prEN 13209-2
(Main)Child care articles - Baby carriers - Safety requirements and test methods - Part 2: Soft carrier
- Abstract
This document specifies the safety requirements and test methods for soft carriers without a framed support designed to carry one or two children hands free when attached to the carer’s torso.
If the soft carrier has functions not covered in this document, reference can be made to the relevant European Standard.
This document does not apply to garment or apparel carriers or carriers in the scope of prEN 13209-3:2026.
This document does not cover baby carriers designed for children with special needs.
- Status
- Not Published
- Publication Date
- 07-Sep-2027
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 252 - Child use and care articles
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 252/WG 4 - Early learning and protection
- Current Stage
- 4060 - Closure of enquiry - Enquiry
- Start Date
- 06-Aug-2026
- Due Date
- 18-Nov-2025
- Completion Date
- 06-Aug-2026
- Directive
- 2001/95/EC - General product safety
prEN 13209-2 is a CEN draft European Standard for soft baby carriers. It specifies safety requirements and test methods for soft carriers without a framed support that are designed to carry one or two children hands free when attached to the carer’s torso, so manufacturers, test laboratories, and buyers can assess product safety and product information.
What does prEN 13209-2 specify?
prEN 13209-2 covers soft carriers without a framed support. It sets out the safety requirements, test methods, and product-information rules for carriers used on the carer’s torso, and it is written for products intended to carry one or two children hands free.
The scope excludes garment or apparel carriers, carriers within the scope of prEN 13209-3:2026, and baby carriers designed for children with special needs. Where a soft carrier has functions not covered by this document, the scope points users to the relevant European Standard for those functions.
The document is organized into:
- Clause 1 Scope
- Clause 2 Normative references
- Clause 3 Terms and definitions
- Clause 4 Test equipment
- Clause 5 General requirements
- Clauses 6 to 8 on chemical, flammability, and mechanical hazards
- Clause 9 Product Information
- Annex A with rationales
- Annex ZA linking the document to Regulation 2023/988/EU
| Annex | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Annex A | Reasons behind the chosen safety requirements and test approaches |
| Annex ZA | Relationship between the standard and the essential requirements of Regulation 2023/988/EU |
What are the key requirements of prEN 13209-2?
prEN 13209-2 combines material safety, mechanical safety, and user-information requirements. In practice, this means a soft carrier must pass chemical and flammability checks, resist entanglement and small-part risks, remain structurally secure in use, and carry clear warnings and instructions.
Test conditions and sample preparation
Clause 5 requires the tests to be run on one sample in clause order unless stated otherwise. The carrier must be fully assembled as ready for use, tested at 23 °C with a wide tolerance, and conditioned by washing and drying twice according to the manufacturer’s instructions unless a clause says differently. These rules matter because they make the results repeatable and closer to real use.
Chemical and flammability hazards
Clause 6 requires the migration of elements from exterior surfaces to comply with EN 17826:2025, and textile parts intended for prolonged skin contact must also meet the relevant EN 17826:2025 requirements. Clause 7 uses EN 71-2:2020+A1:2025 for flammability and requires no surface flash and a maximum flame spread rate of 50 mm/s. For users, this means the carrier’s outer materials and skin-contact textiles are checked for hazards that could affect a child through mouthing, chewing, or ignition.
Entanglement, choking, and packaging risks
Clause 8 limits design features that could catch or trap a child. There must be no extra child restraint systems beyond the closure and leg-opening mechanism, monofilament threads are not permitted, and cords, straps, ribbons, and similar parts are length-limited when measured under tension. Components that can be gripped by a child are then checked so they do not become small parts after torque and tensile testing.
Clause 8.3 also deals with plastic packaging coverings. Larger coverings must meet thickness or perforation conditions, and larger openings need a suffocation warning and symbol instead of a drawstring or cord closure. This is practical packaging control, not product design, but it is part of the safety check for the delivered item.
Structural integrity and attachment systems
Clause 8.5 checks how the carrier holds together under load and movement. The carer’s attachment system must be adjustable, slippage must stay below the stated limit, and durability is assessed over repeated cycles on a moving test torso. Static strength uses a test mass equal to 150 % of the maximum weight intended for the product, held for four hours, so the carrier is assessed under a heavier-than-normal load.
