When designing products for infants and toddlers, safety is paramount. Every stitch, buckle, and strap must meet the highest standards. While parents see the soft fabrics and sturdy frames of strollers and car seats, it's often the unseen components, like the webbing, that play the most critical role in safety. This is where baby-grade webbing comes in, and not all webbing is created equal.
In this guide, we'll explore what makes webbing truly safe for babies, focusing on material choices like polypropylene (PP) webbing vs. nylon webbing, and the non-negotiable role of the OEKO-TEX® 100 certification.
Material Matters: PP vs. Nylon for Stroller Webbing
The two most common materials for this application are Polypropylene and Nylon. While they may look similar, their properties differ significantly.
- Polypropylene (PP) Webbing: Often chosen for its low cost and water resistance, PP webbing is a common sight on many consumer goods. However, it has lower tensile strength and abrasion resistance than nylon. For safety-critical items like a stroller webbing harness, high-quality, reinforced PP is the minimum, but nylon is often the superior choice.
- Nylon Webbing: Known for its exceptional strength, durability, and smooth, comfortable feel against the skin, nylon webbing is the premium option for high-stress applications. Its inherent strength provides an extra margin of safety for child restraints.
But physical strength is only half the battle. The real question for baby products is: what about chemical safety?
The Gold Standard: What is OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100?
You've likely seen the OEKO-TEX® label, but what does it actually mean? It's a worldwide, independent testing and certification system for raw, semi-finished, and finished textile products at all processing levels.
If a textile article carries the STANDARD 100 label, you can be certain that every component—every thread, button, and other accessory—has been tested for harmful substances and that the article, therefore, is harmless for human health. But for baby products, there's a crucial detail to understand: the Product Class.
Why Product Class 1 is Non-Negotiable for Baby-Grade Webbing
The OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 has four product classes, each with different limit values for harmful substances. The more intensive the skin contact of a product and the more sensitive the skin, the stricter the human-ecological requirements.
- Product Class 1: This is the class for textiles for babies and toddlers up to 3 years of age (e.g., underwear, rompers, bedding, and, critically, webbing for strollers and carriers). It has the strictest requirements and limit values.
- Product Class 2: Textiles used close to the skin (e.g., underwear, bed linen, T-shirts).
- Product Class 3: Textiles used away from the skin (e.g., jackets, belts).
- Product Class 4: Decoration materials (e.g., curtains, tablecloths).
A supplier simply saying their product is "OEKO-TEX certified" is not enough. For any product that will touch a baby's skin, like stroller webbing or high-chair straps, you must demand OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, Product Class 1 certification. This ensures the material is tested for substances like banned Azo dyes, formaldehyde, and heavy metals, and is even verified to be saliva-resistant.
Partner with a Certified Manufacturer
Choosing the right webbing for your baby products isn't just about color and width; it's a declaration of your brand's commitment to safety. Using uncertified materials not only puts children at risk but can also lead to product recalls and damage to your company's reputation.
At TMG Webbing, we take this responsibility seriously. Our premium nylon webbing for infant applications is certified to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, Product Class 1. This guarantees that our webbing is free from harmful substances and is safe enough for the most sensitive skin. Contact our experts today to ensure your products are built with the safety and quality that parents demand and children deserve.