Baby makes

Knitting or crocheting for a baby: a UK safety checklist

Yes, handmade things can be safe for a baby, but how they’re used matters as much as how they’re made. The NHS says a cot blanket should be tucked in firmly, no higher than the shoulders, and UK safety charities warn about small parts and long cords on toys for under-3s. This checklist gathers what The Lullaby Trust, the NHS, CAPT, RoSPA and the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) say, so you can plan the make before you buy the yarn.

HazelLoop planning guide · Updated 2 November 2026 · Figures from cited sources

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Crochet stitch names on this page use UK terms; US equivalents are marked. Check the terminology in the original pattern too.

Blankets: how it’s used in the cot matters most

None of the guidance we read singles out hand-knitted or crocheted blankets. What the NHS describes is how any blanket is used. If you use blankets instead of a sleeping bag, it advises lying your baby on their back with their feet nearest the foot of the cot or Moses basket, so loose bedding can’t cover their face when they wriggle.

The NHS adds that the blanket should be tucked in firmly, no higher than the shoulders, and not doubled over, as this can cause overheating. It says a cellular cotton blanket is best, because it keeps a baby warm but allows air flow.

The Lullaby Trust’s winter leaflet also says that if you use sheets or blankets, they should be firmly tucked in, and to use layers rather than thick, padded blankets or a duvet. It doesn’t recommend weighted blankets for babies, because their high tog rating can increase the risk of overheating, and because they may restrict a baby’s breathing or positioning.

The NHS also suggests lightweight blankets, sheets or a baby sleeping bag. So if you’re making a blanket for the cot, a lighter one that can be layered fits this guidance better than a thick, heavy one. Either way, it needs to be tucked in, not left loose.

Hats, sleeping bags and keeping the cot clear

A hand-knitted hat is lovely for going out. The NHS advises removing hats and extra clothing as soon as you come indoors or get into a car, bus or train, even if it means waking your baby. The Lullaby Trust also advises removing hats or hoods indoors or in a car so babies don’t overheat.

The NHS says overheating can increase the risk of SIDS, and that babies can overheat from too much bedding or clothing, or a room that’s too hot. It suggests checking your baby’s temperature by feeling their chest or the back of their neck; cool hands or feet are normal.

Some makes are best left out of the cot altogether. The NHS advises keeping the cot clear of anything that could cover a baby’s face and head, and not using pillows, duvets, cot bumpers, loose blankets or soft toys. The Lullaby Trust says it doesn’t recommend cot bumpers, citing cases where babies became entangled in the ties and material.

On sleeping bags, the NHS says a bag should fit well around the shoulders so the baby’s head can’t slip down into it, with no other bedding. CAPT says a sleeping bag should be without a hood and the right size to stop the baby wriggling down into it.

Toys for under-3s: small parts and eyes

CAPT explains that babies and toddlers are curious and naturally put everything in their mouths, so under-3s are most at risk from dangerous toys. It says anything smaller than a 2 pence piece can choke a young child.

Eyes are the part to think about first. In one OPSS product safety report, a knitted plush toy was rejected at the border because its eyes could detach or break off, creating small parts that pose a choking risk to young children, particularly those under 36 months.

Neither CAPT nor OPSS says which type of eye to use. They do give checks you can apply to your own toy. CAPT suggests giving the parts a quick tug to check for small parts that come off, and looking for access to stuffing. RoSPA lists toys with small parts which detach, and toys with loose pile fabric or hair which sheds easily, among those to avoid.

If you’d rather not add any hard parts at all, features stitched in yarn are an option. Whatever you choose, check the toy again as it gets played with. RoSPA advises checking toys for wear that reveals filling, and repairing or throwing them away if they’re no longer safe.

Ribbons, ties and dummy holders

CAPT says some babies have been strangled by looped cords hanging into their cot, including a ribbon trailing into the cot. If a cot toy has ribbons, it advises keeping them short and taking the toy out of the cot when your baby goes to sleep.

If you’re making a dummy holder, CAPT says having no cord on a dummy is safer than tying it to your baby’s clothes. If you still want to, it advises keeping the ribbon shorter than 150 mm (6 inches). RoSPA says it does not advocate any cord being placed around any baby’s neck at any time.

For clothes, an OPSS risk assessment summarises the clothing standard, EN 14682. Garments for young children shouldn’t have drawstrings or functional cords in the head, neck or upper chest area, and decorative cords aren’t allowed anywhere on the hood or at the back of the neck. Elsewhere on the neck and upper chest, decorative cords should have free ends no longer than 7.5 cm, with no knots or toggles, and shouldn’t be placed so they can tie across the throat. The case OPSS assessed was a baby top with a 342 mm decorative cord tied into a bow at the front of the neck. The assessment doesn’t mention bonnets, but ties that fasten under the chin are cords in the head and neck area, so it’s worth choosing the fastening before you cast on.

