On this page:

• Our expert testers
• How we choose what we test
• How we test cot mattresses
• Mattress specifications
• Test criteria explained

The Australian/New Zealand standard for mattress firmness provides manufacturers with a definitive test using a special apparatus to determine softness. But we still aren’t seeing manyÌýmattress-makers claim compliance on their packaging or websites. That’s where ÌÇÐÄVlog comes in.

ÌÇÐÄVlog has tested a number of cot mattresses for sale in mainstream Australian retail outlets to see whether they meet the standard test for firmness, with some surprising results.

Our expert testers

With more than 20 years of experience, our expert testers are the bee’s knees of children’s product testing. They’ve seen all the brands and varying cot configurations on the market, and have put each to the test. Our testers also sit on the for children’s products.

How we choose what we test

Most of the time, our priority is to test what you’ll see in the retailers. Our cot mattresses typically come from brands you’ll see in mainstream nursery or department stores, or ones that feature prominently when you search for them online.Ìý

To come up with our list, we survey manufacturers to find out their range of models. Our buyers then purchase products as you, the consumer, would, either in-store or online. This is to ensure the products we receive have not been tweaked with in any way or checked to make sure that particular model passed a certain test.

How we test cot mattresses

We use the .

From 19 January 2026, manufacturers will legally need to make sure their mattresses are sufficiently firm thanks to the introduction of new mandatory safety and information standards for infant sleep products. The firmness test is a reliable way to check this. While not many mattresses claim compliance, the test is actually very simple and quick.

We tested cot mattresses for the first time in 2016 using a special apparatus that consists of a circular disk with two flat faces, as well as a feeler arm that extends over the disk. The whole apparatus weighs around 5.2kg.

To test mattress firmness, the mattresses are first conditioned in the lab for two days to ensure consistent temperatures. Each mattress is then decompressed by agitating or shaking it in order to aerate and distribute any filler material.

Our testers then place the apparatus at various points of the mattress as determined by the standard. These include three equidistant points along the centre of the mattress (including the centre itself) with the feeler arm aligned with the centre line.Ìý

The standard also specifies one “worst case scenario” point. This point is very important and represents a soft point, fold or undulation where a baby’s nose and mouth might come into contact with the surface.Ìý

If the feeler arm happens to touch the sleep surface when it is placed horizontally on the mattress at any point, then the surface is too soft to be safe.

There is a DIY method that people can do at home using milk cartons and a stack of CDs or DVDs – it’s not a substitute for the official test but it will give you an idea of firmness.

Mattress specifications

Specifications are not part of the firmness standard but they give you an idea as to whether the actual measurements differ greatly from the claimed measurements. For more on this and why it is important, see our cot mattress buying guide.

Test criteria explained

We recommend all mattresses that pass the safety test so long as the actual measurements are accurate enough.

Models that receive a ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating of 100% have passed all the firmness and measurement tests.

Models that score 80% and up are still recommended (and pass the firmness test) but there may be a very minor discrepancy between claimed and actual mattress dimensions.

Models that score 65% have passed the firmness test, but care must be taken to ensure the mattress fits correctly into the cot.

Models that score 40% or below have a serious failure (usually they are not firm enough, but they may have other problems such as the absence of any labels to indicate the size of the mattress).

The post How we test cot mattresses appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

A cot is probably one of the very first purchases you make as a new parent. Once your baby has grown out of a bassinet, it’s a place where they’ll be spending many daytime naps and nights catching (hopefully) plenty of sleep.Ìý

While you may be considering how a certain colour or style of cot might fit into your nursery design, the most important thing is that it’s a safe sleeping space for your child.

And while many of us head instore to familiar big-brand baby outlets, more people are turning to online retailers with wider selections and potentially lower prices.

But ÌÇÐÄVlog expert testing has found that a number of cheap cots purchased from online marketplaces are unsafe.

In fact, in our latest review of 14 baby cots, five were found to have serious safety failures. Most of the cots with failures were either bought from eBay or via online platforms like Baby Bunting Marketplace, where third-party retailers can list and sell products. One of the cots was bought from Big W.Ìý

‘Online shoppers need to be careful’

These cots were very cheap – ranging in price from just $139 up to $370 – from the brands Sweet Pea, Consol,ÌýKoko and Scar,ÌýGrotime and Luxo Baby.

