Testing the Structural Strength of Baby Carriers

Abstract

Baby carriers used for carrying babies and toddlers belong to the articles which can cause injuries, including serious ones resulting from a child's fall from a height. This fact has been confirmed by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission - CPSC as well as by notification of the European Rapid Alert System for dangerous non-food products - RAPEX. The strength of a baby carrier structure, including dynamic strength, associated with a vertical movement of a carrier loaded with a child's mass, attached to the torso of moving carer, is a parameter determining its safe use. The results of the research project on testing the strength of soft carriers, using the author's testing procedure, are presented. Baby carriers commercialized on the Polish market within the years 2012-2018 were the testing objects. The tests enabled an identification of types of damages to the carriers for children that may occur during their use as well as to point at those design parameters which should be changed. (English) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]