How to inspect plush toys? Plush toy quality inspection standards, factory inspection, and services

Toy products come in many varieties and cover a wide range of fields. Common examples include children's toys, baby toys, plush and stuffed toys, educational toys, electric toys, wooden toys, plastic toys, metal toys, paper toys, and outdoor sports toys. During inspection and quality control, we typically categorize them into two main categories for systematic management:

(1) Soft toys – mainly made of textile materials and filling technology;
(2) Hard toys – mainly made of non-textile materials such as plastic, metal, wood, etc.

This article will focus on plush stuffed toys among soft toys. From the perspective of inspection and testing, it will systematically introduce their fabric classification, structural types and quality inspection points to help relevant practitioners better understand the inspection process and quality control standards for this type of product.

1. Plush fabric types and inspection focus

The fabrics of plush stuffed toys are complex, and during the inspection process, it is important to focus on the material, weaving process, and physical properties. They can be mainly divided into two categories:

A. Warp knitted plush fabric

• Weaving process : It is woven by one or several groups of parallel yarns in the longitudinal direction, and the suede surface is formed after napping.

• Features : full suede, tight fabric, firm hand feel, good longitudinal stability, strong drape, not easy to curl, good breathability; but it is easy to accumulate static electricity and absorb dust, and its lateral elasticity and softness are not as good as weft knitted fabrics.

• Inspection focus : Check the uniformity of the pile surface, dimensional stability, electrostatic treatment process and whether there is any shedding phenomenon.

B. Weft knitted plush fabric

• Weaving process : The weft yarns are bent into loops and interwoven with each other.

• Features : good elasticity and extensibility, soft touch, strong wooly feel; but easy to fall apart and curl, poor moisture absorption, and insufficient stiffness.

• Inspection focus : Pay special attention to edge treatment, pilling resistance, elastic recovery performance and whether it is prone to cracking.

2. Structural classification of plush stuffed toys

In the inspection work, the toys can be divided into two categories according to their structure:

• A. Articulated : These have joints (metal, plastic, or wire) that allow for flexible movement of the limbs. Inspection should focus on ensuring the joints are securely mounted, the absence of sharp edges, and compliance with standards such as EN71 or ASTM F963 for torque and tension testing.

• B. Soft-body : No joints, limbs and body connected by sewing. Inspection should focus on seam strength, filling uniformity, and the absence of damage or leaking of down.

3. Detailed Inspection of Plush Stuffed Toys

1. Age warning label inspection

Plush toys must be equipped with corresponding warning signs according to different age groups. This is one of the key items in the inspection:

• Age groups are usually divided into 3 and 8 years old. In particular, special attention should be paid to the risks of small parts in toys used by children under 3 years old;

• Standards such as European EN71 and American ASTM F963 clearly require that toys not suitable for children under 3 years old must be clearly marked with age warning labels;

• The label should be printed in the language of the country of sale and should include specific risk statements, such as "contains small parts, not suitable for children under 36 months";

• When inspecting the goods, you need to check whether the label is located in a conspicuous place (on the product itself, packaging or instructions), and whether the printing is clear and not easy to fall off.

2. Physical and mechanical properties inspection

Plush stuffed toys must undergo rigorous physical performance tests to ensure they pose no danger under normal use and foreseeable abuse:

• Small parts test : Check whether eyes, noses, buttons, accessories, etc. are easy to fall off. During the inspection, a tensile test (such as 90N tensile force) is required to determine whether there is a suffocation risk.

• Seam strength test : The main seams and accessory seams must be strong. During inspection, simulated abuse tests (such as twisting, pulling, dropping, etc.) are often required to determine whether the seams are open or broken.

• Filling Inspection : Filling materials such as PP cotton and granules must be wrapped in inner bags to prevent leakage. Inspection should check for uniform filling, the absence of foreign matter, mold, or odor, and compliance with environmental and safety standards in various countries.

• Abuse test : including torque, tension, compression, drop and other items. After inspection, the toy shall not have small parts or sharp edges, and the filling shall not leak out.

4. Recommended inspection process and factory inspection focus

In order to fully control quality, it is recommended to combine factory audit with product inspection to ensure that quality standards are implemented from the source of production:

• Factory inspection stage : Check whether the supplier has a complete quality management system, whether it conducts incoming material inspections on fabrics and fillings, whether it has sewing strength testing equipment and age label printing control procedures;

• Sampling standards : AQL sampling plans (such as ISO 2859-1) can be used, with the number of samples set based on the batch size and zero tolerance for critical defects.

• Common defects classification :

  • Serious defects : small parts falling off, filling leaking, age mark missing;

  • Major defects : seam tearing, stains, blurred printing, poor symmetry;

  • Minor defects : slight color difference, thread ends, slight stains, etc.

V. Summary

Inspecting plush and stuffed toys is a systematic and meticulous process, involving multiple steps, including fabric identification, structural inspection, label verification, and physical testing. Only by establishing standardized inspection processes, combining factory inspections with source control, and strictly adhering to international toy standards can we ensure product safety and compliance, reduce recall risks for companies, and provide safe and reliable toys for children.