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Pacifier
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What is the purpose of the pacifier rule?
This
rule keeps babies from choking or suffocating on pacifiers.
What is a pacifier?
A
pacifier is an article with a nipple intended for a young child to suck on, but
that is not designed to help a baby obtain fluid. A pacifier usually has a
guard or shield at the base of the nipple that keeps the pacifier from being
sucked completely into a child’s mouth. It also has a handle or ring, usually
on the other side of the guard or shield from the nipple that is used to hold or
grasp the pacifier.
What does the pacifier rule require?
The rule
requires that
(1) the
shield not be so small or flexible that it can be sucked into a child’s mouth;
(2) the
a pacifier have no handles or other protrusions, that are long enough to force
the pacifier into the child’s mouth if the child falls or lies on its face;
(3)
pacifiers are labeled to warn caregivers not to tie the pacifier around the
child’s neck.
(4) a
pacifier not produce small parts when tested.
How do you test a pacifier's guard or shield to make
sure it can't suffocate a child?
Center
the nipple in opening in the pacifier test fixture. Pull on the nipple
gradually until you reach a force of 2 lbs. Hold the 2-lb. force for 10
seconds. If the shield pulls completely through the fixture, the pacifier
fails.
Are there any other requirements for shields and guards?
The
pacifier guard or shield must have at least two holes, one on either side of
the nipple. Each hole must be at least 0.2 inches wide and cannot be closer
than 0.2 inch from the outside edge of the shield or guard.
These
holes allow a child to continue breathing even if the child sucks the pacifier
guard into his or her mouth.
What does the standard say about protrusions?
Parts
cannot stick out more than 0.63 inches from the face of the guard or shield on
the side opposite the nipple. To test for a protrusion, clamp the pacifier by its
nipple so that it will not move. Place an object with flat surface, such as a
piece of wood or hard plastic, directly on any handle, ring, or other part that
protrudes from the shield or guard on the other side of
the
nipple. Gradually push the object toward the nipple, allowing the protrusion
you are testing to bend or, if it is a hinged handle or ring, to move. Make
sure that you apply the force in the direction that follows the length of the
nipple. Once you reach a force of two pounds, measure the distance between
guard or shield and the surface of the test object.
Are there other requirements for pacifier strength?
Yes.
There is a pull test. The pacifier must not come apart if you hold the handle
or guard and gradually pull on the nipple in any possible direction for 5
seconds until you reach 10 pounds. Hold that force for 10 more seconds. The
handle or ring must pass the same test. Both the nipple and the handle or ring
must also pass these same tests after the pacifier has been boiled and cooled
six times. Boiling the pacifier simulates how parents sterilize pacifiers in
the home.
If any
pieces come off during the pull tests, test the parts to see if they fit entirely
into the "small parts" test cylinder. The cylinder approximates the size
of a child's throat. If any part fits, the pacifier is banned because a child
could choke on the part.
Are there any other requirements for pacifiers?
Yes. To
prevent a child from strangling, a pacifier cannot be sold or distributed with
any ribbon, string, cord, chain, twine, leather, yarn or similar attachment. In
addition, pacifier packages must be clearly labeled on the front “Warning- Do
Not Tie Pacifier Around Child’s Neck as it Presents a Strangulation Danger.”
Does CPSC have any other requirements that apply to
pacifiers?
Yes.
Pacifiers may not have sharp points or edges or be painted with paint that
contains more than 0.06% lead. (See 16 CFR 1500.48, 16 CFR 1500.49 and 16 CFR
1303)
Are there any standards for chemical hazards?
The
Commission has no mandatory standards addressing chemical hazards. ASTM F963,
the Standard Consumer Safety Specification on Toy Safety, Pacifiers, Section
4.22 addresses cancer risks in rubber nipples by providing that these nipples
shall not contain more than 20 ppb. total nitrosamines. See ASTM F1313 for more
detail on nitrosamine testing.
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