ÌÇÐÄVlog baby product expertÌýKim Gilmour says online shoppers need to be careful.

“While a low price tag is enticing, we have found that many cheap cots sold on online marketplace sites are not meeting quality and safety standards,” she says.

“In this batch alone, there are multiple issues with the products not adhering to basic Australian safety standards. Some had no safety warnings and were missing information about recommended mattress sizes.”

Gilmour says some seemed to be cheaply made with evidence of poor workmanship, making them unsafe for babies and toddlers.

“For example, one of the cots has an issue with its locking mechanism, meaning the dropside is very easy to accidentally trigger, which could cause the side of the cot to fall down and the baby to fall out,” she says.

Risks of unsafe cotsÌý

An unsafe cot can lead to many different types of injuries. A child’s head or limbs can become trapped, fingers can get caught in mechanisms, and children can injure themselves climbing out of the cot. Children can also be injured if part of the cot breaks or doesn’t work properly, such as if the side falls down or screws come loose.Ìý

If a mattress doesn’t fit properly – which is much more likely to happen if the cot does not specify the correct size of mattress to use inside it – this could cause a risk of suffocation.

It’s extremely important to assess a cot for safety before you buy. Cots sold in Australia in 2025 should be certified under mandatory Australian safety standards, but ÌÇÐÄVlog has found cots on the market that don’t comply.Ìý

A new Australian mandatory standard aiming to improve cot safety comes into effect in January 2026. But in the meantime, safety remains a vital part of ÌÇÐÄVlog testing.Ìý

Our experts test each cot against key safety clauses from the Australian Standard AS/NZS 2172:2013. Only cots that pass stringent tests in our accredited labs are recommended. These tests include:

• using probes to check for suitable gaps between the bars and panels of the cot to avoid limb injury
• checking that there is sufficient depth of the cot to prevent falls
• testing the dropside’s strength and construction, if there is one
• checking for strangulation risks at the cot ends
• checking that the recommended mattress size doesn’t leave too much of a gap between the mattress, cot sides and end.

The cots that failed our latest safety tests

We alerted eBay and the manufacturers of the cots that failed our safety testing to our findings. eBay has removed the cots from sale, but several are still listed on other online marketplaces. For example, the Sweet Pea Anita cot is currently listed online at Baby Bunting and the Grotime Haven cot is still available at Big W.

Click on the link for each cot below to view our test results and read about the safety failures.Ìý

• Consol Roma cot: $229
• Grotime Haven cot: $139Ìý
• Koko & Scar cot: $279
• Luxo Baby Eudora cot: $249
• Sweet Pea Anita cot: $370Ìý

The only response we received from a manufacturer was from the makers of the Sweet Pea cot. In response to our findings, the manufacturer says the cot has “undergone full compliance testing through an independent third-party laboratory”, and that “based on the certified results, we are confident that our product meets mandatory safety standards and is safe for consumer use”.

It has provided ÌÇÐÄVlog with a copy of the report complying with the relevant requirements of AS/NZS 2172:2013; however, we stand by the results of our expert testing in our accredited lab.

ÌÇÐÄVlog calls for safer products for Australians

Right now, it is not illegal to sell unsafe products in Australia. While a handful of products are subject to mandatory standards and product bans, there’s no general law preventing the sale of unsafe products, unlike in other jurisdictions like the EU and UK.

This means when you go to the shops or buy something online, you can’t be certain that the manufacturer has made sure it’s safe for use. This is why ÌÇÐÄVlog wants stronger safety laws.Ìý

“It’s disappointing to see online marketplaces continue to miss the mark on ensuring the products being sold on their platforms are safe,” says Andy Kelly, ÌÇÐÄVlog deputy director of campaigns and communications.

“That’s why to introduce strong new product safety laws that would make it illegal to sell unsafe products, and close the current loophole in the law that allows online marketplaces to shirk responsibility for unsafe goods.”

Buying a cot instore vs buying online

While online retailers offer a wide selection of cots and potentially lower prices, it can be a good idea to head instore to inspect the model you wish to buy before you buy it.Ìý

It’s essential to ensure the cot meets Australian safety standards and has proper certification – ÌÇÐÄVlog experts recommend you take a tape measure with you and understand a few hazards to look out for (you can find advice on this in our cot buying guide).

