List of Products Covered by CPSIA: An Overview

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) requires importers and manufacturers of children’s products, such as toys, bassinets, and pacifiers, to comply with relevant documentation, labeling, and testing requirements.

In this guide, we list different categories of children’s products covered by the CPSIA, examples of such products, and relevant standards.

Product List Creation Methodology

In this guide, we mainly list products regulated by existing children’s product safety rules that mandate third-party testing.

We also list children’s footwear or jewelry, even though we could not find any specific safety rules for these products.

Note that the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) regulates all products that are intended for children aged 12 years and younger, not only the products that are listed in this guide or for which there exists a specific safety rule listed here.

Safety Standards

In each of the following sections, we list examples of safety standards that are relevant to the covered product category. However, other standards might exist.

Additionally, some standards or bans, such as 16 CFR Part 1303 or 15 U.S.C. § 1278a, cover substance restrictions (e.g., lead). As such, they are relevant for many product categories.

Additionally, in the absence of specific safety rules or mandatory safety standards, companies are advised to comply with relevant voluntary standards (e.g., ASTM).

Children’s Toys

CPSIA compliance is mandatory for toy products that are intended for use by children aged 12 years and under because unsafe toys may injure children and result in choking, burns, and poisoning. As such, toys must comply with relevant ASTM safety standards and other requirements.

Examples

The CPSIA sets safety requirements for toys, such as:

• Wooden toys
• Plastic toys
• Plush toys
• Toy vehicles

Safety standards

Here are examples of standards relevant to children’s toys:

a. 16 CFR Part 1250 – Safety Standard Mandating ASTM F963 For Toys

b. 16 CFR part 1505 – Requirements for Electrically Operated Toys or Other Electrically Operated Articles Intended for Use by Children

c. 16 CFR Part 1307 – Prohibition of Children’s Toys and Child Care Articles Containing Specified Phthalates

d. 16 CFR Part 1303 – Ban of Lead-Containing Paint and Certain Consumer Products Bearing Lead-Containing Paint

e. 16 CFR Part 1272 – Marking of Toy, Look-Alike, and Imitation Firearms

Children’s Clothing & Babywear

CPSIA lays down safety requirements for children’s clothing and babywear, as these products might be dangerous for children. For instance, children might unintentionally strangle themselves with hoods or drawstrings found in children’s clothing.

Also, children might choke due to the ingestion of loose buttons or get burned if their clothes catch fire. Finally, there are specific requirements for children’s clothing with strings.

Examples

Here are a few examples of children’s clothing and babywear products:

• Children’s sleepwear
• Children’s outerwear
• Diapers and underwear
• Infant garments
• Tight-fitting garments

Safety standards

Here are some examples of safety standards relevant to children’s clothing:

a. 16 CFR Part 1120 – Substantial Product Hazard List, which incorporates by reference ASTM F1816–97 Standard Safety Specification for Drawstrings on Children’s Upper Outerwear

b. 16 CFR Part 1610 – Standard for the Flammability of Clothing Textiles

c. 16 CFR Part 1611 – Standard for the Flammability of Vinyl Plastic Film

d. 16 CFR Part 1615 – Standard for the Flammability of Children’s Sleepwear: Sizes 0 Through 6X (FF 3–71)

e. 16 CFR Part 1616 – Standard for the Flammability of Children’s Sleepwear: Sizes 7 Through 14 (FF 5–74)

Children’s Footwear

Children’s footwear materials or chemical components might pose a danger to children due to an excessive amount of dangerous substances (e.g., lead, phthalates), or unsafe design (e.g. slippery sole). As such, children’s footwear should comply with relevant safety rules. It is also recommended to comply with relevant voluntary standards.

