The US Consumer Product Safety Commission's regulations on toys which
are designed for children under the age of three are mainly concerned
with possible choking and strangulation hazards. Since young children
often place toys and parts of toys in their mouths, the regulations
focus on detachable parts which are small enough that they might block
a child's airway.
I have found no specific prohibition of looped ribbon trim, as you
describe it. Unless the loops are large enough that a child might be
able to thrust his head through one, or the stitching is weak enough
to permit a child to rip off a length of ribbon, there does not seem
to be a hazard here. Please keep in mind that Google Answers is not a
source of authoritative legal advice; this material is intended for
informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for the services
of a qualified legal professional.
As I mentioned, the guidelines for toys do not discuss looped ribbon
trim. However, you should be aware of two recent documents released by
the CPSC. Document #5095 and Documents #5101 caution about the
strangulation danger of long, loose ribbons:
"Strings, cords, necklaces, and other items tied around the neck can
strangle infants. In recent years, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) has received reports of two to three deaths annually
to children under two years old who were strangled by strings, cords,
ribbons, or necklaces around their necks. Most of the deaths involved
pacifiers tied around the child's neck. Many of the others involved
necklaces. Usually, the string, cord, or necklace became caught on
some product such as a crib or playpen. In other cases, the string or
cord became tightly wrapped or twisted around the child's neck.
Never tie pacifiers, necklaces, toys, or other items around a child's
neck. Never leave cords of any kind near an infant. Take off bibs or
other clothing tied around a child's neck before putting the child in
a crib or playpen."
US Consumer Product Safety Commission
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/5095.html
"The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns that
children can strangle if they become entangled in ribbons or streamers
hanging from wall decorations near the crib or within reach of
children. CPSC knows of incidents involving young children who became
entangled in the ribbons of a wall decoration.The padded fabric wall
decoration was hung near the crib where the child could reach the
ribbons and streamers on the decoration.
CPSC recommends that parents keep wall decorations with ribbons or
streamers away from cribs and well out of reach where children play to
prevent entanglement and strangulation."
US Consumer Product Safety Commission
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/5105.html
Here you can read the CPSC's summary of regulations related to toys
for use by children under three:
"A product intended for use by children under three must meet the
requirements of the small parts regulation [16 C.F.R. Part 1501 and
1500.50-53] unless the product is one of those items that is
specifically exempt from the regulation...
Toys and children's products must not have hazardous sharp points (16
C.F.R. 1500.48) or edges (16 C.F.R 1500.49), have paint or any other
similar surface coating that contains more than .06% lead (16 C.F.R.
Part 1303), contain other hazardous chemicals (16
C.F.R.1500.3(a)(15)), or exceed flammability limits (16 C.F.R.
1500.44)."
US Consumer Product Safety Commission: Small Parts Regulations
http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/regsumsmallparts.pdf
If you'd like to read the actual federal regulations for toys and
other articles intended for use by children, you'll find them here:
Consumer Product Safety Commission
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_98/16cfr1500_98.html
For further information, you may want to contact the CPSC directly:
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Compliance
Washington, D.C. 20207
Telephone: (301) 504-0608
Email: sect15@cpsc.gov
Google search strategy:
Google Web Search: "federal" + "regulations" + "toys"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=federal+regulations+toys
I hope this helps. If anything is unclear, or if a link doesn't work
for you, please request clarification; I'll be glad to offer further
assistance before you rate my answer.
Best regards,
pinkfreud |