Advice for buying secondhand

With the price of a standard cot reaching into the high hundreds in popular baby stores, it’s understandable that many parents may be looking online for cheaper alternatives.Ìý

Instead of buying a cheap new cot online, you may like to consider buying secondhand. While this is a great way to save money and re-use a piece of furniture, there are some things to keep in mind.Ìý

In Australia, cots have only been subject to a mandatory standard since 1998, and our tests show that even since then, not every cot meets the standard. As well as looking for a model post-1998, you should also consider the following factors.

• Safety: Check that all parts are in working order, in particular whether the catches are too easy to undo for a child. Make sure it meets modern safety standards and check whether there are instructions for assembly and safe use.
• Mattress: We recommend buying a new, correctly-fitting cot mattress where possible, as an old mattress may be a SIDS or breathability risk if it’s too soft (or it could just be dirty!)
• Cot history: Second-hand cots are great for sustainability, but do check its history and whether it’s been heavily used. Over time, it may have become worn or damaged.

The post The baby cots with serious safety failures appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• What does the Snoo do?
• How does the Snoo work?
• Is the Snoo worth its high cost?

The Snoo is an expensive “smart” bassinet that lulls your swaddled infant to sleep using a rocking movement (which can be controlled by an app).

What does the Snoo do?

The Snoo’s rocking intensifies as its microphones detect your baby’s cries, then slows to a gentle wiggle as they settle, all accompanied by womb-like white noise – with the ultimate aim of everyone getting a better night’s sleep. You use the associated Snoo app to change or limit the intensity of the jiggling depending on your baby’s needs, as well as the volume and type of white noise.

A helping hand, not a substitute parent

The Snoo isn’t designed to be a replacement for human care; you’ll still need to tend to your baby if they need a nappy change or a feed.Ìý

Leaving the job of calming your baby to a robotic nanny may seem unnatural or at worst neglectful. But parental sleep deprivation can be a real problem during a baby’s first few months of life, so the Snoo’s sleep-soothing concept could be seen as a godsend to many.Ìý

Developed by US paediatrician and baby sleep author Dr Harvey Karp, the Snoo could even be life-saving, according to its makers who claim it discourages bed-sharing and potential suffocation caused by exhausted parents rolling over in bed.

How does the Snoo work?

Set-up

To get started, download the Snoo app and follow the instructions to connect the bassinet to your home Wi-Fi. Place the baby in the provided sleep sack and ensure the wings are clipped into the bassinet so that the baby stays in a swaddled position on their back. The Snoo is then ready to use.

App control

Apart from the ability to monitor and control the rocking levels and white noise, the app can be used to track sleep patterns. If baby is struggling to nap and you’re in another room, the Snoo shuts down and warns you via the app if your baby’s crying too much – that’s when they’ll need a carer’s attention.Ìý

As baby develops, the weaning function gradually reduces the frequency of rocking, to help teach your baby to transition to a cot.

Is the Snoo worth its high cost?

The Wi-Fi enabled Snoo is shipped from the US. When we first reviewed it in 2019, its price was $1160 USD, the equivalent of $1640 AUD based on exchange rates. In 2024, the bassinet’s price increased to $1395 USD, a whopping $2144 AUD. It may occasionally go on special, but even so, that’s far more than some of the traditional bassinets we recommend in our bassinet reviewsÌýfor $100-$200. This high cost leaves the Smart Sleeper out of reach to many parents already forking out on baby essentials.

Customer service and shipping is also based out of the US – impractical if you run into problems.Ìý

And the catch is there’s no guarantee the Snoo will work for your baby (although the company does advertise a 30-day trial and says it will issue a refund if the Snoo isn’t for you).

Snoo rental

A number of unofficial Australian companies offer the Snoo for hire, with various pricing schemes (expect to pay around $140 a month). Some may come with a new mattress and sleep sacks while others are cleaned and sterilised between uses. You may be required to place a security deposit. We recommend buying a new official Snoo mattress if considering the rental option.

Is the Snoo safe?

While we haven’t tested the Snoo’s robotic functionality with an actual baby in it, our experts have looked at its safety features from a mechanical perspective.

A safe sleeping environment is crucial during your baby’s first months, yet there’s still no Australian standard for bassinets. Our experts know what dangers to look for, so we’ve devised a stringent, in-house ÌÇÐÄVlog method for testing bassinets that draws upon existing Australian standards for products like portable cots and household cots.

