Given that babies and toddlers spend most of their time sleeping, ensuring that what they sleep on is safe and of good quality is essential to their healthy development. With increased international trade in children’s mattresses, a new International Standard has just been published to guarantee uniformity of safety and quality worldwide.
ISO 23767, Children’s furniture – Mattresses for cots and cribs – Safety requirements and test methods, provides a reference for manufacturers to ensure quality and safety levels in every market. It covers mattress bases and mattress toppers used in children’s cots, cribs and suspended baby beds.
Safety requirements and test methods
Chenguang Liu, Project Leader for the group of experts who developed the standard, said incorrect dimensions of mattresses or inappropriate materials can pose significant risks to children, particularly when different parts are traded internationally.
“A gap between the mattress and the crib, for example, could be an entrapment hazard, or materials that don’t meet sufficient flammability requirements can increase the risk of catching fire,” he said.
“With populations and trade growing, it is important that the industry has internationally agreed standards for quality and test methods, so that any risk for children is eliminated.”
ISO 23767 was developed by ISO technical committee ISO/TC 136, Furniture, whose secretariat is held by UNI, the ISO member for Italy. It can be purchased from your national ISO member or the ISO Store.