The Ultimate Guide to Child Resistant Packaging
More than one million adults contact U.S. poison control centers each year about children being exposed to potentially harmful substances. With prescription medicines, household cleaners and other products found in so many homes, child resistant packaging provides an added layer of protection by making access more difficult for young children.
This guide covers the questions we hear most often from brand owners, purchasing teams and startups. You don't need to know every packaging term before contacting us. Start with your product, your quantity and what you need the package to do. We'll work from there.
What Is Child Resistant Packaging?
Child resistant packaging is packaging designed to make it difficult for young children to open or gain access to a product, while remaining reasonably accessible for adults. In the U.S., child-resistant packaging is generally evaluated against children under 5 years of age under applicable testing requirements.
The key point is that child resistant does not mean childproof. It doesn't mean a package is impossible for a child to open. The purpose is to provide an additional level of protection and delay access, while keeping the package practical for adults.
For brands and retailers, that distinction matters. A child resistant pouch shouldn't simply have a complicated zipper. The zipper, film structure, heat seals, package size and opening method all need to work together. If the package is secure but frustrating for your adult customers, that's not a great packaging solution either.
The Standard That Matters for Child Resistant Packaging
In the U.S., child resistant packaging performance is mainly assessed under two related standards: ASTM D3475, which classifies child-resistant package types and mechanisms, and 16 CFR §1700.20, which sets out the CPSC testing procedure. The test uses real people, not just machines. For the child panel, 80% of children aged 42–51 months must be unable to open the package during the full 10-minute test. They try on their own for 5 minutes, then watch an adult demonstrate the opening method and try again for another 5 minutes.
The adult panel matters just as much. 90% of adults aged 50–70 must be able to open and properly reclose the package within 5 minutes. That's why child resistant doesn't mean adult-proof. A package should add meaningful opening resistance for young children without becoming unnecessarily difficult for adults to use. The same principle matters when choosing child resistant packaging in Europe, where applicable requirements may differ by product and market.
If you're sourcing a custom CR stand up pouch or child resistant doypack, don't just ask whether the package is CR. Ask which exact pouch size, closure and configuration the testing covers, and request the supporting documentation. Independent testing is important here — a supplier's own claim isn't the same as a test report. For one tested pouch option, see our ASTM D3475 Certified Soft Touch Bags.
How to Open a Child Resistant Packaging Bag
Depending on the zipper style, the opening method is usually simple once you know where to press.
Pinch & Pull
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Find the marked grip area near the top of the pouch.
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Pinch the marked area firmly with your thumb and index finger.
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Keep the pressure on and pull the zipper apart to open the child resistant pouch.
Pinch & Slide
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Place your thumb and index finger on the marked grip area.
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Pinch firmly and slide your fingers in opposite directions along the zipper.
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Once the zipper releases, the child resistant packaging bag opens for normal adult access.
The opening method should be easy for adults to learn without making the package frustrating to use. That's the balance we focus on when developing custom child resistant packaging for different products.

Types of Child Resistant Packaging
Packaging Type
Common Products
Pros
Things to Consider
CR Plastic Bottles
Pills · Capsules · Tablets
✓ Familiar format
✓ Usually low unit cost
Can take up more storage and shipping space.
CR Glass Jars
Premium Products · Visible Contents
✓ Premium appearance
✓ Reusable
Heavier and more fragile in transit.
CR Tins
Mints · Small Products · Pre-Rolls
✓ Durable
✓ Compact and portable
Fewer size and shape options.
Blister Packs
Pharma Doses · Single-Use Products
✓ Unit-dose format
✓ Compact
Not designed for repeated resealing.
CR Flexible Pouches
Supplements · Powders · Dry Products
✓ Lightweight
✓ Resealable
✓ Large branding area
✓ Lower shipping volume
Film structure and zipper need to match the product.
Not sure which child resistant packaging format fits your product? Tell us what you’re packaging, and we’ll help you compare the right options before you place an order.
When Did the U.S. and Europe Start Using Child Resistant Packaging?
Child resistant packaging has been used in the U.S. and Europe for decades, with the U.S. playing an early role in its development. In the UK, child-resistant reclosable packaging started appearing in the mid-1970s. Non-reclosable formats took longer to develop and were standardized later. Over the years, child resistant packaging became a requirement for certain products, with the exact rules and testing standards depending on the product and market.
Today, child resistant packaging isn't limited to rigid containers. Brands can use flexible pouches, foil bags and other formats, depending on what the product needs. The goal is pretty straightforward: add a level of opening resistance without making the package a pain for adults to use.
If you're launching a product in the U.S. or Europe, it's worth checking the requirements that apply to your specific product before choosing the packaging. For custom branding, take a look at our Custom Branded Mylar Bags or browse our High Quality Mylar Bags when comparing material options.
What Should You Check Before Ordering Child Resistant Packaging?
Before ordering child-resistant bags, containers or pouches, go through a few basics first. It can save you a lot of trouble later.
1. Check the size
Does the package fit your actual product, fill weight and volume? Leave enough room for filling and sealing, rather than choosing a size that's just "close enough."
2. Check the closure
Make sure the child-safe closure you're buying is the same type covered by the relevant test or documentation. A test for one zipper or lid doesn't automatically cover another.
3. Check the testing
Ask for the applicable third-party test report and confirm that it relates to the specific package configuration you're ordering. For U.S. products, check whether 16 CFR §1700.20 applies to your product and packaging.
4. Test the actual sample
Before mass production, use the sample with your real product. Check the fit, seal, opening method and how the closure performs after repeated use.
5. Check the market requirements
Selling in different U.S. states or across Europe? Don't assume the same packaging requirements apply everywhere. Check any additional rules that may affect your product.
6. Confirm the production batch
For repeat orders, ask your supplier how they maintain consistency between batches and what documentation can be provided with future production.
A good packaging supplier should be comfortable walking through these details with you. It's much easier to fix a size, closure or material issue before production than after 5,000 or 10,000 bags are already sitting in your warehouse.

What Is the Difference Between Child Resistant and Tamper-Evident Packaging?
Child resistant packaging is designed to make it difficult for young children to open, while still allowing adults to access and reclose the package when used correctly. Tamper-evident packaging, on the other hand, is designed to show whether a package has been opened, damaged, or otherwise interfered with before it reaches the customer. They solve two different problems: child resistance focuses on access by children; tamper evidence focuses on signs of prior opening. Depending on your product and market, you may need one, or you may want both features in the same package.
Can One Child Resistant Tin Work for Multiple SKUs?
Yes. If your brand has several SKUs in the same product line, using one child resistant tin container across the range can be a practical way to simplify packaging. You can keep the same tin size and structure, then use different labels or printed artwork for each SKU instead of producing a completely different container for every product.
For pre-roll products, there's one detail to watch: the inner tray usually needs to match the actual pre-roll size and quantity. So you can keep the same outer tin across multiple SKUs while adjusting the internal insert when the product dimensions or count change. This approach can help consolidate production while still giving each SKU its own look.
If you’re launching a new product, switching suppliers, or simply not sure whether your current pouch actually meets the standard it claims to, it’s worth taking a look at our Custom Packaging Process first. We’ve laid out what we need from you at each stage, what we’ll provide, and roughly how long each step takes. No form to fill out first, no phone number required. Take a look, get a feel for how we work, then decide.
Already know what you need? Send us your product specs and requirements, and we’ll get back to you with a real quote within 24 hours.