Are Baby Neck Floats Safe? CPSC Establishes New Standards that Confirm - When Properly Made and Supervised, Neck Floats are Safe

After years of thorough regulatory review, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has made a definitive decision on baby neck floats: rather than banning the entire product category, they chose the more measured and proportionate approach of establishing comprehensive safety standards to ensure neck floats are manufactured and used safely. 

While some commissioners initially considered a blanket ban due to safety incidents, the Commission's deeper analysis revealed that the issue was not with neck floats as a concept, but with substandard manufacturing and inadequate safety warnings on a wide range of low quality floats. The CPSC's evidence-based approach and ongoing communication with Otteroo, ASTM, experts and consumers led them to the conclusion that standards-based regulation would better serve families than an outright ban.

On August 21, 2025, the CPSC approved comprehensive safety standards for baby neck floats, preserving access to high quality products to the U.S. public, while systematically eliminating low quality imports that do not meet these standards.

The Regulatory Victory: Safety Through Standards, Not Bans

The CPSC choosing a standards-based approach rather than a ban for infant neck floats represents a significant validation of the product category. After reviewing incident patterns and potential product hazards, the Commission defined performance standards and labeling requirements. Because all products intended for use in the water pose risk of drowning, the rule underscores that the most effective risk mitigation strategy is close, continuous, within-arm’s-reach supervision, reinforced through strengthened warnings and instructions.

What Makes a Neck Float Safe?

The new CPSC standards establish clear requirements that separate quality manufacturers from cheap imports:

Performance Standards

• Materials conditioning procedure 

• Minimum buoyancy requirements 

• Restraint system requirements 

• Neck opening test requirement 

Labeling Requirements

• Requirements for Marking and Labeling 

• Requirements for Instructional Literature 

The Problem with Cheap Imports

For years, the neck float market has been flooded with cheaply made products from Chinese manufacturers who prioritize cost efficiency over safety. Many of these products enter the U.S. market through channels that allow sellers to remain anonymous and avoid accountability to consumers. These products typically feature: 

• Untested materials that may degrade quickly

• Poor manufacturing quality with weak seams and unreliable valves

• No quality control or safety testing

• Inadequate or missing safety warnings

• No customer support or accountability

The new CPSC rule will require all neck float manufacturers to meet the same standards, effectively raising the bar for the entire industry.

Otteroo: A Decade of Safety Leadership

Otteroo has been advocating for safety standards in the neck float industry since our founding over 10 years ago, when we discovered there were no specific standards for buoyancy aids for children in the U.S. We have been an active participant in ASTM committees spearheading efforts to create voluntary standards, and we have always tested our products to comply with existing toy safety standards as they were the only applicable requirements available at the time when we launched Otteroo in 2014. Our commitment to safety includes:

Proven Track Record

• Over 470,000 Otteroo products sold with comprehensive safety documentation

• Continuous collaboration with regulatory agencies including FDA and CPSC

• Extensive testing and quality assurance programs

• Transparent communication about proper use and supervision

Medical-Grade Development

• Currently pursuing FDA De Novo medical device classification for therapeutic applications

• Partnerships with pediatric physical therapists and healthcare professionals

• Peer-reviewed research supporting safe and beneficial use

• IRB-approved studies demonstrating potential clinical applications and efficacy

Meeting New Compliance Standards

While we believe we have the best quality neck float, we are working to ensure our future batch meets the compliance standards established by CPSC on August 21, 2025.  These updates align our design and labeling to meet the new federal requirements, and are evidence of our commitment to safety and premium quality manufacturing.

Safety Through Proper Use

Like any water-related product, neck floats require responsible use:

Essential Safety Guidelines

• Constant supervision - Never leave a child unattended

• Age and weight limits - Follow manufacturer specifications 

• Pre-use inspection - Check for leaks, proper inflation, and wear

• Proper fit - Ensure secure but comfortable positioning

• Safe environment - Use only in appropriate water settings

When Used Properly

Research and real-world evidence demonstrate that properly manufactured neck floats, when used according to instructions, can provide:

• Positive early water experiences

• Developmental advantages through supported water movement

• Unique bonding opportunities for parents and baby

• Therapeutic benefits for babies with mobility challenges (medical grade version in the pipeline)

The Future of Neck Float Safety

The CPSC's new standards represent a watershed moment for the neck float industry. Moving forward:

• Quality manufacturers like Otteroo will continue to innovate and improve safety

• Cheap imports will need to invest in upgrades to their design, manufacturing capacity and safety testing 

• Consumers will have greater confidence in properly certified products

• Healthcare professionals can safely use products that bring game-changing benefits to their patients

Choosing Safe Neck Floats

When selecting a neck float, prioritize products that:

1. Meet CPSC standards (effective 180 days after Federal Register publication)

2. Come from established manufacturers with track records of safety

3. Include comprehensive safety information and proper warnings

4. Provide customer support and quality assurance

5. Have third-party testing certification

The Bottom Line

The CPSC's regulatory decision confirms what safety-focused manufacturers have known all along: neck floats can be safe when made properly and used with close, continuous, within-arm’s-reach supervision. The new standards will help eliminate dangerous products from the market while ensuring that families continue to have access to the highest quality neck floats.

As the industry moves forward under these new standards, companies like Otteroo, with our decade-long commitment to safety, ongoing FDA collaboration, and proven track record, are well-positioned to continue providing families with safe, beneficial products.