You can check for recalls on baby products using free government databases run by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Each agency covers different product categories, so knowing which one to search depends on what you’re checking. The whole process takes a few minutes once you have your product’s model number in hand.
Where to Find Your Product’s Model Number
Before you search anything, you need the model number and date of manufacture for the product you’re checking. On most baby gear, this information appears on a white rectangular sticker with black text. The placement varies by product type. On strollers, check the right or left leg, sometimes tucked behind the storage basket. On high chairs, flip the seat over and look underneath, either directly below or off to one side. Cribs and bassinets typically have a label on the back panel or along one of the rails.
Federal law requires manufacturers of durable infant and toddler products to permanently mark each item with the company name, a U.S. contact address, phone number, model name and number, and the date of manufacture. If you can’t find that sticker, check the instruction manual or the original packaging.
Checking Cribs, Strollers, and Other Baby Gear
The CPSC is the main agency for non-food, non-vehicle baby products. That includes cribs, bassinets, strollers, high chairs, baby monitors, swings, play yards, sleep products, toys, and clothing. Head to cpsc.gov/Recalls and use the search bar to enter either the product name, brand, or model number. You can also browse recent recalls on the main page, which lists them in reverse chronological order with photos.
The CPSC also offers a child-specific recall feed, which filters results to show only children’s product recalls. This is useful if you want to scan recent activity without sorting through power tool and furniture recalls.
Checking Car Seats and Booster Seats
Car seats fall under the NHTSA, not the CPSC. Go to nhtsa.gov/recalls and search specifically for car seats by entering the brand and model. The tool returns results for recalls, active investigations, consumer complaints, and manufacturer communications. You can also search using a specific NHTSA recall ID number if you’ve seen one referenced in a news story or on a product label.
If you’re unsure whether your car seat has been recalled, the model number is usually printed on a sticker on the base or along the back of the shell. Some manufacturers also print it on the side near the harness adjustment.
Checking Baby Food, Formula, and Bottles
Recalls on infant formula, baby food, pacifiers that contact food, and baby bottles are handled by the FDA. Visit fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts and filter results by “Food & Beverages” under the Product Type dropdown. You can also search by brand or product name. The FDA keeps recall listings on its site for three years before archiving them, so for older products you may need to search the FDA archive separately.
One important note: the FDA’s recall page is compiled from press releases and public notices, and not every recall appears there. For formula specifically, checking the manufacturer’s website directly can catch announcements the FDA page hasn’t yet listed.
Setting Up Automatic Recall Alerts
Rather than checking manually every few weeks, you can sign up for free email alerts through recalls.gov. The subscription service sends direct notifications from the CPSC, FDA, and USDA whenever new recalls are announced. After entering your email address, you’ll receive a confirmation message asking you to verify your subscription. Your email won’t be shared or used for anything other than safety notifications.
This is the single most effective step you can take. New baby product recalls are issued regularly, and an email alert means you’ll hear about a problem within hours rather than stumbling across it weeks later.
Register Your Products at Purchase
Every durable infant or toddler product sold in the United States is required by law to include a postage-paid registration card. Manufacturers must physically attach this card to the product so you’ll notice it after purchase. Most also offer online registration as an alternative to mailing the card.
Registration exists for one purpose only: so the manufacturer can contact you directly if that specific product is recalled. Federal regulations prohibit companies from using your registration information for marketing, selling it, or sharing it with anyone. The card itself is required to state this clearly. Manufacturers must keep your registration data on file for at least six years after the product’s manufacture date.
Filling out these cards takes under a minute and creates a direct line of communication if something goes wrong. It’s especially valuable for products you’ll use for years, like convertible car seats or cribs.
Buying Used Baby Gear Safely
Secondhand baby products from thrift stores, online marketplaces, or hand-me-downs carry extra risk because recalled items often end up back in circulation. The CPSC has explicitly warned that used nursery products, especially cribs and bassinets, have caused deaths and been subject to recalls involving millions of units.
Before buying or accepting used baby gear, search the brand and model number through the CPSC and NHTSA databases. Look at the date of manufacture on the product label and compare it against any recall date ranges. Beyond recalls, inspect the item for missing parts, broken components, or wobbly joints. The CPSC’s guidance to resellers is blunt: do not sell any broken or wobbly nursery furniture or any durable infant product missing parts, even if it hasn’t been recalled. If something seems off, skip it.
Older cribs deserve particular caution. Federal crib safety standards were significantly strengthened in 2011, and cribs manufactured before that date may not meet current requirements regardless of recall status. Drop-side cribs, once standard, are now banned entirely.
What Happens After You Find a Recall
Each recall listing on the CPSC or NHTSA website includes the specific remedy the manufacturer is offering. Depending on the product and the severity of the hazard, this could be a full refund, a free replacement product, or a repair kit mailed to your home. The listing will include a phone number or website to contact the manufacturer and claim the remedy. Stop using the product immediately, especially sleep products, car seats, or anything with a strangulation or suffocation risk. Follow the specific instructions in the recall notice, which sometimes include steps like removing a particular part or returning the product to the store where you bought it.