Apr 15 2014 – To prevent deaths and injuries to infants and children, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has approved a new federal mandatory standard intended to improve the safety of soft infant and toddler carriers. The Commission voted unanimously in favor of the standard (3 to 0) on March 21, 2014. A soft infant and toddler carrier is normally made of sewn fabric construction, designed to hold a full-term infant from 7 pounds to toddlers up to 45 pounds in an upright position. The carrier allows a child to be carried in close proximity to the caregiver on their front, back or hip. Slings and framed carriers are excluded from this standard and are covered by separate voluntary standards.