How to Read Baby Product Labels: GOTS, OEKO-TEX, GREENGUARD Gold & More

Published October 29, 2026 · Non-Toxic Baby & Screen-Free Play Directory

A plain-English decoder for the logos and claims on baby clothes, crib mattresses, cups and toys, so you can tell a real third-party certification from a marketing word.

Baby gear is covered in badges: leaves, checkmarks, "eco," "pure," "non-toxic." Some of those badges mean an independent organization tested the product or audited the factory. Others mean nothing beyond what the brand chose to print. This guide walks through the labels you will run into most often in a nursery or toddler kitchen, what each one does and does not tell you, and how to check that a certification is real before you buy.

Certification vs. Claim: The One Distinction That Matters

A certification is issued by an outside body against a published standard. It usually comes with a license or certificate number you can look up. A claim is a word the brand uses about itself. "Natural," "clean," "eco-friendly," "chemical-free" and even "non-toxic" are claims. They are not illegal to use, and some brands that use them make excellent products, but the word alone is not evidence of anything.

When you are comparing two products, give more weight to the one that names a specific standard and lets you verify it. When a listing only says "certified" without naming by whom, ask the seller which certificate they mean.

Textiles: Clothing, Swaddles, Sheets and Sleep Sacks

GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard)

GOTS covers organic fiber content and the processing chain: spinning, dyeing, finishing and sewing. Every company in the chain has to be certified, and the standard restricts which chemical inputs (dyes, finishes and auxiliaries) can be used. GOTS also includes environmental and social criteria for the factories.

• "Organic" label grade: at least 95% certified organic fiber.
• "Made with organic materials" label grade: at least 70% certified organic fiber.

A genuine GOTS label shows the GOTS logo, the label grade, the certification body and a license number. If a product only says "made with organic cotton" without the GOTS logo, it may still contain organic cotton, but nobody has certified the processing.

OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100

OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 is a harmful-substance test on the finished textile, including thread, buttons, snaps and prints. It is not an organic label, and it works for any fiber, including polyester. The standard has four product classes, and Class I is the strictest, intended for items for babies and children up to age 3. For baby clothing and bedding, Class I is the one you want to see.

Every genuine OEKO-TEX label carries a certificate number. You can type it into the OEKO-TEX Label Check on their website to confirm it is valid and see which product class it covers.

Which one should you prioritize?

They answer different questions. GOTS tells you how the fiber was grown and processed; OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 tells you the finished item was screened for a long list of restricted substances. Many good baby brands carry both. If you have to choose, for pieces that touch skin all day (sleepers, swaddles, crib sheets) either one is a meaningful step up from an unverified claim. See our organic crib sheet comparison and organic swaddles & sleep sacks guide for examples.

Mattresses, Furniture and Foam

GREENGUARD and GREENGUARD Gold

GREENGUARD certification (run by UL Solutions) measures chemical emissions into indoor air, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). GREENGUARD Gold uses stricter limits and covers more chemicals, and it is designed with sensitive spaces such as schools and healthcare settings in mind. You will see it on crib mattresses, cribs, dressers, changing pads and paint.

What it does not tell you: whether the materials are organic, or whether the product meets the separate federal safety rules for cribs and mattresses. Those are different questions, and a crib still needs to meet current CPSC crib standards no matter what other badges it has. Our GREENGUARD Gold crib mattress guide goes deeper.

CertiPUR-US

CertiPUR-US applies to polyurethane foam in mattresses, pads and furniture. Certified foam is tested for emissions and made without certain flame retardants and other substances on the program's restricted list. It is a foam program only; it says nothing about the cover fabric or glue.

Organic mattress claims

For mattresses that say "organic," look for GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) on latex, and GOTS on the finished mattress or its cotton and wool components. "Organic cotton cover" on its own only describes the cover.

