On February 28, new federal safety standards go into effect for infant and toddler play yards.  A play yard is a framed enclosure with a floor and sides of either mesh or fabric. A product that usually can be folded for easier storage and travel.

Manufacturers and importers of infant and toddler play yards will be required to meet these new federal safety standards:

• To prevent a child from strangling, side rails must not form a sharp V when the play yard is folded.
• The play yard must have stronger corner brackets to prevent sharp-edged cracks and to also prevent a side-rail collapse.
• All play yards must now have sturdier mattress attachments to the play yard floor to prevent children from getting trapped or hurt.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has passed these new safety standards as part of the Danny Keysar Child Product Safety Notification Act, better known as “Danny’s Law.”  In Chicago in 1998, Danny Keysar died when a previously recalled play yard collapsed while he was napping, suffocating him.  CPSC passed these new standards to honor Danny and his family.

CPSC advises parents and caregivers who use a play yard for their toddler or infant to keep it bare of items because pillows, stuffed animals, or thick blankets can cause the suffocation deaths of infants.

When using a play yard for your infant or toddler, make sure you set it up properly according to the manufacturers’ directions. Only use the mattress pad provided with the play yard. Do not add extra padding.

And one more very important piece of advice from the CPSC, never place a play yard near a window with blinds, curtain cords, or baby monitor cords, because babies can strangle on cords.

Original article found here.