Safety Reminders

If your stuffed animal contains small parts (like plastic button eyes), detachable accessories, or beans/pellets, you must include this mandatory safety warning:
Warning: Not suitable for children under 3 years.

ShumiBun wants to keep your children safe. We will indicate safety warnings where needed.

This is a gentle reminder of the safety precautions below:

Depending on the design and region, here are the key guidelines for stuffed animal age warnings:
Choking Hazards (Mandatory Labeling): In the US, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and in the EU, the Toy Safety Directive require toys with small parts, small balls, or detachable components to state that they are unsafe for children under three.
Sleep Safety: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and safe sleep experts recommend keeping all stuffed animals out of a baby's sleep space until at least 12 months to prevent accidental suffocation. Many manufacturers include a secondary advisory for this: "Recommended for ages 12 months and up."
General Plush Guidelines: If your stuffed animal is made entirely of soft fabric with no loose parts, hard eyes, or accessible pellets, it is generally considered safe for all ages. However, it is standard practice to label plush toys with an appropriate age range to help parents make safe choices.
Stuffed animals generally cater to specific age ranges based on developmental milestones and safety:
  • Birth to 12 Months: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no soft toys or plushies in a crib during sleep. Plushies should be kept out of the sleep space to prevent suffocation or SIDS.
12 to 18 Months: Toddlers can begin having a small, lightweight stuffed animal for comfort. Safety is paramount—plushies should be free of button eyes, beads, or loose ribbons, and feature entirely embroidered faces.
1 to 3 Years: Children use soft toys for tactile comfort and sensory development. Machine-washable toys are highly recommended.
3 to 5 Years:
Plushies become central figures in imaginative roleplay.
6 Years and Up: Older children often rely on stuffed animals for emotional support, nostalgia, or bedroom decor. There are no age limits for owning stuffed animals.
When shopping, always check the manufacturer’s label and safety tags, as many retailers categorize their plush options into specific developmental brackets such as Birth-24 Months, 2-4 Years, and 5-7 Years.