Home / Crib toys and mobiles: requirements

Last reviewed: September 2026 · Copy link

Crib toys and mobiles: requirements

Crib and playpen toys carry their own CPSC requirements precisely because a sleeping infant is tethered inches from the product: cords, strings, and ribbons must be short enough to prevent entanglement, attachment clamps must hold under load, and small parts must not separate. The toy standard, lead rules, and the CPC all apply, and the generator below produces the certificate from your test data.

The crib-specific hazard rules

  • Cord and string length limits for products intended to be strung across a crib or playpen.
  • Attachment clamp strength: the product must stay attached after loading.
  • Small parts after use-and-abuse testing: crib toys are mouthed and hammered by design.
  • Movable parts clearance so fingers and heads cannot be trapped.

Mobiles: the hanging version of the same rules

Mobiles add reach and height dimensions: the CPSC guidance expects the mobile to be out of the child’s reach and removed when the child can push up. Sellers should design the attachment for the crib rail thickness range, document it, and warn about removal timing in the manual: a mobile that becomes a grab toy is a different hazard.

Questions people ask

What cord length is allowed for crib toys?

The toy standard and crib-toy provisions limit accessible cords and strings for crib products to prevent entanglement; follow the limits in the standard your lab tests against, and design the product to pass with margin.

Do mobiles need their own CPC separate from other toys?

Each product gets its own certificate: a mobile is a distinct product with its own testing scope, even if it shares a brand.

Are crib toys subject to the small parts ban?

Yes: crib toys are used by infants, so small parts rules and the other under-3 provisions apply, plus the entanglement-specific requirements.

Related guides