It’s the first federal standard for baby bath seats, and is part of the Consumer Product Safety Commission's growing efforts to implement guidelines set down in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act for a range of baby and toddler products. The CPSC has now set new federal safety standards for infant bath seats.

Currently, baby bath seats are only subject to voluntary ATSM requirements. The new rule sets stricter standards for manufacturers that require that the backseat does not tip over, causing the baby to fall. It also incorporates requirements for tighter leg openings to prevent children from being able to slip through the openings. It also requires a large permanent warning label informing parents and caregivers that bath seats are not meant to be used as safety devices, and that infants must never be left alone and unattended in a bath seat for any period of time.

The CPSC's new standards also include latching and locking devices. The bath seats must also meet CPSC standards for sharp edges and points, and small detachable parts that can pose a suffocation risk for a baby. Bath seats must now also meet the CPSC's lead standards.

California class action lawyers have felt the lack of proper safety guidelines for infant bath seats for a while now. Between 1983 and 2009, 104 children were killed in accidents involving bath seats. There were also at least 300 nonfatal bath seat accidents. Most of these accidents occurred because parents or caregivers left the children unattended while bathing.

It's important for parents to understand that it doesn't take a lot of water for a 10-month-old infant to drown.  In the time that it takes for you to open the door or answer a call, you baby might get completely submerged in the water. It's also not advisable to leave your baby under the care of an older sibling in the bath.