The Snoo is essentially a safe product:

• It’s stable (but heavy at 16.7kg and doesn’t have castors to wheel from room to room)
• It has breathable mesh
• The mattress is sufficiently firm
• It comes with a sleeping sack that clips into the bassinet, keeping your infant in a safe position on their back during sleep/rocking (different sizes are available to use as your baby grows)
• It claims to meet the US standard for bassinets

However, the one safety fault we found was that its depth of 230mm is a touch shallower than our required 250mm, which creates a minor fall risk. In practice, it’s unlikely a small baby would be able to push themselves up and over at this height, especially if the sleep sack is used as directed, but it’s something to keep an eye on as your infant becomes more mobile.

This review was originally published in March 2019.

The post Snoo Smart Sleeper bassinet review appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

A safe sleep environment is essential for babies, as parents know. With many newborns spending their first few weeks or months sleeping in a bassinet before moving on to a larger cot, you’ll want one that offers the safest sleeping space available.

Unfortunately, ÌÇÐÄVlog testing has found serious safety failures in a range of bassinets currently being advertised to new parents.

Four out of the ten recently tested models were found to have safety risks such as a lack of breathable zones, or a poorly fitting or insufficiently firm mattress – both issues that could cause suffocation.

Our testers conduct thorough safety tests on all bassinets that pass through our accredited labs, assessing factors such as choking hazards, breathable zones, mattress firmness and depth of the bassinets, stability of construction and any entrapment hazards.

Bassinets with safety issues

Here are the newly tested bassinets with serious safety issues – click each to see the full reviews and risks.

• Kmart Anko Bassinet with Canopy
• Childcare Osmo Bassinet
• Fisher Price Soothing View Bassinet
• Stokke Sleepi Mini V3 and mattress

ÌÇÐÄVlog contacted these manufacturers about our test results. Kmart, Stokke and Childcare responded – see their replies below.

Bassinets that passed

The bassinets from our most recent test that passed our key safety requirements are:

• 4Baby Dreamy Bassinet
• 4Baby Sleeptime Bedside Sleeper
• 4Moms MamaRoo Sleep Bassinet
• Boori Neat Rocking Cradle
• Childcare Nocto Bassinet
• Jengo Oakleigh Bassinet

Lack of safety standard puts babies at risk

“Unfortunately, there’s currently no mandatory Australian safety standard for bassinets like there is for cots,” explains ÌÇÐÄVlog baby product expert Kim Gilmour. “This means that year after year we continue to see unsafe bassinets make it onto the shelves.” 

“These major safety failures reinforce the need for a new product safety law, which ÌÇÐÄVlog continues to campaign for. This new law would help to stop unsafe products from ever hitting the market in the first place.”

If you’ve bought any of these bassinets, our advice is to take it back to the retailer and ask for a refund. If the retailer doesn’t give you a fair refund, you can escalate your complaint to your state or territory fair trading body. 

Safety failures we identified

In the past, ÌÇÐÄVlog experts have uncovered a raft of risks with the bassinets we’ve tested, including head and limb entrapment, suffocation and choking hazards, insufficiently firm mattresses and more.

In our latest test, the most concerning findings were around ill-fitting mattresses and non-breathable areas on the side of bassinets that can create an unsafe sleeping environment. 

Although there isn’t a safety standard for bassinets in Australia, there is a standard test for cot mattress firmness, which we conducted on the bassinets in our accredited laboratory. 

“Three of the bassinets we failed – from Childcare, Stokke and Fisher Price – had mattresses that were too soft, with coverings that puffed at the sides and ends, posing a suffocation risk if your baby rolls over or moves,” says Kim.

“Other failures – for the Kmart Anko cot and a second failure for the Childcare cot – were due to the fact that these bassinets have areas of non-breathable material around the edges of the bassinet, which also present a suffocation risk if an infant happens to roll onto their side.

“When choosing a bassinet, look for things such as adequate breathable zones on all four sides of the bassinet, sturdy construction and a mattress that fits snugly around all sides with no gaps,” says Kim.

