Grandparents Beware: Sudden death fears prompt warning over baby cots
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For our members who are grandparents, we have important news to share with you
We know all too well the joys and challenges that come with a new baby in the family. We love them unconditionally and want nothing more than to keep them safe and protected.
That's why it's important to be vigilant about the items in our homes that could pose a danger to a curious little one. Portable cots and bassinets are a must for any grandparent's home, as are child-proof locks on cabinets and drawers.
Speaking of portable cots, did you know that consumer advocacy group CHOICE has conducted testing of several variants of this item available in the market right now?
The devastating news, however, is that nearly 70 per cent of the products failed to meet the key safety standards, prompting CHOICE to issue a warning to Aussie parents and grandparents.
Experts from CHOICE analysed 26 portable cots that were available for purchase and discovered that 18 of them failed testing, primarily because of soft or poorly fitting mattresses, which are known to increase the risk of sudden newborn fatalities.
Nearly 70 per cent of the products failed to meet the key safety standards according to consumer advocacy group CHOICE. Credit: PopSugar via Getty Images.
The brand or price of a cot is not necessarily a reliable indicator of its safety or quality, according to CHOICE testing expert Kim Gilmour, who cited the failure of major retailers like Kmart and Target.
Ms Gilmour explained: 'The failure rate that we’ve seen in our latest round of portable cot testing is really concerning. We know that parents expect better from brands that are sold by popular retailers like Target and Baby Bunting.'
CHOICE evaluates portable cots in an in-house lab, looking into things like durability, risk of entrapment, risk of strangulation, and strength.
It bases the expert grade it provides 70% on performance and 30% on usability.
Ms Gilmour claimed that it is alarming to learn that certain products have safety flaws that could have fatal repercussions for infants.
She noted: 'The most common safety issue we saw in our testing was a mattress that isn‘t firm enough, which is a factor linked to a sudden unexpected death in infancy.'
The 18 cots that didn't pass CHOICE's evaluation include the following:
CHOICE’s testing concluded that the Kmart Anko 3-In-1 portacot was found to not meet the safety standards. Credit: CHOICE.
CHOICE has now urged the Australian government to enhance its product safety regulations right away rather than waiting for a severe incident to occur.
'Newer voluntary standards incorporate important safety factors like breathable zones, but they still haven‘t made it into law. While it’s pleasing to see more manufacturers meeting them, it’s still not mandatory to do so,' Ms Gilmour added.
'These safety failures are part of a broader problem around product safety protections. Governments often wait until tragedy strikes before they make safety standards mandatory.'
'This reactive approach puts consumers at risk and is deeply inappropriate for products like portable cots.'
Speaking on behalf of the Kmart Group, a representative claimed the company disagreed with CHOICE's findings regarding Target and Kmart cots.
'We disagree with CHOICE claims concerning mattress firmness on the Kmart and Target portacot’s particularly, as both brands have tested this product to these same standards in an independent accredited laboratory and the results showed full compliance,' the spokesperson said, emphasising that the retailer is contesting the findings.
'We disputed CHOICE’s findings over a month ago and questioned testing methods because CHOICE do not use an accredited laboratory to test portacots and did not hear a fulsome response – our Kmart and Target Portacot’s have been tested by an independent accredited laboratory and fully complied to the same mandatory and voluntary standards that CHOICE is referencing.'
According to a Nanny Annie spokesperson, their Star Kidz cots also met Australian safety regulations.
'We disagree with the findings by CHOICE. Our Star Kidz Vivo super light travel cots are produced in compliance with both mandatory and voluntary Australian safety standards,' they remarked.
'We have the product tested independently by Intertek and passed all the components of the same tests conducted by CHOICE.'
Baby Bunting also added that they were confident that their products conformed with regulations because they had undergone testing at an accredited lab.
We all want what's best for our grandchildren, and that includes keeping them safe from harm. While we cannot give expert advice on these issues, we recommend our members to inform your children (especially those who have just recently given birth or are pregnant) to consider doing more research and listening to the recommendations of experts concerning these products.
Also, feel free to share this article with anyone you know who has recently had grandkids!
We know all too well the joys and challenges that come with a new baby in the family. We love them unconditionally and want nothing more than to keep them safe and protected.
That's why it's important to be vigilant about the items in our homes that could pose a danger to a curious little one. Portable cots and bassinets are a must for any grandparent's home, as are child-proof locks on cabinets and drawers.
Speaking of portable cots, did you know that consumer advocacy group CHOICE has conducted testing of several variants of this item available in the market right now?
The devastating news, however, is that nearly 70 per cent of the products failed to meet the key safety standards, prompting CHOICE to issue a warning to Aussie parents and grandparents.
