DIY Toy Testing: What You Can Do Before Sending to a Lab

Why DIY Toy Testing Matters (Even If You’re Going to a Lab Anyway)

Look—we know what you’re thinking. “Why bother testing my toy at home if I’m just going to send it to a lab anyway?”

Simple: because labs are expensive, buyers are impatient, and launching a toy with preventable failures? That’s a money-burning, soul-crushing disaster waiting to happen.

DIY toy testing is like pre-gaming your compliance: it won’t replace the official dance, but it will make sure you don’t show up wearing clown shoes. Done right, it saves you time, cash, and embarrassment when retailers start asking tough questions.

And trust us—they will ask.

What Retailers Expect When They Hear “Toy Testing”

Retail buyers in 2025 are no longer “wooed” by enthusiasm or quirky concepts. They expect documentation. Proof. Receipts.

✦ Certifications (EN71, CPSIA, ASTM, CE)

Depending on your markets, the absolute must-haves include:

• CE + EN71 Parts 1-3 for Europe

• ASTM F963 + CPSIA for the US

• ISO 8124 if you’re selling in Asia or Australia

If you’re not ready for these, you’re not ready for retail.

✦ Lab Reports vs. Internal Brand Documentation

While only accredited labs can issue compliance reports, many buyers also want to see:

• Age grading rationale

• Bill of Materials

• Packaging layout with safety icons

✦ Buyer Red Flags

🚩 “Testing in progress”

🚩 “We haven’t tested yet but it’s totally safe”

🚩 “It’s just a prototype” (so why are you pitching it to a major chain?)

Your At-Home Toy Safety Checklist: The Basics

Let’s talk about what you can do at home (or in your workshop) to test your toy like a pro.

✦ Sharp Point and Small Parts Assessment

Use your fingers and a critical eye:

• Any sharp edges or points?

• Loose components that could detach?

  Use a toy safety caliper or make your own from EN71 specs.

✦ Drop Testing for Durability

Drop it from 85cm onto a hard surface (EN71 standard).

Do it 5–10 times on each side. If it breaks into small pieces or sharp parts, it’s a no-go.

✦ Choke Tube Simulation for Under-3s

Use a toilet roll or buy a choke tube cylinder. If any removable part fits completely inside, it fails.

✦ Torque and Tension Testing

Try twisting, pulling, or tugging on parts with 9kg of force. If it detaches easily, that’s a safety fail.

Materials You Should Absolutely Verify Early On

Don’t wait until the lab tells you your toy is a chemical soup. Screen your materials now.

✦ Paints, Dyes, Coatings

“Non-toxic” means nothing unless it’s tested. Ask your supplier for:

• EN71-3, CPSIA, or REACH compliance documents

• MSDS sheets (Material Safety Data)

✦ Plastics and Fillers

Avoid cheap resins or plastic blends without traceability. Use:

• Certified rABS, PP, or PE

• Documented recycled materials from known sources

✦ Textiles for Plushies

Don’t assume cotton is “safe.” You want:

• GOTS or OEKO-TEX certifications

• No fiber shedding

• Known stuffing material (no mystery mixes!)

Labeling & Documentation You Can Prep Pre‑Lab

Compliance isn’t just physical. It’s paperwork, baby.

✦ Age Grading Your Toy Responsibly

Don’t just slap “3+” on it. Consider:

• Complexity of use

• Choking hazards

• Intended user vs. actual likely user

Then document why you made that call.

✦ Assembly Instructions, Warnings, and Usage Claims

Create clear visuals, age warnings, and country-appropriate safety icons. Your lab will test against your claims.

✦ Prepare a Bill of Materials and Traceability Matrix

List every material and where it comes from. Include:

• Supplier

• Certification (if any)

• Country of origin

Buyers love this. Labs need it. You’ll thank yourself later.

How to Simulate Real-World Use (and Misuse)

Want to get inside a parent’s head? Here’s how to stress-test your toy at home.

✦ Ask a Parent. Ask a Kid. Then Ask Both Again.

You’ll learn more in 20 minutes of unfiltered play than in 5 days of internal brainstorming.

Kids will:

• Chew it

• Sit on it

• Try to unscrew it

✦ Simulate Repetitive Movement and Rough Play

Try twisting, pulling, rolling, and throwing it. Use a mechanical stress test if possible (like a clamp or rubber band rig).

✦ Cleanability and Wear Tracking

Can it be wiped down? Washed? Will it fade, fray, or flake after 10 uses? Document that too.

When to Stop DIY-ing and Call the Lab

Here’s when it’s time to step back and let the professionals do their thing.

✦ Chemical, Heavy Metal, and Flammability Testing

This includes:

• EN71-3 / CPSIA for lead, cadmium, phthalates

• EN71-2 for flammability of soft toys

• REACH SVHC scans

These tests require specialized equipment and must be certified.

✦ How Labs View Your DIY Testing

Labs appreciate pre-testing notes—it can help them narrow down focus areas. But no, they won’t skip a step just because you dropped it on your kitchen floor 10 times.

Still, having a clean prototype = faster processing, fewer failures, and lower re-test costs.

The Golden Rule: DIY Doesn’t Replace Real Testing, But It Might Save Your Launch

DIY toy testing is like brushing your teeth before seeing the dentist. You’re still going to get poked and prodded—but at least you won’t bleed everywhere.

Early testing:

• Cuts down lab rejections

• Speeds up certification

• Makes you look like a legit business to buyers

Plus, it shows that you respect the safety of the kids (and retailers) you want to serve.

How Awen Hollek Helps You Test Smarter, Not Just Harder

You don’t need to become a compliance nerd overnight. That’s our job.

At Awen Hollek, we help toy brands like yours:

• ✅ Audit your design before you go to lab (we’ll spot red flags a mile away)

• ✅ Source tested, compliant materials from trusted suppliers

• ✅ Prep your documentation like a pro: BoMs, declarations, traceability reports

• ✅ Book and manage your lab testing with our certified lab partners

• ✅ Design packaging that passes EN71-1 and CPSIA visual requirements

📬 Want to get retail-ready and keep your toy off the recall list?

👉 Let’s talk today