While Australia has some of the strongest safety standards in the world for some baby products, consumer groups say regulatory blind spots are putting infants at risk
have died while using inclined infant products such as rocking sleepers, with an additional one death per year linked to other sleep items such as cots, inflatable beds and mattresses. It’s a tragic statistic that points to what consumer advocate groups say are troubling inconsistencies with Australia’s mandatory safety standards in regards to infant products in general.
Inclined infant sleep products are sleeping surfaces with an incline that elevate a baby’s head and shoulders slightly. They gained popularity due to a belief that this can alleviate the symptoms of reflux in small babies. In spite of clear and consistent sleep advice that recommends babies be placed on a firm, flat surface, these productsDr Bec Thornton of Red Nose Australia explains the problem with inclined sleep products. “A baby’s head is relatively large in proportion to their body and their neck muscles are still developing, so babies sleeping on an incline tend to end up in a chin-to-chest position,” she says. “Because a baby’s airways are also narrower and more compressible, this chin-to-chest position can obstruct the baby’s airway and therefore interfere with their breathing.” Other inclined products not officially marketed for sleeping – such as rockers, bouncers and swings, can also pose a risk if used for sleep.linked to these products, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the sale of any infant sleeper with an incline greater than 10 degrees. In New Zealand, where no deaths linked to inclined sleepers have been reported, the government preemptively banned anything with an incline greater than seven degrees. Here in Australia, however, no such ban exists, though consumer advocacy group Choice is calling for one.Inclined sleepers aren’t the only worrying baby products on the market. A recent Choice investigation foundfailed to meet both the voluntary and mandatory Australian standards that the consumer advocacy group conducts its testing against. While some manufacturers disagreed with the findings about their products and provided Choice with reports from third-party labs indicating their products pass safety standards, Choice said it stands by its results. All parents should be aware of the recommendation to put baby to sleep on their back, on a firm, flat surface“The most common safety issue we saw in our testing was a mattress that isn’t firm enough,” says Gilmour. “Which is a factor linked to sudden unexpected death in infancy.” Parents who own one of the models flagged by Choice are advised to dispose of them immediately and contact the manufacturer for a full refund – although they warn that the manufacturer may not provide a refund unless an official recall is in place.for parents and carers that includes tips on how to ensure your baby’s sleep environment is safe. “Education is a critical element of ensuring safe sleep for babies,” says Thornton. “All parents should be aware of the recommendation to put baby to sleep on their back, on a firm, flat surface unless specifically directed otherwise by their health professional.”Gilmour says slow-acting government bodies can hinder appropriate safety measures being implemented. “Unfortunately, we see the same issues with portable cots year after year,” she says. “This reflects the state of general product safety laws in Australia, which allow businesses to react to product safety problems after they happen, rather than actively trying to prevent them from occurring. “This reactive approach puts consumers at risk and is deeply inappropriate for products like portable cots.” While the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission declined to comment on the steps it may take to investigate the Choice report, which it occasionally does, the consumer watchdog says it is committed to investigating infant sleep safety issues as an official priority this year.