Standards

How To: Padded Products Registration

by on March 12, 2021 with No Comments

We sat down with Maggie Terry, president of Legal Label Inc., to get clarification on the law label requirements for padded and upholstered products in the USA and Canada and we’re sharing that information here. A “law label” is a label that must be attached to products that have covered padding- including soft structured or otherwise padded baby carriers. This label outlines what the internal stuffing or padding is made of, where the product is produced, and the ‘URN’ or … Read More

Baby Carrier Manufacturing 101

by on April 4, 2019 with No Comments

This post was originally written in 2013, and has been reviewed and updated in 2022. At the bottom of this article you’ll find a link to our baby carrier manufacturing guide to the US market.  Baby carrier manufacturing overview The rules about baby carrier manufacturing are complex in some countries. One of the things we do most at the BCIA is support members who make baby carriers in understanding and complying with regulations in a variety of countries. Baby carriers, … Read More

Customized Carriers, Accessories & Embellishments

by on April 4, 2019 with No Comments

Updated Sept 2018 We’ve been seeing a lot of aftermarket accessories and customized carrier add-ons on the market lately. We are also seeing embellished, beaded or decorated wraps and carriers coming directly from manufacturers. A lot of it is beautifully crafted; but is it safe? First and foremost, we want to make sure that these accessories do not compromise the safety of the product or introduce hazards that would not otherwise exist. Here are some very general guidelines, whether you … Read More

Sling Safety Standard Public Comment

by on April 4, 2019 with No Comments

The CPSC public comment period for the Sling Safety Standard has created quite the flurry of concern in our industry. Many are looking for constructive ways to comment, show their support for the industry and generally get a handle on the issues at hand. Many of the comments that have already been submitted are very harmful to our industry as a whole, and the sling product category in particular (slings, wraps, pouches, carrier shirts). This cannot be stressed strongly enough- … Read More

How To: Lending Library and Rental Program Best Practice Guidelines

by on April 4, 2019 with No Comments

There has been much discussion about how to work with babywearing groups and libraries in a way that best supports valuable peer-to-peer education and outreach while also reducing liability to manufacturers, retailers and educators alike. BCIA has discussed the issues with manufacturers, retailers, educators and international sling library/group leaders within the industry. We have also consulted with a number of insurance brokers/experts and legal counsel to put together the following guidelines. The following information are general guidelines only and are … Read More

Sling Standard Statement

by on April 4, 2019 with No Comments

Statement in Response to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Approving a Final Rule for Infant Slings. The Baby Carrier Industry Alliance (BCIA) is a US-based, registered non-profit trade association which exists to represent manufacturers, retailers and educators in the baby carrier industry. As an alliance of industry leaders, our mission is to promulgate standards across the industry, promote educational outreach, and help small businesses comply with regulations and best practices. The BCIA has been instrumental in the creation … Read More

AGM Recap

by on April 4, 2019 with No Comments

A recap for those who couldn’t attend the BCIA 2018 AGM on Wednesday, Nov 28. Apologies for the lack of recording, technology thwarted us. Welcome Board of Directors Introduction new members: Alisa DeMarco of Tekhni (USA), Tina Hoffmann of DIDYMOS (Germany), Kristi Hayes-Devlin, Columbus Trading Partners (USA)- Kristi is taking on the role of BCIA secretary (Kristi is also the BCIA founder and is returning to the BoD after a few years away). returning member: Beth Warrell-Leistensider of Catbird Baby … Read More

NEISS Data: CPSC-Compiled Incident Reports 2010-2015

by on June 5, 2016 with No Comments

NEISS data capturing incidents recorded 2010-2015 as compiled by the CPSC (US-based incidents only). Please note, you will notice products which are not from our industry incorrectly captured in this data (ie. backpacks, handheld carriers etc). The CPSC also does not at this time differentiate between slings and soft carriers in terms of incident categorization. BCIA summary of data:

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