Common baby makes, the risk the sources describe, and what they suggest instead. Summaries of the linked guidance, read 2 November 2026; not a full safety assessment.
Make	Risk the source describes	What to do instead	Source
Cot blanket	Loose bedding covering the face; overheating if doubled over	Feet to foot, tucked in firmly, no higher than the shoulders; light layers	NHS; The Lullaby Trust
Weighted blanket	High tog; may restrict breathing or positioning	Not recommended for babies	The Lullaby Trust
Hat or hood	Overheating indoors	Take it off indoors and in the car	NHS; The Lullaby Trust
Cot bumper	Entanglement in ties and material; falls from pulling up on them	Don’t use; keep the cot clear	NHS; The Lullaby Trust
Toy with safety eyes, buttons or other attached parts	Parts detaching and choking	Tug-test every part; check access to stuffing	OPSS; CAPT
Toy in yarn that sheds	Loose pile or hair shedding and choking	Avoid yarns or pile that shed easily, especially for under-3s	RoSPA
Cot toy with ribbons	Looped cords and ribbons in the cot	Short ribbons; remove at sleep time	CAPT; RoSPA
Dummy holder	Cord looping round the neck	No cord is safer; if used, ribbon under 150 mm	CAPT; RoSPA
Bonnet or top with ties	Cords catching round the neck	No drawstrings or functional cords at the head or neck; decorative ends 7.5 cm at most, never tying across the throat	OPSS (PRISM)

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Selling handmade toys in Great Britain

This isn’t legal advice, just a summary of what the official guidance says. The guidance below is for England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland follows different rules, so check with Trading Standards there. The Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 cover products designed or intended for use in play by children under 14. GOV.UK guidance says the responsibilities apply when a person is acting in the course of a commercial activity, whether for payment or free of charge.

That guidance says a regular seller on an online marketplace would not be exempt. It also says individuals producing toys on an occasional basis to give to charities to sell are likely to be exempt.

For a manufacturer, the GOV.UK list of obligations includes a safety assessment, the applicable conformity assessment procedure, technical documentation, a declaration of conformity and a UKCA or CE marking. It also covers identifying the toy and maker on the toy (or, if that isn’t possible, on the packaging), giving instructions for safe use and any warnings, and keeping the documentation for 10 years. GOV.UK says businesses can use either CE or UKCA marking on the GB market.

Business Companion, the Trading Standards guidance site, notes that the ‘not suitable for under-3s’ symbol must never appear on toys that are suitable for children under three, such as soft-bodied toys. It says that if you make toys as well as sell them, there are many more requirements, and suggests contacting your local Trading Standards service for advice.

Our sources and what we didn’t find

We read every source linked below on 2 November 2026. The Lullaby Trust’s own website blocked our automated check, so we quote its ‘Safer sleep in winter’ leaflet from a copy hosted on an NHS trust website. Its main safer-sleep pages may have newer wording.

We didn’t find authoritative UK guidance on pompoms, on choosing embroidered or plastic safety eyes, or on which fibres to use for babies, so we don’t make claims about them. Keep the ball band and pass its care instructions on with the gift. If you have a question about a particular baby’s health, ask a health visitor or GP.

Check before you move on

Plan blankets to be tucked in firmly, no higher than the shoulders
Choose light layers over thick or weighted blankets
Take knitted hats off indoors and in the car
Keep bumpers, pillows and soft toys out of the cot
Tug-test eyes and every small part on a toy
Keep ribbons short and cords away from the neck
Pass on the ball band’s care instructions
Selling toys? Read the GOV.UK guidance and ask Trading Standards

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Common questions

Can I give a hand-knitted or crocheted blanket for a cot?

The NHS doesn’t rule out blankets. It says a blanket should be tucked in firmly, no higher than the shoulders, with the baby’s feet near the foot of the cot, and not doubled over. It says a cellular cotton blanket is best because it allows air flow.

Should a baby sleep in a knitted hat?

The NHS advises removing hats and extra clothing as soon as you come indoors or get into a car, bus or train, even if it means waking your baby. The Lullaby Trust lists babies sleeping in hats or hoods among the things it doesn’t recommend, and advises removing them indoors or in a car so babies don’t overheat.

Are safety eyes OK on a toy for a baby?

The sources we read don’t approve or ban a type of eye. An OPSS safety report describes a knitted toy that was rejected at the border because its eyes could detach and become a choking risk for under-3s. CAPT suggests tugging each part to check nothing comes off.

How long can a dummy clip ribbon be?

CAPT says having no cord on a dummy is safer. If you do tie it to clothes, it advises keeping the ribbon shorter than 150 mm (6 inches) to reduce the risk of strangulation.

Do I need a UKCA mark to sell knitted toys?

In Great Britain, GOV.UK says the toy rules apply to anyone acting in the course of a commercial activity, and lists a UKCA or CE marking among a manufacturer’s obligations. Occasional makers giving toys to charities to sell are likely to be exempt. Ask your local Trading Standards service about your situation.

Sources and scope

All sources were read on 2 November 2026. The Lullaby Trust leaflet is quoted from a copy hosted on an NHS trust website because lullabytrust.org.uk could not be checked automatically. HazelLoop is not a medical or legal authority; follow the linked guidance. Label facts come from the linked references; worked purchase examples and arithmetic are our own illustrations. Original pattern and product names retain their source spelling.

How much yarn do I need? All UK wool quantity guides

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