Can Plush Flowers Pass Children’s Safety Tests? What Every Buyer Should Know
- Annie Zhang
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
When I was at the Canton Fair, a few buyers from the mother-and-baby gift channel stopped by our booth and pointed at our new plush flower display.One of them asked, “Annie, these look adorable — but can they pass children’s safety tests?”
That’s a fair question. Plush flowers are soft, friendly, and almost toy-like, so it’s natural for baby and family product buyers to ask whether they meet the same standards as children’s plush toys.
To be transparent — plush flowers were originally designed for the lifestyle and gift market, not specifically for babies or young children. However, if a customer needs child-safety certification (such as EN71 or ASTM F963), our factory can fully support testing through certified third-party labs like SGS or Intertek and provide corresponding documentation.
Below, I’ll share what these safety standards mean, how testing works, and what you should consider before positioning plush flowers in the children’s category.
Index:
Understanding the Safety Landscape
Globally, three main standards regulate children’s products:
EN71 (EU Toy Safety Directive): Defines mechanical, flammability, and chemical safety for toys sold in Europe.
ASTM F963 (U.S. Toy Safety Standard): Covers heavy metals, sharp edges, and physical strength for children’s toys.
CPSIA (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act): Requires testing and traceable labeling for all children’s goods.
If a plush flower is sold as a toy or intended for children under 14, it must pass these tests.If it’s sold as a gift or décor item, then the certification is not mandatory — but buyers may still request reports for peace of mind, especially in baby or family channels.
At our plush flower factory, the main materials — plush fabric, cotton filling, and stitching thread — are all AZO-free and OEKO-TEX 100 certified, meaning they’re non-toxic and safe for skin contact.
What Determines Whether Plush Flowers Can Pass Safety Tests
When buyers ask me whether plush flowers can pass EN71 or ASTM testing, my answer is: Yes — they can, depending on design and intended use.
Here’s the process we usually follow to assess compliance readiness:
Confirm Product Purpose.
If the product is for home décor or general gifts, no test is legally required.
If it’s for children (especially under 3 years), full testing is necessary.
Evaluate Materials.
Fabrics should be plush polyester or cotton without harmful dyes or finishes.
Fillings must meet flammability resistance and cleanliness standards.
Review Construction.
Avoid any small detachable parts (like plastic buttons or beads).
Check stitching tension to prevent stuffing leakage.
Laboratory Testing (Optional but Recommended).
Common items tested: EN71-1 (Mechanical), EN71-2 (Flammability), EN71-3 (Chemical).
U.S. buyers may also require ASTM F963 and CPSIA documentation.
Certification & Labeling.
After passing, products can be labeled “CE” or “ASTM Certified,” depending on destination market.
We can coordinate this process for our B2B clients who plan to sell through child-related channels.
Comparing Plush Flowers to Other Floral Gifts
Item Type | Main Material | Safety Testing Potential | Target Market | Key Limitation |
Plush Flower | Plush fabric + cotton filling | EN71 / ASTM (if required) | Gift / toy / baby gift | Needs re-design for under-3 use |
Soap Flower | Starch + fragrance | Cosmetic or chemical testing | Adult gifts / décor | Not for children |
Preserved Flower | Real flower + glycerin | REACH / Phytosanitary | Home décor / luxury gifts | Not washable, fragile |
Plastic Flower | PVC / PE | EN71 Part 3 (heavy metals) | Mass gifts / décor | Hard texture |
This comparison shows why plush flowers are such a unique category — soft, cute, and expressive enough for family and baby markets, yet versatile for gifts and décor.
Evidence, Feasibility, and Current Status
While Sweetie-Group’ plush flower series hasn’t yet undergone full EN71 or ASTM certification, our internal material testing meets toy-grade safety baselines. Our production environment follows toy-factory management standards, including:
Dedicated clean production area for plush filling and stitching.
Use of non-toxic, azo-free dyes in all fabrics.
Continuous quality inspection for fabric density and fiber safety.
Based on these controls, we are confident that our plush flowers can pass children’s safety testing once formally submitted — but each design still requires lab verification before official use in the children’s category.
In other words: we’re ready and capable, but we test on demand — not pre-certified by default.
What Buyers Usually Ask
Q: Are Sweetie-Group’ plush flowers safe for children?
A: Yes, they’re made from toy-grade materials. For official child use, we can arrange EN71/ASTM testing.
Q: How long does certification take?
A: Usually 7–15 working days after sample submission.
Q: Can I order before testing is complete?
A: Yes. We can start production for gift channels while testing runs in parallel.
Q: Is it expensive?
A: Typically $300–$800 per design, depending on how many test parts (EN71-1/2/3) are required.
Q: Can you help with documentation?
A: Absolutely. We’ll coordinate lab testing and provide certificates upon completion.
Practical Takeaways
If your brand or retail channel focuses on children’s or family gifts, plush flowers are a safe and trend-forward product — as long as they’re verified through proper testing.
If your main channel is supermarkets, lifestyle, or fashion gifts, the plush flowers are already fully compliant for import as decorative or general gifts.
Our team can provide test coordination, OEM/ODM support, and documentation for whichever compliance path you need.
So, if you’ve been thinking about adding plush flowers to your baby or toy gift collections, this is the perfect time to start the conversation.
References
Warm regards,
CEO, Sweetie-Group
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