The clause also says when shoulder caps are fitted to the test torso, which matters for products whose shoulder straps extend across the full shoulder surface. In practice, this tells test labs how to set up the product correctly before deciding whether buckles, seams, straps, and adjusters remain secure.
Protective function, head support, and head protection
Clause 8.6 checks whether the carrier protects the child from falling out. The test sphere must not pass completely through integral leg openings, and, if the manufacturer allows a horizontal carrying position, the sphere must not fall completely out in that position. The same clause requires head support for children up to 4 months of age and head protection for carriers that can be used horizontally.
That means the carrier has to match the child’s developmental needs and the intended carrying posture. For a buyer or quality manager, this is the part of the document that links the product’s claimed use to its physical safety performance.
Product information, marking, and instructions
Clause 9 requires visible purchase information, permanent marking, and user instructions in the official language(s) of the country of sale. The document also requires warnings about suffocation and falling hazards, plus fitting, cleaning, position-of-use, and maintenance information.
For the business side, this clause matters because it defines what must appear at point of sale and on the product itself. For the user, it clarifies the child’s weight and age range, how to fit the carrier, and when not to use it.
What terms does prEN 13209-2 define?
- soft carrier - A product without a framed support that includes a permanently designed element to hold the child in a predefined position.
- carer's attachment system - The fastenings, straps, belts, or similar parts used to secure the carrier to the carer’s torso.
- integral leg openings - Fully bound openings for the child’s legs that are part of the product itself.
- non-integral leg openings - Leg openings formed only when the carrier is installed on the carer’s torso.
- test torso - A rigid torso used as the test fixture for load, slippage, and durability checks.
- test mass - A sand-filled bag set to the maximum weight intended for the product and shaped to fit securely in the carrier.
Who uses prEN 13209-2?
prEN 13209-2 is used by baby-carrier manufacturers, test laboratories, conformity-assessment teams, quality managers, and buyers specifying infant-transport products. It is also relevant to importers, distributors, retailers, and responsible persons because the document sets the required product information, marking, and warnings.
What changed in prEN 13209-2 from the previous edition?
prEN 13209-2 will supersede EN 13209-2:2015. The foreword says the revision updates the scope, adds EN 17826:2025 to the normative references, revises the definition of soft carrier, updates the chemical and flammability clauses, clarifies when shoulder caps are needed, defines the 150 % test mass, explains incremental adjustments and head support or head protection, updates purchase information and warnings, recognizes a responsible person in marking and instructions, and revises the bibliography.
Which standards are used with prEN 13209-2?
prEN 13209-2 cites two normative references:
- EN 71-2:2020+A1:2025 - provides the flammability test method used in Clause 7.
- EN 17826:2025 - provides the chemical hazards requirements used in Clause 6.
Annex ZA also links the document to Regulation 2023/988/EU for safety requirements for certain children’s products and related products.
What does the prEN 13209-2 document contain?
prEN 13209-2 contains dimensional figures for the test sphere, small parts cylinder, test torso, shoulder caps, and cord-measurement examples. It also gives test methods for chemical hazards, flammability, entanglement, choking and ingestion, packaging suffocation risk, edge safety, structural integrity, slippage, durability, and protective functions.
The document includes practical set-ups such as a moving rigid test torso, a 25 N measurement condition for cords and loops, a tensile test for detachable parts, and a 20° incline test for the horizontal-carrying case. These methods are the parts a test lab would use directly when checking design safety or verifying a product before market release.
Annex A explains why each hazard is covered, and Annex ZA maps clauses to the Regulation 2023/988/EU safety requirements.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 20-Nov-2024
Frequently Asked Questions
prEN 13209-2 is a draft published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Child care articles - Baby carriers - Safety requirements and test methods - Part 2: Soft carrier". This standard covers: This document specifies the safety requirements and test methods for soft carriers without a framed support designed to carry one or two children hands free when attached to the carer’s torso. If the soft carrier has functions not covered in this document, reference can be made to the relevant European Standard. This document does not apply to garment or apparel carriers or carriers in the scope of prEN 13209-3:2026. This document does not cover baby carriers designed for children with special needs.
