Understanding the Importance of Child Resistant Packaging and if You Need It

You have probably heard about and investigated new innovations in flexible food packaging and learned how to choose the right options for your products. Your goal may include creating brand recognition and extending the life of your products through customized packaging options. However, you also want to keep your customers and their families safe, especially if you create products for adults.

Types of Child-Resistant Packaging

You have probably struggled with the child-resistant caps on medications, but not every product fits well in bottles with special caps. In fact, you may need more flexible options, such as coffee packaging bags or mylar options for items that could impact children’s health. Fortunately, many flexible packaging closure options exist.

Many products have tamper-evident seals or rings along with safety caps. However, you can also find blister packs made from plastic that is difficult to puncture or penetrate. In addition, many aerosol can producers have created child-resistant closures so children cannot spray them accidentally. Some zippered pouches also have release locks that children cannot open easily. Pouches can also conceal what they contain so your children aren’t tempted to open them.

How To Develop Child Resistant Packaging

If you choose to use pouches for your products, you can find those with zippers, caps and sliders that close the package, making it more difficult for children to get into it. Just make sure you work with packaging producers who understand the Poison Prevention Act and offer packaging that adheres to the stringent standards outlined in this law. For example, the packaging should undergo testing that finds that after 10 minutes of playing with the packaging at least 80% of the children could not get it open.

Once you choose the packaging option that will work best for your products, you need to create your labels. Make sure you add the dangers and safety information on the label. Discuss the safety features of the packaging on the label as well. You can even add a QR code with additional safety information as well as what to do if a child does consume your product.

Determining if You Need It

Children have a habit of getting into things. They open them up and test them out. However, some of these things are dangerous for kids. The Poison Prevention Packaging Act outlines what types of products need to be in child-resistant packaging. Your primary concern should include protecting children under five from serious injuries. Anything that children can eat or drink that could harm them should come in child-resistant packaging.

These types of products include any type of chemical, supplements, nicotine products, mouthwash, over-the-counter medications, cosmetics and many other items that should have special packaging. You should also have the ability to use these packaging products on your assembly line. It also should protect your products and shouldn’t impact their storage.

If your products could harm children under the age of five, you should review the Consumer Protection Safety Commission’s standards on child resistant packaging and when to use it. Then, find a packaging partner with childproof options that fit your product.