Examples

Here are a few examples of children’s footwear:

• Children sandals
• Children sneaker
• Children snow boots
• Children lace shoes
• Children sports shoes

Safety standards

Although we were not able to find specific mandatory standards for children’s footwear, there are voluntary footwear standards that you can use to improve the safety of your footwear products, such as the following:

a. ASTM F2412 – Standard Test Methods for Foot Protection

b. ASTM F2892 – Standard Specification for Performance Requirements for Soft Toe Protective Footwear (Non-Safety / Non-Protective Toe)

Children’s Jewelry

Children’s jewelry might be dangerous because its skin-contact materials might contain hazardous substances, they present choking hazards or strangulation hazards (e.g. in the case of long necklaces. For this reason, manufacturers of children’s jewelry must ensure their products’ compliance with substance restrictions and other requirements.

Examples

We list a few examples of children’s jewelry:

• Children necklaces
• Children rings
• Children bracelets
• Children earrings

Safety standards

According to our research, there aren’t any specific mandatory safety standards specific for children’s jewelry. However, it is critical to comply with standards that limit dangerous substances, and follow the requirements of voluntary standards, such as ASTM F2923 – Standard Specification for Consumer Product Safety for Children’s Jewelry

Children’s Furniture

Children’s furniture might pose hazards, especially to young children. For instance, clothing storage units might tip over if not secured to the wall, bunk beds might result in trapped children, wooden stools might have splinters causing harm, and folding mechanisms on folding chairs might pose a laceration hazard.

Examples

Here we list several examples of children’s furniture:

• Children’s high chairs
• Children’s bed
• Children’s chairs
• Children’s beanbags
• Children’s folding chairs and stools

Safety standards

Safety standards that might cover children’s furniture include:

a. 16 CFR Part 1513 – Requirements for Bunk Beds

b. 16 CFR Part 1232 – Safety Standard for Children’s Folding Chairs and Children’s Folding Stools

c. 16 CFR Part 1224 – Safety Standard for Portable Bed Rails

d. 16 CFR Part 1217 – Safety Standard for Toddles Beds

e. 16 CFR Part 1231 – Safety Standard for High Chairs

f. 16 CFR Part 1303 – Ban of Lead-Containing Paint and Certain Consumer Products Bearing Lead-Containing Paint

Mattresses

Mattresses might pose hazards to children, such as flammability, suffocation due to “overly soft mattresses”, potential entrapment due to poor fits, and injuries due to exposed coil springs.

Several standards exist to address these issues and ensure the safety of these products.

Examples

Here are a few examples of mattresses covered by the CPSIA:

• Children’s mattresses
• Children’s mattress pads
• Children’s mattress sets
• Crib mattresses

Safety Standards

Here are several mattress-related safety standards:

a. 16 CFR Part 1241 – Safety Standard for Crib Mattresses, which incorporates by reference ASTM F2933 – Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Crib Mattresses

b. 16 CFR Part 1632 – Standard for the Flammability of Mattresses and Mattress Pads

c. 16 CFR Part 1633 – Standard for the Flammability (Open Flame) of Mattress Sets

Bicycles and Bicycle Helmets

The CPSIA lays down safety requirements for bicycles and bicycle helmets, even those intended for children. These products might be dangerous for children because bicycles and bicycle helmets might contain harmful substances (e.g., lead), sharp edges, or other dangerous characteristics.

Thus, manufacturers of such products should ensure that said products comply with relevant requirements.

Examples

We list a few bicycle-related products below:

• Children’s track bicycles
• Children’s sidewalk bicycles
• Children’s recumbent bicycles
• Children’s bicycle helmets

Safety Standards

Here are a few standards for bicycles:

a. 16 CFR Part 1512 – Requirements for Bicycles

b. 16 CFR Part 1203 – Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets, which incorporates by reference several ASTM standards.

Infant Cribs and Bassinets

The CPSIA sets regulatory requirements for cribs and bassinets for babies. Additionally, these products are defined as “durable”.

Importers or manufacturers of durable infant products must provide postage-paid product registration cards, and place a permanent information label, on each product.

