As a parent, you want the safest products for your baby. But walking down store aisles filled with products covered in certification logos can feel overwhelming. Which labels actually matter? What do they really mean? And how can you quickly identify products that meet the highest safety standards?
We've broken down the 6 most important certifications every parent should know when shopping for baby products. These aren't just marketing buzzwords—they're rigorous standards that ensure the products you bring home are truly safe for your little one.
1. GREENGUARD Gold: The Gold Standard for Nursery Air Quality
What it means: Products certified by GREENGUARD Gold meet some of the world's most rigorous chemical emissions standards, ensuring they won't pollute your baby's breathing space.
Why it matters: Babies breathe faster than adults and are more sensitive to airborne chemicals. GREENGUARD Gold certification means furniture, mattresses, and other products have been tested for over 10,000 chemicals and proven to have low emissions.
Look for it on: Cribs, changing tables, dressers, mattresses, rocking chairs, and other nursery furniture.
What to spot: The distinctive GREENGUARD Gold logo, which is different from the standard GREENGUARD certification (Gold has stricter standards for children's products).
2. GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard): Clean Clothes for Clean Consciences
What it means: GOTS is the gold standard for organic textiles, ensuring that products are made from at least 70% organic fibers and meet strict environmental and social criteria throughout the supply chain.
Why it matters: Your baby's skin is their largest organ and incredibly absorbent. GOTS certification means clothing, blankets, and bedding are free from harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, heavy metals, and toxic dyes.
Look for it on: Baby clothes, blankets, sheets, swaddles, burp cloths, and stuffed animals.
What to spot: The official GOTS logo with a certification number. Beware of products that just say "organic" without the GOTS certification—they may not meet the same rigorous standards.
3. USDA Certified Organic: Beyond Food
What it means: While most parents know this certification from food, it also applies to personal care products and textiles. It ensures products are made without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or artificial ingredients.
Why it matters: Babies put everything in their mouths and their skin absorbs what you put on it. USDA Organic ensures lotions, shampoos, and other personal care products are made with ingredients you'd feel comfortable with your baby ingesting.
Look for it on: Baby lotions, shampoos, soaps, diaper creams, and some textiles.
What to spot: The official USDA Organic seal. Products must contain at least 95% organic ingredients to display this logo.
4. OEKO-TEX Standard 100: Textile Safety Made Simple
What it means: This certification tests textiles for over 100 harmful substances at every stage of production, from raw materials to the finished product.
Why it matters: Traditional textile manufacturing can use hundreds of chemicals. OEKO-TEX Standard 100 ensures that what touches your baby's skin has been tested and proven safe.
Look for it on: Clothing, bedding, towels, bibs, and any fabric products.
What to spot: The OEKO-TEX Standard 100 label with a specific test number. Each product is individually tested, so look for the unique certification number.
5. EWG Verified: Science-Based Safety
What it means: The Environmental Working Group (EWG) verifies products that meet their strict standards for ingredient transparency and safety, avoiding ingredients linked to health concerns.
Why it matters: EWG maintains one of the most comprehensive databases of ingredient safety research. Their verification means a product has been thoroughly vetted against the latest scientific findings.
Look for it on: Baby care products, cleaning supplies, sunscreens, and personal care items.
What to spot: The "EWG VERIFIED" mark. EWG also provides ratings for many products even if they're not officially verified, so check their website for product scores.
6. Clean Label Project Verified: Testing Beyond the Label
What it means: This certification tests finished products (not just ingredients) for over 400 industrial and environmental contaminants that can sneak into products during manufacturing.
Why it matters: Even products made with good ingredients can pick up contaminants during production. Clean Label Project testing catches heavy metals, pesticides, and other toxins that standard testing might miss.
Look for it on: Baby food, formula, supplements, and increasingly personal care products.
What to spot: The Clean Label Project Purity Award symbol, which indicates the product scored in the cleanest category for its product type.
Red Flags to Watch For
While shopping, be wary of these misleading terms that sound safe but aren't regulated:
- "Natural" (no legal definition)
- "Non-toxic" (no standardized meaning)
- "Chemical-free" (everything is made of chemicals)
- "Hypoallergenic" (no FDA regulation)
Your Shortcut to Safer Shopping
Researching every product's certifications takes time that busy parents simply don't have. Between diaper changes, feeding schedules, and everything else on your plate, who has hours to decode certification labels?
That's exactly why Simple Steps Market exists. We've already done this research for you. Every product in our marketplace meets these rigorous certification standards, so you can shop with confidence knowing that everything you see has been pre-vetted for safety and quality.
Instead of spending your precious free time reading ingredient lists and researching certifications, you can focus on what matters most—enjoying time with your baby. When you shop Simple Steps Market, you're not just buying baby products; you're investing in peace of mind.
Ready to shop safer? Browse our curated collection of certified baby products and discover the difference that proper vetting makes.
