Dummy clip safety regulations

While a dummy clip is a handy accessory for both mum and baby, there are important steps to follow when making them. Every seller is required to comply with strict standards set by the authorities to keep newborns and young children safe.

Regulatory measures

There are certain safety measures to bear in mind to avoid any kind of problem. Chewing and sucking can sometimes cause difficulties, as harmful substances may be swallowed by your child without anyone realising. This is why a number of rules have been put in place to set out what makes a dummy clip reliable.

First of all, there's the DIN 53160-1/-2 standard. This standard tests objects for colour retention, among other things — an important test for the product's durability that helps avoid any risks linked to your baby's saliva or sweat.

Other standards have been introduced to give parents and babies even greater peace of mind, such as the NF EN 12586+A1 standard, which covers the safety requirements that apply to personalised or plain dummy clips. The 2009 European Parliament directive went on to explore child safety in greater depth.

If a dummy clip features decorations such as beads or animal designs, it is treated as a toy and must meet further requirements.

First, the NF EN71-1 standard oversees the mechanical properties of a toy — meaning the manufacturer must make sure the dummy clip is sturdy and can withstand impact.

The NF EN71-2 standard, meanwhile, addresses the risk of flammability, which could cause injuries or burns and so pose a serious danger to a child. This standard sets out which materials are banned from the make-up of dummy clips.

Finally, the NF EN71-3 standard, which governs the chemical components found in the materials used to make toys and other baby items, was published by the CEN/TC 52 Technical Committee in 2013. It ensures the manufacturer checks that the paint on the dummy clip is non-toxic.

Measures on how the product is made

Beyond standards in the strict sense, there are also rules on the make-up of the dummy clip itself that must be respected and applied. A dummy clip must not exceed 22 centimetres in length, to avoid any risk of strangulation. Subject to a length standard too, the loop of the dummy clip must not exceed 110 centimetres, for the same reasons given above.
A dummy clip must also resist being pulled, and a test is compulsory to check the product's strength and durability. It must be free of any sharp edges or anything that could scratch your baby.

As for the holes in dummy clips, babies and children have sometimes trapped a finger in them, causing swelling. Every hole must therefore be no deeper than 10 centimetres and must be between 5.5 millimetres and 12 millimetres wide.

There are also rules for the ventilation holes on the dummy clip's fastener. Either two ventilation holes of at least 40 millimetres, each able to let a 4-millimetre rod pass right through the material, must be provided, or a single hole able to let a 12-millimetre rod pass right through the material, or with an area of 115 millimetres.

In any case, at least one ventilation hole with an area of 25 millimetres in diameter is required.

Measures on the make-up of the materials

The safety and health of our children are at the very heart of our concerns. That's why it's so important to pay attention to the materials used. Some should be avoided at all costs, such as aluminium and zinc! Even natural materials may have undergone chemical treatments, so keep an eye on varnishes and paints, as well as the glue used, as these chemicals can be harmful. And when it comes to decoration, however pretty rhinestones and glitter may look, they must never be used.

Other preventive measures

It's worth remembering a few more points about the many guidelines dummy clips must follow. No adhesive labels should appear on any part of the dummy clip. It's also strongly recommended that you clean the dummy clip thoroughly. And never replace the original cord — if the standards set it at 22 centimetres, that's for good reason!