CE Testing – Don’t Be a Dummy!

Quick question when/if you buy handmade bibs, toys, comforters, dummy tags, slings etc from Facebook do you check if these are CE tested?

I love a good discussion me. I posted this question on my personal Facebook page and here is what I have learn’t.

Erica from Odds & Soxlets comprehensive article about CE testing is one of the most popular on my blog. She and Nicky from AmaraBay are great examples of how they use Facebook to ensure there customers know that their products are safe and conform by using images of products being tested and what EN they conform too. But as a parent/customer is this something that you check? I would suspect many of us don’t and just assume products are safe and fit for purpose.

Being a bit of a CE Guru Erica suggests that “most people don’t even know what the CE logo stands for! Toys need to be CE marked and tested against the toy safety directive but there are no specific safety regs for bibs or baby clothing etc. dummy tags/clips have a set of standards to follow but don’t need to be CE marked and tag blankets are a grey area some trading standards consider them a toy and others don’t!”

Resources : CE Marking Support Network Facebook Group
CE testing

There was a stage when people made dummy clips with stuck on beads these have been declared now as illegal as they don’t conform to EN12586 and EN71 parts 1,2 and 3 and more importantly were a potential chocking hazard.  Dummy Clips made with threaded beads, fabric or cord are deemed safe if they conform to the above CE criteria. It’s paramount as a customer you check this but also as a business you know what you can and can’t do. “The beaded dummy clips in my collections surpass all safety testing, and have just this week been tested by Trading Standards in randomised anonymous tests of dummy clips and teething jewellery, all of which were passed as safe, and giving approval by Trading Standards in the UK.” Mama and Belle I particularly like their Safety Page as it makes me feel like the business takes safety serious but knows what the requirements are for every single product.

Pretty Little Polka Dot has an excellent and comprehensive blog post from length or cord (22cm) to how you go about self certification CE Testing for Dummy Clips. Well worth a read.




Trading Standards are beginning to clamp down on those using the CE marking illegally and those who don’t even consider that it applies to them.  This can only be music to the ears of those makers who do produce correctly CE marked products.  Long gone are the days when you can make “pin money” from a hobby making toys, if you take the money you are a business. 

When starting a small business the most important aspect in a “start-up” is RESEARCH!  So much time and effort is put into sourcing materials, deciding where to sell products and pricing as a crafter you MUST research your market too, checking for any rules, regulations that apply to the products you plan to sell. You must register self-employed and have correct insurances.

Next time you buy a handmade product aimed at children check it’s tested.

For more tips on developing your craft-based business check out my book “Crafting a Successful Small Business”

crafting a successful small business
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40 Comments

  1. April 30, 2014 / 2:13 pm

    Thanks for this – the idea of CE testing hadn’t even occurred to me, and I buy a lot of hand made stuff. When you buy stuff, even if it’s from a small outlet, you tend to think “well it must be safe, or they wouldn’t be allowed to sell it…”
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    • May 1, 2014 / 9:19 pm

      I agree you would “expect” things to be safe. But I think with things like people selling on Facebook it is a bit harder to police these things. Hopefully making consumers aware will play a bit role in stamping out unsafe products.

  2. tracy sutherland
    June 12, 2015 / 2:31 am

    what is the correct length for basic dummy clips

  3. June 13, 2015 / 6:47 am

    Tracy I think it’s 22cm BUT you should check this with your local council and trading standards.

  4. Courtney-lee Merrishaw
    July 3, 2016 / 10:36 pm

    How do i go about testing my dummy clips and how much would if cost?

  5. alice davies
    October 7, 2016 / 1:17 pm

    Can anyone give me advice on dummy clips please and make sure im doing with in law

  6. hannah
    November 16, 2016 / 1:44 pm

    Can anyone give me tips on regulations for teething necklaces. Was planning to buy the beads on line from china-they state they are bpa free and good grade and then make them at home to sell in a friends craft shop or online. My mum was worried about liability for choking. I see lots of sellers on Amazon and eBay but want to stay within the law. What’s my next step?

  7. Marie
    January 31, 2017 / 7:07 pm

    Can anyone give me advice regarding an elephant comfort blanket. Trading standards don’t seem too sure about the marking and I’m going to do it to be safe. Do I test the elephant and the blanket?

    Thank you marie

  8. Suzy Olivier
    February 2, 2017 / 3:07 pm

    Hi,
    Could you please tell me where I can find the official document/ statement saying that all beaded dummy clips are illegal in the UK? I know that ones that aren’t safety tested and don’t completely conform to EN12586 are. But I was informed by trading standards and my testing houses in the UK and abroad that safety tested beaded dummy clips are perfectly acceptable to produce and sell.
    Thanks.

    • October 8, 2017 / 6:26 pm

      Thank you for your help in re-writing this post. With specific EN testing numbers.

  9. February 19, 2017 / 8:31 pm

    Pleas can you tell me, if I have to get baby bandana bibs tested if I would like to sell them? If so how would I go about this please? I buy my fabric and kam snaps (used for fastening) from the same supplier and use terry nappies for the backing.