Experts from CHOICE analysed 26 portable cots that were available for purchase and discovered that 18 of them failed testing, primarily because of soft or poorly fitting mattresses, which are known to increase the risk of sudden newborn fatalities.
Nearly 70 per cent of the products failed to meet the key safety standards according to consumer advocacy group CHOICE. Credit: PopSugar via Getty Images.
The brand or price of a cot is not necessarily a reliable indicator of its safety or quality, according to CHOICE testing expert Kim Gilmour, who cited the failure of major retailers like Kmart and Target.
Ms Gilmour explained: 'The failure rate that we’ve seen in our latest round of portable cot testing is really concerning. We know that parents expect better from brands that are sold by popular retailers like Target and Baby Bunting.'
CHOICE evaluates portable cots in an in-house lab, looking into things like durability, risk of entrapment, risk of strangulation, and strength.
It bases the expert grade it provides 70% on performance and 30% on usability.
Ms Gilmour claimed that it is alarming to learn that certain products have safety flaws that could have fatal repercussions for infants.
She noted: 'The most common safety issue we saw in our testing was a mattress that isn‘t firm enough, which is a factor linked to a sudden unexpected death in infancy.'
The 18 cots that didn't pass CHOICE's evaluation include the following:
- Aeromoov Instant Travel Cot ($399)
- Baby Bunting 4Baby Liteway Travel Cot EA11816 ($149)
- Baby Bunting 4Baby Clouds 2 in 1 Portacot EA12117 ($99)
- Baby Bunting 4Baby Vacation Portacot EA12116 ($49)
- Babyhood Uno 2 in 1 Portacot ($449)
- Chicco Lullaby Easy Portacot ($500)
- Childcare Matisse 4 in 1 Travel Cot ($180)
- Joie Excursion Change & Rock Travel Cot ($329)
- Kmart Anko Travel Portacot 42-001-409 ($49)
- Kmart Anko 3 in 1 Portacot 42723370 ($95)
- Love N Care Playland Travel Cot ($150)
- Phil & Teds Traveller 2021 TR-V5-5/100 ($450)
- Star Kidz Amico Super Light Travel Cot ($249)
- Star Kidz Vivo Super Light Travel Cot ($399)
- Target Adventure V2 3 in 1 Portacot BRT022A1 ($99)
- Target Holiday Portacot BRT023A ($55)
- Vee Bee Amado Travel & Play Cot N9560 ($199)
- Vee Bee The Sierra N9338 ($239)
CHOICE’s testing concluded that the Kmart Anko 3-In-1 portacot was found to not meet the safety standards. Credit: CHOICE.
CHOICE has now urged the Australian government to enhance its product safety regulations right away rather than waiting for a severe incident to occur.
'Newer voluntary standards incorporate important safety factors like breathable zones, but they still haven‘t made it into law. While it’s pleasing to see more manufacturers meeting them, it’s still not mandatory to do so,' Ms Gilmour added.
'These safety failures are part of a broader problem around product safety protections. Governments often wait until tragedy strikes before they make safety standards mandatory.'
'This reactive approach puts consumers at risk and is deeply inappropriate for products like portable cots.'
Speaking on behalf of the Kmart Group, a representative claimed the company disagreed with CHOICE's findings regarding Target and Kmart cots.
'We disagree with CHOICE claims concerning mattress firmness on the Kmart and Target portacot’s particularly, as both brands have tested this product to these same standards in an independent accredited laboratory and the results showed full compliance,' the spokesperson said, emphasising that the retailer is contesting the findings.
'We disputed CHOICE’s findings over a month ago and questioned testing methods because CHOICE do not use an accredited laboratory to test portacots and did not hear a fulsome response – our Kmart and Target Portacot’s have been tested by an independent accredited laboratory and fully complied to the same mandatory and voluntary standards that CHOICE is referencing.'
According to a Nanny Annie spokesperson, their Star Kidz cots also met Australian safety regulations.
'We disagree with the findings by CHOICE. Our Star Kidz Vivo super light travel cots are produced in compliance with both mandatory and voluntary Australian safety standards,' they remarked.
'We have the product tested independently by Intertek and passed all the components of the same tests conducted by CHOICE.'
Baby Bunting also added that they were confident that their products conformed with regulations because they had undergone testing at an accredited lab.
We all want what's best for our grandchildren, and that includes keeping them safe from harm. While we cannot give expert advice on these issues, we recommend our members to inform your children (especially those who have just recently given birth or are pregnant) to consider doing more research and listening to the recommendations of experts concerning these products.
Also, feel free to share this article with anyone you know who has recently had grandkids!
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