Children's Clothing Compliance Checklist

Know exactly what your children's clothing needs, one checkbox at a time.

You sew, knit, crochet, or embellish clothing for kids, and you want to sell it the right way. But between lead rules, flammability exemptions, supplier reports, and labels, it's hard to know where to start, or when you're actually done.

This 23-page printable checklist walks you through one product from start to finish, in the order you'll actually do the work. By the last page, you'll know which CPSC rules apply, what's exempt, what your suppliers can cover, and what (if anything) needs a lab.

What's inside

• Small Batch Manufacturer check: confirm you qualify and keep your registration number in one place.
• Quick product check: catch sleepwear, drawstring, and phthalates rules before you buy materials.
• Materials Worksheet: list every component and mark it Exempt, Supplier, My Check, or Lab. Includes a filled-in sample for a dress.
• Exemption checklists for total lead, lead in paint, flammability, and small parts, with the citations you'll need for your certificate.
• "Does NOT count" callouts for HTV, screen prints, DTF, rhinestones, and other common traps.
• Copy-and-paste supplier email, plus what a usable test report looks like (and which ones CPSC won't accept).
• Test plan and certificate walkthrough so your Children's Product Certificate comes together from the work you've already done.
• Labeling checklist with an annotated sample label: tracking info, fiber content, care, and country of origin.
• Record-keeping setup and a Finish Line page, so you know when you're done.
• Quick-reference table of every regulation and citation.

Who this is for

Handmade and small batch makers creating clothing for children 12 and under, including:

• Dresses, shirts, pants, bodysuits, and jackets
• Embellished blanks (HTV, DTF, screen print, appliqué)
• Bibs and cloth diapers
• Hats, hair accessories, gloves, and shoes
• Scarves

Not quite the right fit? If a factory makes your products, my Product Safety Audit for Small Importers is built for you. Making children's sleepwear? The checklist will flag it, but sleepwear has its own stricter flammability rules that aren't walked through step by step here, instead, you'll want the checklist specifically for Children's Sleepwear.

How it works

1. Download your PDF right after checkout. It's also saved in your account on this site, so you can download it again anytime.
2. Print a fresh copy for each product, or open it in an app like Goodnotes to fill it in digitally.
3. Work the steps in order. Every step starts on its own numbered page, so there's no flipping back and forth or losing your place.

Want a hand along the way?

• Components marked "Lab"? I coordinate lead testing and fabric flammability testing with a CPSC-accepted lab.
• Rather not write the certificate yourself? My Done-For-You Children's Product Certificate takes it off your plate.
• Want someone to lean on for every product? That's what Made Legit is for.

Good to know

• 23-page PDF, US Letter size (8.5" × 11").
• Printer-friendly: white backgrounds to save ink.
• Covers US CPSC and FTC requirements for products sold in the US.
• Updated for 2026.
• This is an educational resource, not legal advice.
• Because this is a digital download, it's non-refundable once you check out.