    • February 21, 2017 / 10:30 am

      Hi Kirsty, thank you for stopping by. Bandana bibs do not come under the toy safety regulations so long as they are indented for use by a child. They do however need a break away feature (such as Velcro to avoid strangulation). Having said that if you are making them as an accessory to use as a doll/toy/baby dress up item then yes they would indeed require toy safety testing and CE marking. Hope that helps. Do let me know if I can help any further.

  10. Pam Whitham
    March 7, 2017 / 7:41 pm

    I would be grateful if you could advise me please. I make fabric dolls pram/bedding sets do these need to be CE tested too? I have searched the internet and various regulations but I am unable to find any information.

    Thank you

  11. Cheryl
    March 14, 2017 / 8:22 pm

    Can you help me find out the what I need to do and know to make dummy clips , teething silicone bead necklaces the product is a self making kit on eBay and comes with a all the necessary requirements for them to sell it but do I need to meet any requirements to resell as an actual product made to use, all the baby materials are 100% food grade silicone BPA&TOXIN free what i have looked into buying .. feeling a bit baffled by it all

  12. Alicia
    March 19, 2017 / 9:28 am

    Hi,
    Could you give some information about the regulations for selling baby/children blankets, mats, muslin cloths?
    Thank you

  13. Sue kay
    March 25, 2017 / 9:29 am

    Hi could you give me some information regarding book bag beaded name tags on a key ring for school age children please. Do these need to be ce tested and if so how do I do this? Thank you.

  14. SANDRA RUSSELL
    April 17, 2017 / 3:52 am

    I fully understand CE testing but find the labelling ambiguous, to say the least. The label implies that the toy has been CE tested when, in fact, it hasn’t. Only one toy in a batch is tested but that isn’t sold as the testing has destroyed it. In short none of the toys that you buy with a label has been tested because if it had it wouldn’t exist. The fire test is to make sure that there is time for a child to drop the toy before it is destroyed by flames. That toy may well pass but the hand knitted cardigan that the child is wearing wouldn’t. It could have bling, beads, buttons, feathers, all choking hazards, long ribbons and cords, both strangulation hazards and nearly all yarns go up in flames very easily, yet no testing has to be done. A toy can be dropped but an item of clothing can’t.

  15. Sydnie corley
    July 28, 2017 / 9:53 am

    Hi. What test kit do I need for baby bibs, comferters and nappies winners please.

  16. Helen Caroline O'Toole
    November 27, 2017 / 1:52 am

    Don’t know if you can help? I’m looking to make doll carriers to sell in my Etsy Shop. All the testing seems okay, apart from I can’t seem to find any information about the length of straps. All I can find is that you need to adhere to the directive, but then I can’t find anything on what length this is. ☹️ I’ve spent days trawling through big documents with no luck. Any help would be greatly appreciated! x

  17. Joye Martyn
    December 14, 2017 / 9:29 am

    Hi, do you have any advice on if bandana dribble bibs need to be labelled with fibre content etc? Or could you point me in right direction of where I could research please? Thanks

  18. Nicola
    September 11, 2018 / 9:48 am

    Hi wonder if you could help me im desperate for help & cant find any answers!
    I want to make baby bows,turbans, hairbands, frilly socks &knickers however im worried ablut choking hazards??
    Is it enough to put a label on my items that says choking hazard& is a garment not a toy, not to be worn when sleeping, (should i also put on not suitable for 0-3 even though their for babies…ive noticed in all t shops they r tiny for babies,yet all have t same warning sticker)

    So basically if i have public liability&a label is that all i need to do? Im desperate 2 get started but want to make sure im.legal js so hard when no1 can tell me. Many many thanks in advance!!

  19. Deborah
    August 19, 2019 / 9:10 am

    Hi Joanne
    Do you know if I need any kind of testing for a children’s apron?

    • August 19, 2019 / 2:06 pm

      I *think* this comes under clothing not toys but my best advice would be to check out the CE testing group on Facebook and check with trading standards.

  20. February 1, 2020 / 8:55 am

    Hi please could you let me know if you know weather a pram charm accessory needs to be CE tested? It’s an adults pram accessory not for children.

  21. Maisey Fryer
    May 11, 2020 / 1:03 pm

    I would love some guidance on this if anyone would be able to help me. I’ve just started my own little business making teething rings out of silicone beads. I have looked into getting them tested but it is so expensive! Do teething rings need to be safety tested in a lab or is there another way? I would love someone to talk me through it as I’m really stuck! Thank you so much! X

  22. Diane Price
    October 25, 2020 / 12:23 am

    Very informative. I’m one of those people who don’t have a clear idea of what the CE logo means, so I’m glad to come across your post. Thanks for sharing!

  23. Kimberley
    November 2, 2020 / 9:35 pm

    Hi, could you help me please. I am making a toy with a round body (think very large peg doll) and elastic going through the centre with wooden beads on either end as hands. How big do these need to be? If it passes the safety tests without the balls detaching would that be a pass? The balls on their own would be smaller than the ‘small parts’ template allows, but they are attached to the main doll which is much larger. How does this work? Thanks.

  24. Emma Martin Martin
    February 19, 2021 / 8:06 pm

    Hi
    I am after some advice and i wondered if you can help me
    I make hair bows and was wondering if they need to be CE tested.
    I want to start off legal before i start selling them
    Thanks
    Emma