What does the JPMA certification seal really mean?

If you’re in the market for baby products, you’re likely to find the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) seal on many of them. JPMA certification seal means that a baby product has been tested by an independent facility and met the guidelines set by standards developer ASTM International.

JPMA is a national trade association of 300 companies that make and/or import baby products, that administers a program that certifies manufacturers. Although JPMA certification is a handy product reference point, not all babies' and children’s products, such as crib mattresses, pacifiers, and toys, are included in the certification program. However, these products must still meet federal standards—and can be recalled if they are not in compliance with the law.

Throughout Consumer Reports Best Baby Products, available in Consumer Reports' online bookstore and from all major booksellers, we note the products that are certified, which can guide your shopping trips. And for more information about the JPMA Certification Seal, visit www.jpma.org.

Comments

[Lily]

The JPMA seal does not guarantee safety.

The largest crib recall in history were Simplicity cribs that were recalled and that caused the deaths of 3 infants, and those cribs HAD the JPMA seal. The recalls didn't begin until 2 years after the first infant died, and the JPMA seal was still on them during that time. What does that tell you about that seal??

Also, the JPMA seal is found on bottles with BPA, and if you read nowadays, companies are moving away from BPA, to BPA-free bottles, because they are safer for babies, but the BPA bottles still contain the JPMA seal. What's up with that??

Cribs sold in the US must meet the minimum CPSC safety requirements (consumer product safety commission), regardless of whether or not they have the JPMA seal. Those are the same requirements that the JPMA seal claims. THe JPMA seal does not go beyond those requirements.

As long as you but new, and look on the recalls page of the sites (such as www.spsc.gov) you will be fine.

The JPMA certification means that the company dished out $10K to get memebership into that group. It does not go beyond the minimum safety standards required by all manufacturers. And there are cribs out there without the JPMA seal that go BEYOND the minimum requirements, which would make them safer than most JPMA certified cribs.

for more infomraiton, Google the JPMA or check out pages such as:
http://kids-safety-products.suite101.com/article.cfm/is_jpma_certification_relevant

Just a thought...

[Nancy Cowles]

Looking for certification that a crib or other nursery product has met minimum standards is important and the JPMA seal is one way to do that. But parents should be aware that of the over five million cribs and other sleeping environments recalled in the past two years, most were JPMA certified. And some products, such as European brands, may not be JPMA certified, but actually meet tougher standards. Parents might also want to check a brand's recall history and look for other information on additional testing done by the manufacturer.

[bgsummit]

JPMA - mothers must watch out for this seals. it can be a great help in parenting..