Feeding: Bottles, Cups, Plates and Storage

• "BPA-free": a useful baseline, but it only tells you one chemical is absent. It is not a certification.
• Food-grade silicone: look for brands that say which food-contact standard they test to. Many cite FDA food-contact rules, and some also cite LFGB, the German food-contact standard. A brand confident in its testing will usually share a report if you ask.
• 18/8 (304) stainless steel: a common, well-understood food-grade steel. Check whether any painted or coated surfaces touch food or lips.
• Glass: borosilicate and tempered glass are both used for bottles and storage; sleeves add drop protection.
• Lead and cadmium: for ceramics and painted dishware, look for brands that publish third-party lead and cadmium test results. Our lead-safe kids dinnerware guide covers what to ask.

Toys and Art Supplies

ASTM F963 and CPSIA

In the US, toys for children 12 and under must meet the toy safety standard ASTM F963, and children's products must be tested by a CPSC-accepted third-party lab and backed by a Children's Product Certificate under the CPSIA. These are legal requirements, not bonus badges, so seeing them is the floor rather than a premium. They are still worth checking on marketplace listings from sellers you don't recognize; you can ask the seller for the certificate.

Wood finishes

For wooden toys, look for clear statements about the finish: water-based paints, plant oils or beeswax, and whether the brand tests the finished toy to ASTM F963 (or the European EN 71 standard). "Natural wood" alone says nothing about the paint.

The AP Seal on art supplies

Crayons, paints and play dough often carry the AP (Approved Product) Seal from the Art & Creative Materials Institute (ACMI), which means the product was reviewed by a toxicologist under ACMI's program. It is the most useful label in the craft aisle. See our non-toxic art supplies for toddlers guide.

Red-Flag Words That Prove Nothing on Their Own

• "Non-toxic" with no named standard.
• "Chemical-free" (everything is made of chemicals, so this tells you nothing).
• "Natural," "pure," "clean," "eco" with no certification attached.
• "Organic" on a textile with no GOTS or other organic certification logo.
• "Lab tested" without saying which lab, which standard, or offering the report.
• Logos you can't look up: a leaf or checkmark badge that doesn't link to any organization.

How to Verify a Label in Two Minutes

1. Find the number. GOTS, OEKO-TEX and GREENGUARD labels all come with a license or certificate number.
2. Look it up on the certifier's own website (GOTS public database, OEKO-TEX Label Check, UL's product directory).
3. Match the scope. Make sure the certificate covers this product or this component, not just a different item from the same brand.
4. Check recalls. Certifications don't replace a quick search on CPSC.gov/Recalls, especially for secondhand gear.

Quick Cheat-Sheet by Product

• Sleepers, swaddles, sheets: GOTS and/or OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 Class I.
• Crib mattress: GREENGUARD Gold; GOTS/GOLS if you want organic; CertiPUR-US if it contains foam.
• Crib, dresser, changing table: GREENGUARD Gold for emissions, plus current CPSC crib rules for the crib.
• Bottles and cups: named food-contact standard for silicone, 18/8 steel or glass.
• Toys: ASTM F963 / Children's Product Certificate; finish details for wood.
• Crayons and paints: ACMI AP Seal.
• Play mats: PVC-free materials plus third-party testing; see our play mat guide.

Our printable bundle includes a one-page certification cheat-sheet you can keep on your phone or print for the store, so you are not trying to remember all of this in the aisle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is OEKO-TEX the same as organic?

No. OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 tests the finished textile for a list of restricted substances and works with any fiber. GOTS is the label that certifies organic fiber content and the processing chain.

What does GREENGUARD Gold mean on a crib mattress?

It means the product passed UL's stricter chemical-emissions testing for indoor air. It does not certify organic materials, and the mattress still has to meet the separate federal safety rules for crib mattresses.

How do I check if a GOTS or OEKO-TEX label is real?

Find the license or certificate number on the label or listing and look it up on the certifier's own website: the GOTS public database or the OEKO-TEX Label Check. Make sure the certificate covers the product you are buying.

Does 'BPA-free' mean a cup or bottle is non-toxic?

It only means one specific chemical is not used. It is a reasonable baseline but not a certification. Glass, 18/8 stainless steel and food-grade silicone from brands that name their food-contact testing give you more information.

This article is general information, not medical or safety advice. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions, check CPSC recalls, and ask your pediatrician about your child's specific needs.