U.S. CPSC revised the Safety Standard for Bassinets and Cradles

Vol. 1507 | 18 Dec 2025

From February 21, 2026, 16 CFR 1218 will reference ASTM F2194-25, adding stricter structural, incline, electrical, mattress, and warning requirements for bassinets and cradles to better prevent falls, suffocation, and shocks.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has approved a Direct Final Rule to revise the Safety Standard for Bassinets and Cradles under 16 CFR 1218.

Each bassinet and cradle shall comply with ASTM F2194-25 Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Bassinets and Cradles. ASTM F2194-25 includes several additions and revisions, including new definitions, new performance, labelling requirements and test methods, clarifications to existing requirements, as well as editorial revisions.

Key Changes

 Under the revised voluntary standard, bassinets must meet one of two structural options.

• • Option 1: The side wall must remain at least 7.5 inches high under a 23-pound vertical and 5-pound horizontal load, and the mattress or support surface must not deflect more than 1.5 inches under the infant hinged weight gauge.
  • Option 2:The minimum top rail height must be at least 16 inches from the supporting surface.
• Additional updates include limiting the head-to-toe sleep surface angle to 10 degrees and extending the lateral angle requirement (≤7 degrees) to all bassinets and cradles. The standard also adds electrical safety provisions consistent with other juvenile products and requires aftermarket mattresses to perform comparably to OEM versions.
• New test methods accompany these performance requirements, which the CPSC states will reduce fall, suffocation, and electrical hazards.

• Revisions to warnings, instructions, and labeling align with other juvenile product standards. 

The revision will be effective on February 21, 2026.

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