, hands and feet in all type of openings.

Hazards from moving parts

Suspended beds shall be designed to prevent impacts of the child in the bed against the frame or other furniture in the room due to sideway movement.

Suspended beds shall be designed to limit rotation of the bed, for instance when twisted.

Suspended beds shall not constitute a hazard (e.g. entrapment) to other children (e.g. siblings) who may come in contact with the bed.

Falling hazards

The stand and the bed shall be sufficiently stable to prevent accidental tipping over of the suspended bed which could cause the child to fall. Baby beds should remain stable when the child moves in the bed or when the bed swings along the amplitude permitted by the suspension device.

The attachment device shall not become detached from the supporting beam or similar device.

The suspension device including its components shall withstand the movement of the child during use.

Entanglement hazards

There shall be no cords or ribbons in the suspended baby bed that could entangle the child’s neck. The child in the suspended bed shall not be susceptible to becoming entangled in cords and straps from the suspension device and the adjustment device.

Choking and internal suffocation hazards

Suspended beds shall not contain separate or small parts which can be detached by the child, fit completely into a child’s mouth and swallowed.

Suspended beds shall not contain small parts which can be detached by the child and can remain stuck in the pharynx or at the back of the oral cavity. The filling material shall not be accessible and shall withstand stress from foreseeable use by the child (including biting off).

External suffocation hazards

The product shall not comprise plastic decals which could be detached by the child and other impermeable coverings which can cover both the mouth and the nose.

The packaging in which the articles are contained shall not constitute a risk of suffocation caused by obstruction of the external airways. To prevent the risk of suffocation, the product shall not comprise soft materials which can mould to the child’s face or produce indentations which could obstruct the airways.

Hazardous edges

Suspended beds shall not have sharp edges and points. Accessible edges and corners shall be rounded and chamfered.

The product shall not comprise protruding parts on which a child could fall and be injured.

The product shall not comprise points or protruding surfaces that can constitute a puncture hazard.

Structural integrity

Deformation of the suspension device and slipping in the adjustment device shall be limited to prevent falls or impacts from the bed.

Stitching and decorative parts on the suspended baby bed shall not become loose when submitted to mechanical stress from foreseeable use by children and pose a risk of entrapment of limbs, head and fingers.

Movement of the child’s body weight shall not create gaps or modify existing gaps leading to entrapment of the fingers, hands and feet.

To prevent collapse of the suspended baby bed and breaking of components (from stands, attachment device or suspension device) likely to cause physical injury, suspended beds shall withstand the mechanical stress to which they are subject during use for the lifetime of the product.

Specific warnings for the article

Warnings and instructions for use shall draw the attention of carers to the fact that mounting and adjusting the bed safely requires skill. Warnings should also convey the following messages:

• the child may get injured if the amplitude of the swing is excessive (e.g. the child may hit the bed frame, or the bed may hit other furniture),

• suspended beds may pose risks to other children,

• other children may pose additional risks (e.g. by trying to bend over the bed),

• suspended beds should be installed on flat surfaces,

• the use of suspended beds as night-time beds should be discouraged,

• suspended beds should not be used when the child is able to kneel or sit up unaided. The age group suitable for this product (not beyond 12 months) should be clearly indicated.

Hygiene

Suspended beds shall be designed and manufactured in such a way as to be easily and thoroughly cleaned to avoid the risk of infection or contamination.