Do I need insurance or safety labels to sell children’s items on Etsy?

Hi! Etsy doesn’t require you to carry liability insurance to open a shop, but you are responsible for making sure your children’s items meet the safety laws that apply where you sell (and Etsy can remove listings if something is unsafe or prohibited). For safety labels/warnings: yes, you should add clear age-appropriate warnings and labeling when your design includes small parts, ties/drawstrings, or anything that could create a choking/strangulation risk—but the exact wording and whether a warning is enough (vs. the product being outright non-compliant for a certain age) depends on the product type and the age it’s intended for.

Liability insurance (do you “need” it?)

• Not required by Etsy, but strongly worth considering for kids’ products because claims can be expensive even if you did everything right.
• Etsy’s seller/buyer protection programs and shipping coverage aren’t product liability insurance (they won’t protect you if someone claims your product injured a child).
• If you do get insurance, tell the broker/insurer exactly what you make (baby/toddler vs. older kids; clothing vs. toys; small parts; sleepwear; etc.), because coverage and requirements can change based on that.

Safety labels & warnings (what you should do in practice)
Start by deciding (and consistently stating) the intended age range for each item. That “age grading” drives what’s allowed and what labels/tests you may need.

A practical approach many Etsy sellers use:

• If it could be used by under-3s (or looks like a baby/toddler item): don’t rely on a warning label to “fix” a choking hazard. In many categories, small parts for under-3 products are simply not acceptable—so the safer route is to redesign to remove small, detachable parts (buttons, small bows, loose beads, weakly attached snaps, etc.).
• If it’s for ages 3+ (or older): if small parts are present or could become loose with reasonable wear/tear, add a clear choking hazard warning and keep your photos/description consistent with the stated age (don’t photograph it on a toddler if you’re labeling it 3+).

For items with ties, cords, or drawstrings (especially anything worn around the neck/hood area), be extra careful—these can be treated as a serious safety risk. Often the best solution is, again, designing them out (use snaps/Velcro/breakaway features where appropriate) rather than depending on a warning.

Labeling you may need (US + selling internationally)
If you’re in the US and selling children’s products, you may run into requirements like:

• Tracking labels (identifying info on the product/packaging “to the extent practicable”).
• Children’s Product Certificate (CPC) for many children’s products, which is typically supported by compliance testing (lead, certain chemicals, etc.), depending on materials/product type.

If you sell into the UK/EU, newer rules (like the EU’s general product safety requirements) can add obligations around compliance info and having the right “responsible person” setup, depending on your situation.

What I’d do before you list your first kids’ item

1. Pick the intended age range for each product and design to that age (don’t try to “label your way out” of hazards for baby/toddler items).
2. For anything with small parts: do a serious attachment/pull/twist check and assume kids will chew/tug. If there’s any doubt, redesign.
3. Add straightforward warnings in your Etsy listing description and on a small insert/tag when relevant (choking hazard; adult supervision; not for under X; keep away from sleep; etc.).
4. If you plan to scale, consider getting product liability insurance early, and ask the insurer what labeling/testing they expect for your category.

If you tell me what you’re making (for example: hair bows with clips, stuffed items, clothing, pacifier clips, quiet books, jewelry, capes/costumes, etc.) and the intended age range, I can suggest the most common safety “red flags” and what to label vs. what to redesign so you’re in a much safer zone.