This document specifies the safety requirements and test methods for soft carriers without a framed support designed to carry one or two children hands free when attached to the carer’s torso. If the soft carrier has functions not covered in this document, reference can be made to the relevant European Standard. This document does not apply to garment or apparel carriers or carriers in the scope of prEN 13209-3:2026. This document does not cover baby carriers designed for children with special needs.
prEN 13209-2 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 97.190 - Equipment for children. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
prEN 13209-2 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN 13209-2:2015. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
prEN 13209-2 is associated with the following European legislation: EU Directives/Regulations: 2001/95/EC, 2023/988/EU; Standardization Mandates: M/264. When a standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, products manufactured in conformity with it benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the corresponding EU directive or regulation.
prEN 13209-2 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-julij-2026
Izdelki za otroke - Oprema za nošenje dojenčkov - Varnostne zahteve in preskusne
metode - 2. del: Oprema za nošenje brez ogrodja
Child care articles - Baby carriers - Safety requirements and test methods - Part 2: Soft
carrier
Artikel für Säuglinge und Kleinkinder - Kindertragen - Sicherheitsanforderungen und
Prüfverfahren - Teil 2: Tragen ohne Gestell
Articles de puériculture - Porte-bébés - Exigences de sécurité et méthodes d'essai -
Partie 2 : Porte-bébés souples
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 13209-2
ICS:
97.190 Otroška oprema Equipment for children
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
May 2026
ICS 97.190 Will supersede EN 13209-2:2015
English Version
Child care articles - Baby carriers - Safety requirements
and test methods - Part 2: Soft carrier
Articles de puériculture - Porte-bébés - Exigences de Artikel für Säuglinge und Kleinkinder - Kindertragen -
sécurité et méthodes d'essai - Partie 2 : Porte-bébés Sicherheitsanforderungen und Prüfverfahren - Teil 2:
souples Tragen ohne Gestell
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 252.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.
Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 13209-2:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
Contents Page
European foreword . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Test equipment . 6
4.1 Test sphere . 6
4.2 Small parts cylinder . 6
4.3 Feeler gauge . 6
4.4 Test torso . 6
4.5 Shoulder caps . 8
4.6 Test mass . 9
5 General requirements . 9
5.1 Order of tests . 9
5.2 Test conditions . 9
5.3 Conditioning . 9
5.4 Tolerances . 10
6 Chemical hazards (see A.2) . 10
7 Flammability hazards (see A.3) . 10
7.1 General. 10
7.2 Requirements . 10
7.3 Test method . 10
8 Mechanical hazards (see A.4) . 10
8.1 Entanglement hazards (see A.4.1) . 10
8.2 Choking and ingestion hazards (see A.4.2) . 12
8.3 Suffocation hazards from packaging materials (see A.4.3) . 13
8.4 Hazardous edges (see A.4.4) . 13
8.5 Structural integrity (see A.4.5) . 13
8.6 Protective function . 15
9 Product Information . 15
9.1 General. 15
9.2 Purchase information. 16
9.3 Marking . 16
9.4 Instructions for use . 16
Annex A (informative) Rationales . 18
A.1 General. 18
A.2 Chemical hazards (Clause 6) . 18
A.3 Flammability hazards (Clause 7) . 18
A.4 Mechanical hazards (Clause 8) . 18
Annex ZA (informative) Relationship between this European Standard and the essential
requirements of Regulation 2023/988/EU aimed to be covered . 20
Bibliography . 23
European foreword
This document (prEN 13209-2:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 252 “Child use
articles”, the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede EN 13209-2:2015.
In comparison with the previous version, the following changes have been made:
— the Scope has been amended;
— reference to EN 17826:2025 has been added to the normative references;
— the definition of a ‘soft carrier’ has been amended;
— Clause 6 Chemical hazards updated to reference EN 17826:2025 and align with other CEN/TC 252
standards;
— Clauses 7 and A.3 renamed ‘Flammability hazards’ and the reference updated to
EN 71-2:2020+A1:2025 to address surface flash, flash over and rate of spread of flame;
— Subclause 8.5 updated to explain when the use of the shoulder caps during testing is required;
— the total mass of 150 % of the maximum weight intended for the product defined;
— testing of a carrier with incremental adjustments better explained;
— the purpose of the requirements for head support and head protection added;
— how the purchase information is provided updated to align with TC 252 standards;
— Subclauses 9.3 b) and 9.4.3 updated to recognize a responsible person;
— requirements in subclause 9.3 reordered for clarity;
— the warnings regarding breastfeeding in subclauses 9.3 and 9.4.2 have been improved for clarity;
— Clause A.2 Chemical hazards updated to align with the requirements in Clause 5 and to align with
other TC 252 standards;
— Subclause A.4.6 Structual integrity amended to better explain the risk;
— the Bibliography updated to reference relevant regulations.
