ARE ALL STROLLERS AND BABY BOTTLES ALIKE?

All of the objects that we use to take care of our children, from birth through infancy, are called childcare articles.

The group of childcare articles includes small items such as all the accessories the child could “bring to the mouth" (like feeding bottles, soothers, cutlery and feeding utensils), and the durable infant products. These are all the articles used to make a child sleep, to sit, transport, or deal with hygiene (for example strollers, prams, high chairs, playpen, cribs & baby changing mats).

When purchasing these products, it’s important to make sure they conform to essential safety requirements.

ICQ is a leader in the industry in performing tests and specific analysis on toys and childcare articles.

The introduction in the US market of only safe products for children has been strengthened by the introduction of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Acts (CPSIA 2008). With this Act, all the products that help parents take care of their children and to amuse them, must finally be safe.

HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES OF THE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS VERIFIED ON CHILDCARE PRODUCTS INSIDE ICQ:

Tests related to physical and mechanical properties of the equipment:

• dimensional controls to prevent risks of entrapment of fingers, hands and other parts of the body;
• structural controls with static and dynamic loads to verify mechanical and movement stability (baby carriage and strollers, changing tables, cribs and bunk, seats and port-enfant);
• service brakes and parking brake mechanisms; holding handles.

Chemical tests:

• analysis of the content of phtalates;
• lead content;
• materials suitability for food contact;
• search of N-nitrosamines and substances N-nitrosables.