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Babies are hard work. Sometimes they seem to be actively trying to get themselves into dangerous situations! It’s impossible to watch a child for 24 hours a day, so here in Australia, there are enforced safety standards for every product sold for babies. Adhering to these standards helps prevent accidents and injuries. Whether you’re expecting your first child, a seasoned parent, work with children, or sell products for children, it’s essential to have knowledge of safety standards.
Babies require a lot of equipment. Car seats, cots, bouncers, dummies, bottles, toys, clothes, and even safety equipment such as monitors and cabinet locks. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the baby section of a store, filled with things you hadn’t even thought existed, like snot suckers and Peepee Teepees.
Infants are a particularly vulnerable customer base. That’s why products intended for babies are heavily regulated. Before purchasing a product for your baby, check that it meets the minimum safety standards set by the ACCC.
Baby Sleep Products
The saying “slept like a baby” was most likely invented by someone who didn’t have one. Your little angel probably avoids sleep like the plague- but they still need somewhere safe to sleep.
Your baby’s first bed will most likely be a bassinet. Unlike cots, there are actually no safety standards for bassinets in Australia. Nonetheless, the best bassinets in Australia should tick all the boxes of safe infant sleep- this includes a sturdy bottom, a stable base, a firm mattress, good ventilation, and sides that are high enough to ensure that baby cannot roll out. Thick, padded, decorative bassinets may look sweet and comfy, but they increase the risk of SIDS.
Once your baby moves into a cot, there are more explicit safety standards. Cots made before 1988 are not safe, so tell your nan thanks but no thanks for the vintage lead-based painted cot that all 9 of her children slept in.
Ensure that your cot follows all of the below safety standards:
- It isn’t a drop-side cot
- There is no peeling paint or splinters
- The mattress fits snugly- no gaps between the mattress and the sides of the cot
- The cot sides are at least 500mm above the top of the mattress
- The gaps between the bars are not big enough for an arm or leg to get stuck
- There are no wheels, and if there are, they are firmly locked
Baby Travel Equipment
Car seats, prams, and carriers are a big part of life with babies. All of these products should be used with the appropriate weight capacity in mind. Prams should have brakes, tether straps, and a 5-point harness, and should be stable and sturdy.
Car seat safety is incredibly important. All car seats must meet the Australian standard, AS 1754. All children under 7 must use a car seat, and their car seat needs to be changed or adjusted as they grow. Car seats must be under 10 years old and can not have been in an accident. If you are unsure how to install a car seat correctly, it is best to have it installed by a professional.
Infants are safest in a rear-facing child restraint, and it is recommended to rear-face until the child meets the height and weight limit on their car seat. In addition to this, don’t add “after market” products to the car seat. No decorative seatbelt covers or seat protectors! Child car seats are crash tested to ensure the highest level of safety, and extra products have not been crash tested. Even the smallest change to your car seat can alter the way the seat responds to an accident.
Carriers and slings are not currently held to any safety standards, but you should use them appropriately by making sure your child meets the weight requirement and following the instructions given by the retailer.
In conclusion, product safety standards might be a bit overwhelming, but they prevent tragedies from occuring every day. Products sold in Australia, or brought into Australia, must be tested rigorously and approved. But some things fall through the cracks, so be vigilant about looking for red flags.
Children are vulnerable and rely on us for protection. We owe it to them to surround them with products that ensure their safety- and our peace of mind.
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