This document has been prepared under a standardization request addressed to CEN by the European
Commission. The Standing Committee of the EFTA States subsequently approves these requests for its
Member States.
For the relationship with EU Legislation, see informative Annex ZA, which is an integral part of this
document.
1 Scope
This document specifies the safety requirements and test methods for soft carriers without a framed
support designed to carry one or two children hands free when attached to the carer’s torso.
If the soft carrier has functions not covered in this document, reference can be made to the relevant
European Standard.
This document does not apply to garment or apparel carriers or carriers in the scope of
prEN 13209-3:2026.
This document does not cover baby carriers designed for children with special needs.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 71-2:2020+A1:2025, Safety of toys — Part 2: Flammability
EN 17826:2025, Child care articles — Chemical hazards — Requirements
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp/
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
3.1
soft carrier
product without a framed support, incorporating a permanently designed element intended to support
the child in a predefined position(s), with or without integral leg openings, designed to carry the child
when the product is attached to the carer’s torso
3.2
carer's attachment system
fastenings, straps, belts or similar parts which are fitted to or are part of the soft carrier for the purpose
of securing the product to the carer's torso
3.3
integral leg openings
fully bound openings for each of the child’s legs which may be adjustable, which exist in the product and
are not formed by installing the soft carrier on the carer’s torso
3.4
non-integral leg openings
non-fully bound openings for the child’s legs which are formed only by installing the soft carrier on the
carer’s torso, between the soft carrier and the carer’s torso
4 Test equipment
4.1 Test sphere
Sphere made from a hard, smooth material of diameter (120 ± 2) mm and a mass of 2,27 kg.
4.2 Small parts cylinder
Cylinder with the dimensions given in Figure 1.
Dimensions in millimetres
Figure 1 — Small parts cylinder
4.3 Feeler gauge
Feeler gauge with thickness of (0,4 ± 0,02) mm, with the end to be inserted having a radius of
approximately 3 mm.
4.4 Test torso
Rigid torso made from a hard, smooth material with the dimensions specified in Figure 2.
The torso is fitted on a rigid plate which is capable of alternating vertical sinusoidal movement through
(120 ± 5) mm at a frequency of (2 ± 0,2) Hz.
Dimensions in millimetres
Figure 2 — Test torso
4.5 Shoulder caps
The shoulder caps are an additional element to the test torso. The shoulder caps shall be fitted one each
side of the test torso for testing soft carriers to be worn over the carer’s shoulder(s). See Figure 3 for
placement. The dimensions are given in Figure 4.
Dimensions in millimetres
Figure 3 — Shoulder caps
Figure 4 — Shoulder cap fitted to right hand side of test torso
4.6 Test mass
Bag filled with sand to a total mass of the maximum weight for which the manufacturer specifies the
product is suitable for, the shape and size of which shall be adjustable so that it can be firmly restrained
by the soft carrier.
5 General requirements
5.1 Order of tests
Unless otherwise stated, the specified tests shall be carried out on one sample in the order of the clause
numbers in this document.
5.2 Test conditions
The tests shall be carried out at a temperature of (23 ± 10) °C.
The tests shall be carried out on soft carriers that are fully assembled in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions and are ready for use.
5.3 Conditioning
Unless otherwise stated, the soft carrier shall be washed and dried twice in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions.
5.4 Tolerances
Unless otherwise stated, the following tolerances shall apply for testing and test equipment:
force: ± 5 %;
mass: ± 1 %;
dimension: ±1 mm;
time: ± 1 s;
angle: ± 1°.
6 Chemical hazards (see A.2)
The migration of elements from materials on exterior surfaces shall comply with EN 17826:2025, 4.2.
Parts made of textile materials intended to be in prolonged contact with the skin of the child shall comply
with EN 17826:2025, 4.4 and 4.6.
NOTE EN 17826:2025 4.1 gives a definition of prolonged skin contact.
If testing is required, a separate unconditioned sample may be used for these tests.
The rationale for these requirements is given in Annex A, A.2.