Examples

Here are a few examples of crib and bassinet products:

• Children’s cribs (Full-size)
• Children’s cribs (Non-full-size)
• Children’s travel cribs
• Children’s portable bassinets

Safety standards

Here are a few standards that are relevant for cribs and bassinets and incorporate ASTM standards by reference:

a. 16 CFR Part 1218 – Safety Standard for Bassinets and Cradles

b. 16 CFR Part 1219 – Safety Standard for Full-Size Baby Cribs

c. 16 CFR Part 1307 – Prohibition of Children’s Toys and Child Care Articles Containing Specified Phthalates

Infant Strollers and Carriages

The CPSIA establishes safety requirements for the manufacture of strollers and carriages. While carriages are intended for infants and strollers are meant for use by children and infants aged 3 and under, the CPSC considers both to be durable infant or toddler products.

Additional safety requirements might apply to strollers and carriages to minimize the risk of deaths and injuries associated with using those products.

Examples

We list here a few examples of CPSIA-regulated carriages and strollers:

• Infant carriages
• Infant strollers
• 3-wheel strollers

Safety standards

Here we list some standards that are relevant for carriages and strollers and incorporate ASTM standards by reference:

a. 16 CFR Part 1227 – Safety Standard for Carriages and Strollers, which incorporates by reference ASTM F833 – Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Carriages and Strollers

b. 16 CFR Part 1307 – Prohibition of Children’s Toys and Child Care Articles Containing Specified Phthalates

Pacifiers

Pacifiers might be dangerous as a child might place the entire product in the mouth and consequently choke or suffocate on it. The product might also potentially break under abuse, resulting in a possible small-parts choking hazard.

Examples

Here are a few examples of pacifiers and related products:

• Infant’s pacifiers
• Infant’s pacifier clips
• Infant’s pacifiers with runner nipples
• Toy pacifiers

Safety Standards

Standards that cover pacifiers, pacifier clips, and relevant products, include:

a. 16 CFR Part 1511 – Requirements for Pacifiers

b. 16 CFR Part 1307 – Prohibition of Children’s Toys and Child Care Articles Containing Specified Phthalates

c. 16 CFR Part 1501 – Small Parts Regulation

d. 16 CFR Part 1307 – Prohibition of Children’s Toys and Child Care Articles Containing Specified Phthalates

e. ASTM F963 – Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety

School and Stationery Items

Stationery items such as pencils or crayons must not contain excessively hazardous substances such as lead, nickel, and mercury. Also, children may be vulnerable to laceration hazards resulting from the use of pencils or other stationery items with sharp edges.

Examples

• Pens and pencils
• Highlighters and markers
• Crayons and paints
• Papers and notebooks
• Scissors and staplers

Safety Standards

The Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act (LHAMA) might cover several school-related and stationery products, especially if those products are art materials. Some standards that concern health and safety, small parts, substance solubility, and sharp edges and points exist, such as:

a. ASTM D4236 – Standard Practice for Labeling Art Materials for Chronic Health Hazards

b. ASTM F963 – Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety

Other products

Here we list children’s products found on the CPSC page “Rules Requiring Third-Party Testing and a Children’s Product Certificate” that are not mentioned in the above sections.

Product category	Relevant standards
All-terrain vehicles	16 CFR Part 1420
Baby changing products	16 CFR Part 1235
Bedside sleepers	16 CFR Part 1222
Booster seats	16 CFR Part 1237
Button cell or coin battery packages	16 CFR Part 1263
Carpets and rugs	16 CFR Part 1630
Clacker balls	16 CFR § 1500.86(a)(5)
Dive sticks and other similar articles	16 CFR Part 1500.86(a)(7) or (8)
Frame child carriers	16 CFR Part 1230
Gates and enclosures	16 CFR Part 1239
Hand-held infant carriers	16 CFR Part 1225
Infant bath seats	16 CFR Part 1215
Infant bath tubs	16 CFR Part 1234
Infant bouncer seats	16 CFR Part 1229
Infant sleep products	16 CFR Part 1236
Infant swings	16 CFR Part 1223
Infant walkers	16 CFR Part 1216
Magnets	16 CFR Part 1262
Play yards	16 CFR Part 1221
Portable hook-on chairs	16 CFR Part 1233
Rattles	16 CFR Part 1510
Sling carriers	16 CFR Part 1228
Small carpets and rugs	16 CFR Part 1631
Soft infant and toddler carriers	16 CFR Part 1226
Stationary activity centers	16 CFR Part 1238