Start with the buying decision, not the mood board
Buyers who get fast, comparable quotes treat the RFQ like a mini spec sheet. You do not need a full tech pack on day one — but you do need enough for the factory to see the same product you see.
The minimum useful RFQ
- Target market. EU, UK, US, AU/NZ, or other. Safety and labelling expectations differ; this changes what the factory plans for tests and labels.
- Thermal target. TOG value (0.5 / 1.0 / 2.5 / 3.5) or the room-temperature range you sell into. If you are unsure, say so — that is better than guessing wrong.
- Shell and fill. Organic cotton, bamboo blend, muslin; single-layer vs padded. For padded bags, fill type matters as much as shell fabric.
- Size range. e.g. 0–6M, 6–18M, 18–36M — or attach your graded chart. “Baby size” is not a size range.
- Quantity shape. Total units plus how you expect to split colours and sizes. MOQ is usually per style / colour, not a vague total.
- Certification and paperwork. GOTS Transaction Certificate? third-party children’s product test? care and fibre labels in your language?
- Sample and season dates. When you need a sample in hand, and when bulk must ship.
What “low MOQ” really means
Many babywear factories advertise a low headline MOQ. The workable number still depends on fabric minimums, dye-lot sizes and how many colours you run. Ask for MOQ per style per colour, and whether sizes can combine toward that minimum.
Put your quantity band in the RFQ even if it is rough. A 300-piece pilot and a 3,000-piece seasonal drop are different programs — the quotation should reflect yours.
Sample vs bulk: keep the promises separate
Sample lead time and bulk lead time are different promises. Agree sample timing and fee in writing before cutting. Plan bulk after sample approval and material booking — peak-season calendars move, so lock the ship window on the PO rather than from a website number.
Red flags when comparing suppliers
- Quoting a final price before TOG, fabric and size split are known
- Claiming “GOTS certified product” without explaining scope certificate vs transaction certificate
- Refusing to discuss hardware (zippers, snaps, chin guards) on infant sleep products
- No willingness to provide an approved sample before bulk
- Capacity claims that do not match the factory you will actually visit or audit
Related reading
Tell us your product requirements
Topic: Custom baby sleeping bag RFQ
What helps us move fast:
- Target market (EU / UK / US / AU / other) and any mandatory standard you buy against
- TOG rating or room-temperature range
- Shell and fill preference (organic cotton, bamboo blend, muslin; padded or single-layer)
- Size range (e.g. 0–6M, 6–18M) and whether you have a graded spec
- Approximate quantity per colour / size split
- Labelling, packaging and certification needs (GOTS TC, test reports, care labels)
- Sample deadline and target retail season
Share your product, quantity, target market and required standards. We reply with next steps for sampling and quotation.