This mandatory standard applies to baby walkers, which support the child to move around before they've learned to walk.
About baby walkers
The mandatory standard for baby walkers applies to devices that are:
- comprised of a frame on wheels
- designed to support, inside the frame, a child with its feet touching the ground and who has not yet learned to walk
- propelled by the movement of a child.
It is often supplied with a variety of attached interactive toys.
Its primary purpose is to support an infant as the child moves around in a standing position within the frame.
Baby walkers are intended for children who have not yet learned to walk.
The mandatory standard covers design, construction, performance and labelling requirements for baby walkers.
Mandatory standard
Consumer Protection Notice No.1 of 2013 sets out the mandatory requirements for baby walkers.
This mandatory standard is based on certain sections of the American standard ASTM F977-12 ‘Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Infant Walkers’
You must consult the mandatory standard for these details.
Key requirements
The listed requirements aim to give suppliers a general idea of what is required by the mandatory standard. Suppliers must not rely on this information as a complete guide to compliance.
Design and construction
A baby walker must have a braking mechanism to stop it falling down steps and stairs.
Performance
Baby walkers must comply with the mandatory standard performance requirements as specified in clauses 6.1, 6.3 and test methods in Clauses 7.3 and 7.6 of ASTM F 977-12.
Clause 6.1 specifies tests for baby walkers to resist tipping over an obstacle and to resist tipping over when a child leans out of the baby walker. Clause 7.3 is the testing method.
Clause 6.3 specifies testing the braking mechanism to prevent the baby walker falling down stairs. Clause 7.6 is the testing method.
Labelling
Clause 8.2 specifies the labelling requirements.
Label 1
The warning statement must be:
- in contrasting colour(s)
- permanent
- conspicuous
- in sans serif style font, and
- have a safety alert symbol.
The word WARNING must be at least 5 mm high and the rest of the words must be in letters at least 2.5 mm high.
For example:
If the baby walker has a parking brake:
In the stairs warning, the safety alert symbol and the word ‘WARNING’ must be at least 5 mm high and must be black lettering on an orange background surrounded by a black border. The rest of the words must be characters whose upper case is at least 2.5 mm high and must be black lettering on a white background.
Additional warning labels
There are additional warnings that must appear on the walker:
- Use only on flat surfaces free of objects that could cause the walker to tip over.
- To avoid burns, keep the child away from hot liquids, ranges, radiators, space heaters, fireplaces, etc.
- Warning: Parking brake use does not totally prevent walker movement. Always keep child in view when in the walker, even when using the parking brakes (only for baby walkers equipped with a parking brake).
The safety alert symbol isn’t required for these additional warnings and the wording doesn’t have to be exactly as it appears above. The mandatory standard only requires that suppliers address these hazards. However, the wording in the additional warnings must be:
- at least 2.5 mm high
- in contrasting colours
- permanent
- conspicuous
- in sans serif style font.
