Federal crib standards (16 CFR 1219/1220, enforced since 2011) require slats no more than 2 3/8 inches apart, a mattress that fits snugly with no more than a two-finger gap at the sides, and no drop-side rail — all drop-side cribs were banned in the U.S. in 2011 after a string of infant deaths. Any crib sold new in a U.S. store should meet these; the question worth asking on a secondhand or antique piece is whether it does.
Dressers and bookcases over a certain height are a documented tip-over hazard for climbing toddlers — federal anti-tip-over rules (effective 2023 under the STURDY Act) now require most clothing storage furniture sold in the U.S. to pass a stability test and ship with a wall-anchoring kit. Ask whether a piece includes anti-tip hardware, and use it — a majority of furniture tip-over deaths involve pieces that were never anchored to the wall.
Bunk beds sold in the U.S. must meet ASTM F1427 guardrail and structural standards, including guardrails on both sides of the top bunk that extend a set minimum height above the mattress surface, and a ladder rated for the top sleeper's weight. On finishes, ask whether paints and stains are certified low-VOC or non-toxic — most reputable children's furniture is, but it's worth confirming rather than assuming, especially on lower-cost imported pieces.
A store that raises these standards unprompted, rather than waiting to be asked, is a more trustworthy source for anything a child will sleep in, climb on, or put their mouth on.