Safe Baby Products: What Should You Look Out For?

Dear users, dear authors,
what should you keep in mind when manufacturing baby products? Which materials are (not) allowed? Are there alternatives to small parts, buttons, etc., that could be swallowed?
Since this is an important topic, I’d like to discuss it in detail. 

Josefa, this is an important topic! 
When it comes to baby clothing, it’s definitely important to use washable materials. 
Even though fuzzy and fringed yarns might look warm and cozy, it’s best not to use them.
The most suitable materials are cotton, baby acrylic yarn, and sock yarn. Tested for harmful substances, of course.
All three types are very washable and durable.
In preemie wards, hats and booties made from sock yarn are often used, preferably yarn that is really soft and doesn’t scratch.
Instead of regular buttons, you can use snaps that are pressed into the garment. Short (!) ribbons or securely sewn-on Velcro fasteners are also suitable.
Please do not use long ribbons, as they tend to get tangled in the little hands or, in the worst case, wrap around the neck.
Large stitches and openwork patterns are also not suitable for babies, as their fingers can get stuck in the holes. 
The last baby I made a gift for received the hat shown above with the cuddly bunny. The hat is made of a cotton blend, smooth and pleasantly soft at the same time, and the bunny is made of saliva-safe cotton yarn. The ears and head are securely sewn on, and the rest was crocheted in one piece. I embroidered the eyes and nose, since loose, glued-on eyes and, in some cases, even “safety eyes” aren’t suitable. Babies like to explore with their mouths, and an eye like that can quickly be chewed off and swallowed, especially when babies are teething.

On the topic of safety eyes:
These are often sold from China in large quantities in convenient multi-compartment containers.
It’s a great thing; I’ve enjoyed using them for decorative amigurumi or for older children. But especially with crocheted items, the eyes can come loose because the stitches may be too large or the fastening washers aren’t secure enough / are too large for the eye. Often, these inexpensive eyes also aren’t neatly finished and therefore have sharp edges. I’ve even had an eye break before, likely due to defective material. 
The ears on the baby hat are also sewn on very securely.
I hope I was able to share a few helpful tips, but there’s still sooo much more!

I have to disagree on one tiny point—or rather, add something (otherwise, I fully agree with Mel and her comments!):
Snap fasteners…
As cute as KamSnaps and the little plastic snaps now offered by many other manufacturers may look… my first son was able to bite off even the snaps that were pressed on very tightly once he started teething (at 4.5 months in his case). I heard the same thing from others on the sewing forum back then. Since then, I’ve been using (good-quality!) Velcro fasteners and zippers.


Best regards

Oh Nina, I wasn’t thinking of those at all, but of the “good” metal ones. They generally hold incredibly tight! KamSnaps and the like really don’t hold well on knitted and crocheted items, and they also melt when ironed☹️
I once ruined a pillowcase that way.

I completely avoid buttons, drawstrings, etc. in baby items. I either embroider or sew on eyes.
I’m also at odds with KamSnaps. They don’t hold well, and they’re life-threatening for toddlers.

There are also EU directives on baby and children’s clothing that I follow when designing sewing patterns. Anyone who sells items they’ve sewn themselves should adhere to them as well.

I like to use organic cotton too (though not exclusively) and pre-wash the fabric once.

Best regards,
Sonja