WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted (5-0) to issue a final mandatory rule under section 104(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) for infant walkers.
The rule adopts the applicable voluntary industry standard, ASTM F 977-07, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Infant Walkers, and adds the following more stringent requirements:
- using the actual weight of a walker in a calculation to determine the launching distance for the stair fall test,
- specifying equipment used in the stair fall test,
- adding a parking brake test for walkers equipped with parking brakes.
These changes were made to strengthen the standard and reduce the risk of injury from these products. There has been an 88% reduction in injuries from 1994 to 2008, which may be attributed to the addition of a stair fall requirement included in the 1997 version of the ASTM voluntary standard.
The pride of sitting in a “big boy” or “big girl” chair accompanies this cushy, bright and portable booster seat with a raised back for secure seating and lap belt for safety. The POD attaches to a chair with safety straps that clip both under the chair seat and behind the chair back. A wide, non-skid bottom keeps the POD solidly in its place; six color combinations make a decorative statement. One tester claims that her son likes his boosterPOD so much that now he won’t go near his former, hard plastic booster seat!
“This is great for visiting grandma or a friend’s house who wouldn’t have a high chair.”
