An urgent warning has been given to parents about a popular baby essential after a wide variety of goods on the market were declared hazardous amid worries they might cause probable death.
Almost 70% of the portable infant cribs evaluated by consumer advocacy organisation Choice did not fulfil Australian safety regulations.
18 of the 26 portable cots examined in this study failed, mostly as a result of mattresses that were too soft or inadequately fitted, which increases the risk of sudden infant mortality.
Cots were also examined for durability, risk of entrapment, risk of strangulation, and strength.
The list of risky prices ranges from $49 to $500 and is offered in reputable stores like Target, Kmart, and Baby Bunting.
Kim Gilmour, a Choice testing specialist, stated, “Our current set of evaluations indicates that approximately 70% of these goods violate critical safety standards, which is an extremely disappointing finding.”
Unfortunately, we are used to seeing this with this specific infant product.
In our labs, we test every model in accordance with the most recent Australian safety standard for travel cots. However, many models continue to fall short of even the most minimal legal standards, such mattress firmness.
Choice issued a warning that numerous safety flaws in the tested cots could lead to tragic events.
According to Ms. Gilmour, “the majority of the safety problems we see relate to the portacot mattress either not being firm enough or not fitting snuggly into the portacot base.”
Mattresses that are too soft or inadequately fitted may raise the risk of baby sudden unexpected death. We also see unsafe cot designs with “puffy” coverings that might result in risks.
“Consumers must wait until disaster hits before governments act and before corporations accept responsibility.”
Choice advises parents to only select portable cots with expert ratings of 70% or above that have passed important safety tests.
It has asked the federal government to enhance product safety legislation and praised the recent proposal by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission to toughen criteria for portacots.
Both Baby Bunting and Kmart claimed that their cots had passed the tests after being examined by a recognised laboratory.
Additionally, Star Kidz stated that their cots had passed all safety tests at a recognised lab.