Start with the wearer’s age, sales market, design and intended use. Mark each drawstring, tie, decorative cord and loop at the hood and neck, waist, hem and other locations on the design drawing. Record whether it can be pulled, its free ends, end attachments, fixing method and foreseeable use. Send the complete sample and information to the people responsible for compliance in that market. Cords on children’s clothing can catch on playground equipment or vehicle parts. An adult garment’s cord-length rule, a photograph or a supplier’s general “safe” statement cannot complete the assessment.
This guide helps schoolwear buyers, development and quality teams review designs and prepare information. It does not mean WTBF has produced children’s clothing, holds a related certification or can provide a particular test. Rules differ by market, product type, size, location and cord function. The US rules below apply only within their own scope; they are not a universal pass limit for every child’s knit garment. Keep unreviewed designs pending, and do not treat this guide as a substitute for specialist judgment.
Identify how the garment is worn and what each cord does
Describe the age range, sizing system, markets, school-use context and whether the item is outerwear, an inner layer or something else. Draw and label each cord, tape, decorative loop, tie and detachable component with its material, position, function and attachment points. Include front and back photos and a complete sample. Distinguish a drawstring used to gather an opening, a tie used for fastening and a purely decorative cord. Similar appearance alone does not put them automatically in the same regulatory definition. Record free ends, knots, toggles, loops and combinations that can form loops; inspect the hood and neck, waist, hem, cuffs and back.
The CPSC questions and answers explain that upper outerwear under the relevant US standard is generally worn over other clothing and can include lightweight outerwear. Its drawstring definition concerns a cord, ribbon or tape that cannot fully retract and is used to pull together parts of upper outerwear for closure. Whether a specific cardigan or pullover falls within scope depends on the design, use, size and definitions. Belts are not automatically included in that drawstring rule, but CPSC also notes that particular belt designs can present a substantial product hazard. Being outside one specific rule does not mean there is no risk. The 2013 CPSC bulletin also describes these drawstring and upper-outerwear definitions.
In the US, assess hood and neck separately from waist and hem
16 CFR § 1120.3 places children’s upper outerwear drawstrings that are within scope and do not conform to the referenced requirements on the substantial product hazard list. CPSC’s upper-outerwear guidance states that hood and neck drawstrings on children’s upper outerwear in sizes 2T to 12, or equivalent, present that substantial hazard. Do not treat shortening the hood cord as a substitute for meeting the applicable rule. Submit the design for compliance review and consider removing the drawstring and using another closure.
For children’s upper outerwear in sizes 2T to 16, or equivalent, CPSC describes specific waist and bottom drawstring conditions. When the garment is expanded to its fullest width, the cord may extend no more than 3 inches outside the channel. The free ends must have no toggles, knots or other attachments. If the waist or bottom drawstring is one continuous string, it must be bar tacked to prevent it being pulled through the channel. These conditions apply to that kind of drawstring and the specified sizes; they are not an allowed length for every children’s cord. For letter sizes or size ranges, check equivalence; a single letter on a label cannot by itself exclude applicability.
Prepare a reviewable record for each market
| Item | Record or provide | Decision to obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Child and market | Target ages, size chart, sales territories and school use | Is the product within the relevant local scope? |
| Cord inventory | Location, function, material, free ends, loops, knots and attachments | Is it a drawstring, tie, decoration or another construction? |
| Complete sample | Front, back and detail photos, dimensions, maximum expanded state and fixing method | Does it represent the planned version and relevant sizes? |
| Contact and snagging | Foreseeable actions, possible catch points, design changes and open questions | Which risks need a design change or further assessment? |
| Evidence and decision | Applicable rules and editions, reports, reviewer, date and order scope | Who can approve and which variants remain pending? |
Do not directly apply those US sizes and lengths elsewhere. The European Commission’s textiles page identifies EN 14682 as relevant to cords on children’s clothing. A UK government risk-assessment example discusses a decorative cord on a specific children’s garment. For each market, confirm the law, current edition of relevant standards and their scope. Do not treat a decision for one place as automatic approval elsewhere or assume that requirements are identical.
Inspect the sample rather than relying on a verbal description
Use a complete sample of the planned production version and representative sizes to check the drawing. Mark cord paths, attachment points, free ends, attachments and the maximum expanded state; record measurement points, units, sample version and photos. Explain actual use and foreseeable changes for detachable components or constructions that can form loops. Do not involve children in hazardous snagging, pulling or entanglement tests. Qualified personnel and the laboratory should decide the applicable checks, tests and methods. Retain the report, deviations, design changes and review decisions, linked to the order and retained sample.
Suppose one school cardigan is offered in two designs: A has a hood or neck drawstring; B removes it and uses another closure. If A is within the relevant US upper-outerwear scope and sizes, shortening or knotting the cord is not a substitute for the hood-and-neck drawstring requirement. B still needs review of its closure, other cords and the remaining requirements in the target market. This example supplies no measurement or compliance decision; changing one construction does not automatically make the whole garment safe.
When design, size, supplier, cord material, fixing method or production lot changes, first confirm whether the previous review remains representative, then determine what additional evidence and review are needed. Other applicable requirements for children’s products need separate checks too. The US general clothing flammability guide answers a different question and does not replace a cord review. Confirm whether the supplier can provide samples and documents suitable for the target market for the specific project; do not assume that capability before confirmation.
What to include in an inquiry
Use the WTBF inquiry page to provide the drawing and complete-sample photos, target ages and sizes, school use and sales markets, each cord and closure’s position and purpose, proposed materials and known customer safety requirements. Include estimated quantity per style per color, receiving location, target warehouse arrival date, existing reviews or test information and questions to resolve. Ask the supplier to confirm project feasibility, samples, compliance review, cost and schedule. The target warehouse date is not a promised lead time.