Manufacturers respond

Kmart

In response to our findings, Kmart says that the bassinet, “is designed, constructed and tested to meet the European Standard, the EN 1130:2019 Children’s furniture – Cribs – Safety requirements and test methods… We note your comments on non-breathable material. We have incorporated in our design to have as much breathable zone as possible without impacting the structural strength of the bassinet. We are keen to understand more about testing conducted by ÌÇÐÄVlog, as it may assist in informing product assessments along with future product iterations.” 

Stokke

In response to the ÌÇÐÄVlog findings, Stokke says: “We are surprised to see this result from ÌÇÐÄVlog. Both the Sleepi V3 bed and mini mattress were tested in [a] third-party lab for the mattress firmness testing to the Australia standard.” Stokke had the mattress urgently retested by an accredited third-party lab, where the result passed. ÌÇÐÄVlog stands by its results on the model tested.

Childcare

In response to our findings, the manufacturer provided us with a test report from an accredited lab saying its mattress passed the firmness test. It also said it did not think the criteria we test breathability to was applicable to the product. However, in the absence of an Australian standard, ÌÇÐÄVlog stands by our test method and test result.

Fisher Price

We contacted Fisher Price for comment but have had no response.

Past failures still on the market

These bassinets that failed ÌÇÐÄVlog safety tests in previous years are still available to buy new:

• 4baby Serenity
• 4baby Sleep and Stay
• Baby Inc Sonno Bassinet N9859
• Bednest Bassinet
• Chicco next2me 10840
• Pottery Barn Kids Bassinet and Mattress set
• Troll Sun Bassinet
• Valco Rico

You can view discontinued models that have failed safety tests using our bassinets comparison table, in case you’re looking to buy a bassinet second-hand or want to find out about a model you already own. 

The post Baby bassinets still failing ÌÇÐÄVlog safety tests appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Our expert testers
• How we choose what we test
• How we test bassinets

But despite a safe sleeping environment being crucial at this stage of your infant’s life, there are still no Australian standards for bassinets or bedside sleepers. So how does ÌÇÐÄVlog recommend models we think are safe?

Our expert testers

With more than 20 years of experience, our expert testers are the bees’ knees of children’s product testing. They’ve seen all the brands and varying bassinet configurations on the market, and have put many of them to the test.Ìý

Our experts sit on the Australian Standards committees for children’s products and we report our findings to regulators and other industry stakeholders.

How we choose what we test

Most of the time, our priority is to test what you’ll see in stores. That’s why many of our bassinets come from brands you’ll see in mainstream nursery or department stores. However, bedside sleepers are a relatively new trend in Australia, and we’re interested in checking the safety of these products too – even if the brand isn’t a household name yet.

We don’t test Moses baskets because they don’t tend to pass our strict breathability, depth or stability requirements.

To come up with our list we survey manufacturers to find out about their range of models and we take member feedback on board. Our buyers then purchase products like a regular consumer would, either instore or online. This is to make sure the products we receive haven’t been ‘tweaked’ in any way for better performance.

How we test bassinets

We’re still waiting for an Australian standard for bassinets and bedside sleepers, but our experts know what to look for when it comes to safety and we’ve devised our own in-house test procedures. We’ve based our test methods on various existing standards for similar children’s products such asÌýcotsÌýandÌýfolding cots.

There are also overseas standards to draw upon, including a US safety standard for bedside sleepers, F2903-13, which we’ve tailored to meet Australian requirements.

Bassinets

Here are the main safety issues we assess when testing bassinets.

• Small objectsÌýwhich could become loose and pose a choking hazard.
• Sharp corners, edges and points.
• Breathable zones on all four sides, such as mesh walls at sleeping level. Any breathable zone needs to be at least 100mm high at the top surface of the mattress – this is to prevent suffocation if an infant happens to roll to the side (and some bassinets have bouncing or rocking mechanisms which could cause baby to move, too). Any non-breathable areas around the bassinet which may form part of its structure need to be less than 60mm wide. Many bassinets we test that provide breathable zones still fail our requirements.
• To prevent falls, bassinets must be at least 250mm deep to be fully recommended. This is a strict condition, and is based on the existing folding cot standard (bassinet mode). Even bassinets that are slightly under this requirement won’t get a complete pass, as falls can occur when a baby leans or crawls over the sides, and you don’t want to find out the hard way that baby has learned to do that. However, models that are still at least 225mm deep won’t be penalised as harshly as one that’s much shallower.
• Horizontal and vertical strength is assessed to see if the bassinet will collapse when force of around 100 Newtons (approximately 10kg) is applied at various points for 10 seconds. Similarly we conduct a vertical static load test by placing a 40kg mass on the bassinet for one minute.
• StabilityÌýof construction.
• Entrapment hazardsÌýbetween any moving components.
• Head, limb and finger entrapmentsÌýin openings.
• Mattress firmness (tested to the Australian cot mattress firmness method, AS/NZS 8811.1:2013).

