If you hadn’t heard of the Consumer Product Safety Commision regarding sewing products you aren’t alone. Many home sewers don’t know there are regulations when selling children’s sleepwear.
This may overwhelm and frustrate those who sew for a living, or hobbyists who want to sell what they sew at craft shows, but it shouldn’t.
We live our lives every day abiding by rules, and sewing is no exception.
These regulations are not meant to punish the home sewer.
The rules were set up to protect children.
It has to start somewhere, right?
If you have a child or grandchildren, you will know the importance of safety, especially when sleeping. Heaven forbid if your child was ever in a fire, you’d want to know their little sleeper was fire-retardant.
Let’s take a look at this often intimidating set of rules so you know what you need to do if you sew for children.
Who Does This Affect?
Well, simply put, it affects everyone who sews in some way or another.
You may think you’re exempt if you’re a small home-based business, but you aren’t. If you sew children’s sleepwear and sell it, this applies to you.
The only exception to the rule is work for hire. If your friend hired you to sew her child a pair of pajamas for Christmas, you wouldn’t have to comply if she buys the fabric, and pattern, and hires you to make it.
Also, if YOU decided to sew your child Christmas pajamas, then you don’t have to comply. HOWEVER, if it were me, I’d want to make sure I sew with fire-retardant material anyway, to make sure the little one I’m sewing for is safe in the event of a fire.
Like standing too close to a wood stove, or around a campfire, situations we often overlook can be quite detrimental. A spark can ignite a toddlers pajamas in seconds.
I know there is a big movement in the ‘crunchy’ world to sew with fabric that isn’t drenched in fire-retardant, claiming it’s safer for the health and wellbeing of the child, but that depends on several things.
What is your definition of safety? Is it health or is it a safe environment? Maybe it’s both.
That question is answered differently for everyone and I can’t tell you which one is right. It depends on your own beliefs.
But as far as the government is concerned, you MUST abide by the Consumer Product Safety Commission if you want to SELL children’s sleepwear no matter what you believe.
So, don’t start an, ‘all natural fabric’ children’s sleepwear sewing business. You might run into legal red tape, or be sued if someone dies wearing your non-compliant garment.
Regulations
What exactly are the regulations?
In a nutshell, all children’s sleepwear sizes above 9 month to size 14 must be self-extinguishing if caught on fire by a candle, match, lighter, heater, or wood stove, etc.
This is a good thing. Unfortunately many kids play with matches?
You want them to be safe.
The fabric you sew for kids sleepwear has to pass flammability tests or be tight fitting. That means you have to actually hire an agency to test what you sew.
That may seem like a pain in the neck, but regulations are regulations.
Many companies will do this for you at a minimal fee.
Kinds Of Sleepwear
- nightgown
- robe
- loungewear
- pajamas
- sleep sacks
- sleepers
- Anything intended to be worn strictly for sleeping
Testing
There are many companies that will do the testing for you.
If you want to make a line of sleepwear, like children’s Christmas nightgowns for example, You would first make a prototype and get the prototype tested before manufacturing and selling even a small line.
If you don’t know where to start you can go to the Justice Law Website if you are in Canada, or CPSIA if you are in the United States.
Internationally, the children’s sleepwear laws are very similar to the U.S and Canada.
Who Is A Manufacturer
All manufacturers must comply to the flammability regulations, no matter what kind of manufacturer you class yourself as.
- Small Batch – Those who sew a small supply of garments and sell them to the public. Like at a craft show or online through Etsy, or other online or brick and mortar companies. Maybe even one-offs.
- Handmade – Sewing one-offs, or in bulk, for craft shows, are still manufacturers, even if they are classed as handmade. Even if you sew them without the use of a sewing machine, and do it the good old-fashioned way with needle and thread.
- Personal – The only manufacturer that is exempt. If you sew your own children sleepwear you would qualify as personal sewing. Basically anything you do not intend to sell.
Compliance
- Marketing Responsibilities – It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to make sure all children’s sleepwear is compliant to flammability standards. To fail to do so is punishable by law.
- Labeling – There are label laws that take effect under the Federal Trade Commission with regards to children’s sleepwear regulations. You can read more about it here.
- Small Parts Regulations – Buttons, and functional attachments should be tested as well to ensure that children can’t choke on them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it may seem like everyone is out to get you when you try to sew for a living. Children’s sleepwear is difficult to get into because of the fire-retardant regulations, but if you are serious about designing a line of children’s sleepwear, then you’ll go through hoops to get there. I know you will!
Testing won’t stand in your way.
Regulations won’t stand in your way.
Sewing a prototype and getting it tested will just be another step in your business. People spend thousands of dollar to start a business. They buy computers, sewing machines, products, and supplies.
This isn’t any different.
It’s just another expense like any other if you really want to sell children’s sleepwear.
If you are a small enterprise, or you sell one-offs just to make a little money on the side, I’d say stay clear of children’s sleepwear. It may not be worth the investment.
There are many other types of sewing you can do if you have a small handmade business. Just cross children’s sleepwear off the list.
That said, there is always the exception to the rule. But, bear in mind, the whole purpose for these regulations is to keep your little ones safe.
That’s worth more than any money you’ll ever spend testing prototypes.