Baby Product Safety: How to Spot Certifications & Keep Your Little One Safe

When you’re shopping for baby products, safety is likely top of mind—but navigating the sea of certifications, seals and safety claims can be overwhelming and, quite honestly, confusing. What does it really mean when a product has a certain safety seal of approval? What do JPMA and ATSM stand for? We’re breaking down the most prominent and respected baby product safety certifications to help you make informed buying decisions with confidence.

First off, here’s why these certifications exist in the first place: Safety certifications exist for all types of products, and they help ensure that products meet rigorous safety standards set by both the government and third-party organizations. But in the world of baby gear, safety certifications are extra important, since harmful materials and unsafe product designs pose a greater risk to babies’ sensitive, still-developing systems. 

These certifications aren’t just stickers slapped on packaging—they represent independent testing, compliance with regulations and a commitment to keeping your little one safe. Here's a guide to the most reputable safety certifications you’ll see on baby products, either as official labels or seals on packaging or in product descriptions.

JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association)

The JPMA Certification Seal (a literal seal found on product labels) represents that a product has been tested by an independent, CPSC-accredited laboratory to ensure it meets federal and state regulations, as well as any additional retailer requirements or voluntary standards. Essentially, it’s proof that a product covers all the bases when it comes to baby safety. And the certification is pretty prolific, too: “JPMA's Certification Program tests more than 2,500 products across 30 different categories to ensure products meet the highest standards for safety, performance and functionality,” says Lisa Trofe, JPMA’s Executive Director.

Once a company chooses to participate in a certain category, Trofe says, then everything that brand sells within that category gets tested. So for example, if a brand’s stroller category is JPMA certified, then every stroller model they sell is also certified—no matter the color, design or additional features. 

And certification isn’t just one-and-done. Products undergo testing annually and any time a material change is made to ensure they continue to follow the most current standards. Want to make sure a product is JPMA certified? Look for the official JPMA seal (pictured below) on product packaging. You can also verify certification through the JPMA Certified Products Directory.

ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials)

ASTM International (previously called American Society for Testing and Materials) develops standards for both safety and functionality for a wide range of products, including baby gear. Products that meet ASTM standards have been tested for things like durability, performance, safe design and hazardous materials. 

ASTM doesn’t issue certifications itself, but other certifications (like JPMA) definitely take into account whether a product has been tested by ASTM and adheres to their standards. It’s considered voluntary, so having an ASTM-tested product means that a brand or manufacturer has gone the extra mile to ensure their products are safe.

To find out if a product is approved by ASTM International, check the packaging of the product or the product’s online description for an ASTM code (like the ones below) or the search the ASTM online certified product list.

CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act)

The CPSIA is a long list of federal safety regulations enforced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Since the CPSC is an official US government agency, all products manufactured or sold in the US are required to meet CPSIA standards.

For baby products specifically, CPSIA compliance involves several different testing and inspection requirements, including:

• Thorough testing for harmful substances like lead, phthalates and BPA.

• Inspection for safe design, like the amount of recline on an infant swing or the distance between slats on the side of a crib.

• Strict age limitations on products that have small parts that could pose choking hazards for babies and toddlers.

• Inclusion of tracking labels for easier product identification in the event of a recall.

According to a CPSC spokesperson, all testing and inspections are done by a third-party lab that’s been fully vetted and accredited by the CPSC—the same lab that tests for other reputable safety certifications. Speaking of which, it’s important to note that the CPSIA doesn’t have certification seals on product packaging like a JPMA certification does. “Some marketing materials may claim the product is ‘CPSC-approved,’ but CPSC does not directly approve or clear products," the spokesperson said. 

Instead, manufacturers are required to communicate when a product doesn’t meet CPSIA standards—through recall alerts. Since these safety regulations are at the federal level, any product that isn’t compliant gets recalled. You can always check if a product has been recalled on the CPSC website, and you can also stay informed about future recalls via email notifications.

GREENGUARD

For baby products, you’re most likely to see GREENGUARD certifications on things like cribs, mattresses and other furniture. The GREENGUARD Certification, handled by the UL Greenguard Environment Institute, focuses on indoor air quality by testing products for chemical emissions. 

There are actually two levels to this safety certification: GREENGUARD (which you can see below) and GREENGUARD GOLD (which looks the same as the regular GREENGUARD label, but it has the word "GOLD" on it). Both certification levels show that products meet the standards for low emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which in the short term can cause nausea, respiratory irritation and headaches in babies and people with sensitive immune systems, and in the long term can cause cancer and damage to your liver, kidneys and central nervous system.

OEKO-TEX Standard 100

This globally recognized certification ensures that textiles like baby clothes, crib sheets, stuffed animals and stroller seats are free from harmful substances. Every part of a textile product—from fabric to buttons and zippers—is tested for things like flame retardants, formaldehyde and other toxic chemicals. Products with the OEKO-TEX label below offer peace of mind that they’re safe for direct contact with your baby’s sensitive skin. You can also usually find the OEKO-TEX certification in product descriptions online, like in the second image here (which also features the GOTS certifications—more on that next):

GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard)

The GOTS certification verifies that products claiming to be made of organic fabrics actually are, in fact, organic. The certification also requires that products meet strict standards for environmental and social responsibility throughout their entire supply chain, from harvesting raw materials to manufacturing and labeling. Like the OEKO-TEX label, GOTS-certified products include baby clothes and accessories, bedding, car seat and stroller fabrics and even nursery decor like rugs, ensuring they’re both safe for sensitive skin and environmentally sustainable. Here’s what that label looks like both in person and online:

How to Verify Baby Product Safety Certifications

You want to be able to trust that brands and manufacturers are telling the truth about their products, and at the same time, it’s totally okay to err on the side of caution when it comes to safety. If you’re not sure if a product’s certification is legitimate, the easiest way to verify is by checking the certifier’s official website, which typically hosts a directory of approved products. You can also purchase directly from reputable retailers or brand websites to minimize the risk of counterfeit products. 

And while no certification can eliminate 100% of all risks, knowing that their standards are strict and their testing is rigorous can go a long way in maintaining your peace of mind as a parent. The best way to maximize your baby’s safety is by choosing certified products from trusted brands, following usage guidelines and staying informed about recalls and changes to product safety certification standards.