Bedside sleepers

Bedside sleepers can be used in bassinet mode, so we subject them to the same tests as bassinets (above).

Bedside sleepers have at least one side that can be either partly or fully opened. Suitable adult bed heights need to be clearly stated on the packaging and instructions. We check to make sure there are no suffocation or entrapment hazards between the bedside sleeper and adult bed, or at any opened area of the bedside sleeper itself.

Ease of use

This score doesn’t yet feature for all bassinets we’ve tested, so it’s published separately to the ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating. It involves ease of assembling and installing, and ease of removing any fabric parts for washing.

Test criteria explained

We rate children’s products a bit differently to other tests, due to the strong interest in safety. We rate performance according to whether they pass or fail major tests. Products with a ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating (our overall score) of 60% and above pass key safety tests.

• No failures:Ìý100%
• Very minor failures:Ìý80%
• One minor failure and no serious failures:Ìý65%
• Multiple minor failures but no serious failure:Ìý60%
• One serious failure:Ìý40%
• More than one serious failure:Ìý20%

The post How we test bassinets and bedside sleepers appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Our expert testers
• How we choose what we test
• How we test cots
• Test criteria explained

Over the years, our experts have tested hundreds of cots to the Australian standard, and have uncovered some poorly engineered cots which could pose suffocation or falling risks.

Our expert testers

With over 15 years’ experience, our testers are experts at children’s product testing. They’ve seen all the brands and cot configurations on the market and have put each to the test. Our testers also sit on the Australian Standards Committee for cots.Ìý

We are active industry stakeholders who regularly inform regulators and manufacturers about cot failures we find, and contribute towards the improvement of safety standards. Being on the committee gives us a clear understanding of both the technicalities and intentions of the standard. Our lab is NATA-accredited to test cots against the standard.

How we choose what we test

Why do we choose one cot over another? Our priority is to test what you’ll find in shops, and most of the time you’ll see us test big-brand models from mainstream nursery stores. But there’s a growing industry of smaller retailers who sell to independent stores and via online marketplaces, so we occasionally include these models in the mix to make sure they’re meeting the same standards that apply to the larger names.

We survey manufacturers to find out about their range of models and also take member feedback on board when putting a buy list together. Our buyers then purchase products just like you would, either instore or online. This is to make sure the products we receive haven’t been tweaked with in any way for better performance, or received special treatment during transit.

How we test cots

Safety

Safety is a vital part of our testing. Our experts test each cot against key safety clauses from the Australian Standard AS/NZS 2172:2013. This is a voluntary standard that goes above and beyond mandatory requirements. Only cots that pass our stringent tests are recommended. These tests include:

• using probes to check for suitable gaps between the bars and panels of the cot to avoid limb injury
• checking that there is sufficient depth of the cot to prevent falls
• testing the dropside’s strength and construction, if there is one
• checking for strangulation risks at the cot ends
• checking that the recommended mattress size doesn’t leave too much of a gap between the mattress, cot sides and end.

We also check the instructions to see if they meet the standard, but in most cases what we call a ‘failure of information requirements’ is very minor (e.g. the supplier’s name and contact details are not printed, or the label may have started peeling) so we’ve taken the view of not letting this affect our overall recommendations.Ìý

Even so, we still inform manufacturers about any problems we find so they can address them in future production batches.

We also check for issues such as finger entrapment, but because we don’t hear about significant injuries, we may still rate a cot as worth considering depending on the risk we think it poses.Ìý

For example, plugs may not be supplied to fit the unused holes which are designed to place the mattress base in an upper or lower position (which could be a finger trap if left unfilled). But sometimes these holes may not present a likely risk, as they may be covered once a mattress is in place.