7 Flammability hazards (see A.3)
7.1 General
A separate unconditioned sample shall be used to assess these requirements.
7.2 Requirements
Soft carriers shall not produce surface flash when tested in accordance with EN 71-2:2020+A1:2025, 5.5.
Textiles, coated textile supports, and plastic coverings showing no sudden area of flame over the area
remote from the test flame are considered to meet this requirement.
Soft-filled toys shall be substituted by the soft carrier under test.
Soft carriers shall have a maximum rate of spread of flame of 50 mm/s when tested in accordance with
EN 71-2:2020+A1:2025, 5.5
A separate sample, conditioned according to 5.3, may be used for these tests.
7.3 Test method
To verify the surface flash effect, apply the test flame defined in EN 71-2:2020+A1:2025, 5.5 for (3 ± 0,5) s
to the soft carrier in different places likely to cause surface flash.
To verify rate of spread of flame, apply the test flame defined in EN 71-2:2020+A1:2025, 5.5.
8 Mechanical hazards (see A.4)
8.1 Entanglement hazards (see A.4.1)
8.1.1 General
There shall be no additional restraint systems for the child attached to the product, other than the
mechanism to close the soft carrier and create the leg openings.
Monofilament threads shall not be used.
8.1.2 Requirements
Cords, straps, ribbons and similar parts that are wider than 19 mm are excluded from these
requirements.
Cords, straps, ribbons and similar parts that are used to secure the product on to the carer’s torso are
excluded from these requirements.
Cords, straps, ribbons and similar parts shall have a maximum free length of 220 mm when tested in
accordance with 8.1.3.
Where cords, straps, ribbons and similar parts are attached to the product together or within 80 mm of
each other, any single cord shall have a maximum free length of 220 mm and the combined length from
one loose end to the end of another loose end shall be a maximum of 360 mm (see Figure 5).
Any loops shall have a maximum peripheral dimension of 360 mm when tested in accordance with 8.1.3.
The rationale for these requirements is given in A.4.1.
8.1.3 Test method
The length of cords, ribbons and similar parts is measured from the fixing point on the product to the free
end of the cord, ribbon or similar part whilst a 25 N tensile force is applied.
The peripheral dimension of a loop shall be measured whilst a 25 N tensile force is applied.
Key
D distance between attachment points
L length of cords, ribbons and parts used as ties
Figure 5 — Examples of measuring cords, ribbons or similar parts
8.2 Choking and ingestion hazards (see A.4.2)
8.2.1 Requirements
Any component not intended to be detachable, but which become detached, or any filling material that is
considered able to be gripped by a child when tested in accordance with 8.2.2.1 shall be tested in
accordance with 8.2.2.2 and 8.2.2.3.
Any component or part of a component or filling material that is removed shall not fit wholly in any
orientation, without compressing or manipulating it, within the small parts cylinder (see 4.1).
8.2.2 Test methods
8.2.2.1 Assessment of child’s ability to grip components
A component is considered capable of being gripped by a child if it can grip the component between its
thumb and forefinger or between its teeth.
Where it is difficult to assess whether a child can grip a component, establish whether it is capable of
being gripped by inserting the feeler gauge (see 4.2) between the component and the underlying layer or
body of the product at an angle between 0° and 10° from the surface of the underlying layer or product,
using a force of (10 ± 1) N. If the gauge can be inserted more than 2 mm, the component shall be
considered as capable of being gripped by the child.
If the component is able to be gripped, affix a suitable clamp behind the component, taking care not to
damage the attachment mechanism or the body of the soft carrier, and test in accordance with 8.2.2.2 and
8.2.2.3.
8.2.2.2 Torque test
Apply a torque gradually to the component within a period of 5 s in a clockwise direction until either:
a) rotation of 180° from the original position has been attained; or
b) torque of 0,34 Nm is reached.
The maximum rotation or required torque shall be applied for 10 s.
The component shall then be allowed to return to a relaxed condition and the procedure repeated in an
anticlockwise direction.
Where projections, components or assemblies are rigidly mounted on an accessible rod or shaft designed
to rotate together with the projections, components or assemblies, during the test the rod or shaft shall
be clamped to prevent rotation.
If a component attached by a screw thread becomes loosened during application of the required torque,
the torque shall continue to be applied until the required torque is exceeded or the component
disassembles or it becomes
...