Reputable cot manufacturers will have their products certified to the most recent standard. Sometimes, after we inform them of failures, they’ll supply us with an independent report which says they’ve met the standard.Ìý

Manufacturing problems or inconsistencies do arise, and we usually stand by our findings based on the sample we received. In most cases, companies will take our comments on board and rapidly address the problems we find.

Ease of assemblyÌý

In addition to testing to the standard, we also note other issues such as whether the cot is particularly hard to put together or if the dropside doesn’t operate smoothly. We also record any other features which may be of interest, such as conversion to a junior bed.Ìý

Test criteria explained

The ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating (our overall score) is made up of:

• safety performance (70%)
• ease of assembly (30%).

The safety performance score reflects whether we found serious, minor, or very minor failures.

• No failures: 100%
• Very minor failures: 80%
• One minor failure and no serious failures: 65%
• Multiple minor failures but no serious failure: 60%
• One serious failure: 40%
• More than one serious failure: 20%

Recommended models

We recommendÌýcots withÌýa ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating of at least 70%, thatÌýhave passed all our safety tests, and score 80–100% for safety performance.

They may have some very minor failures (such as not meeting information labelling requirements), but we usually don’t think these are significant.

Models that pass key safety tests

• Models that score 60–65% for safety performance are still worth considering, as they pass all of our key safety tests which cover serious hazards such as head and limb entrapment or strangulation or fall risks.
• They may have some minor safety failures, such as finger entrapment hazards in hard to reach areas, or some sharp edges.

Models with serious failures

• Cots that don’t pass key safety tests aren’t worth considering.
• These score 40% or less for safety performance. Failures can include issues like a gap between bars that is the wrong size and could be a head or limb entrapment hazard; the cot sides might not be high enough; or the recommended mattress is too thick, leading to insufficient cot depth, and as a result there’s a risk of a child climbing and falling from the cot.
• We list these failures in the ‘Bad points’ for that model in our cot test results.

The post How we test cots appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

A portable cot for babies has been recalled after ÌÇÐÄVlog lab tests revealed serious safety failures and we contacted the ACCC about the issue. We’re urging parents to return the product to the retailer for a refund.

The product in question, the Mamakiddies Baby Playard Happy Dino portable cot, failed the mandatory safety standard in our labs and “presents a long list of risks including fall, suffocation, entrapment and strangulation” says ÌÇÐÄVlog tester Kim Gilmour.

The cot was sold through retailer MyMoonMart, which initially declined our request on 12 July to issue a recall to its customers but told ÌÇÐÄVlog it was no longer selling the Mamakiddies cot.

On 25 August, the product was finallyÌýÌýfollowing our consultation with the regulator.

Voluntary standards should be mandatory

The Mamakiddies cot also failed a number of voluntary standards for babies and kids products during our tests, standards that we believe should be made mandatory and that are rigorously applied in our test labs.

In addition, six other cots and two strollers failed our tests against the voluntary standard, as follows:

• 4Baby Liteway Travel Cot
• Star Kidz Amico Super Light Travel Cot
• Kmart Anko Travel Portacot
• Babyhood Uno 2 in 1 Portacot
• Childcare Ison 3 in 1 Travel Cot
• Mocka Porta Cot
• Babybee Rover 2019 stroller
• ÌýMilly & Coup Milo stroller

“Our main issue with the other portable cots we put through the ÌÇÐÄVlog labs was a lack of mattress firmness which presents a suffocation risk to children,” says Gilmour.

“If you have any of the portable cots or strollers on this list, ÌÇÐÄVlog urgently recommends you stop using them for the safety of your children,” she says.

Read more:

• How we test portable cots.
• How we test strollers.
• See ourÌýfull review of portable cots.Ìý

Note: A subscription is needed to see our test content. Flexible pricing options are available.

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Between 2012–20, 57% of cots tested have failed to meet key safety requirements, a figure that has been gradually getting better.

Cot safety

The risks of an unsafe cot can include head or limb entrapment, strangulation, choking, suffocation and falls.

While all cots available in Australia should meet the mandatory safety standard, we’ve found many don’t. That’s why we continue to call for .

“Parents shouldn’t have to rely on a nonprofit consumer organisation like ÌÇÐÄVlog to test products for safety and push individual businesses to fix products that are already on the market and endangering children,” says Amy Pereira, ÌÇÐÄVlog’s product safety campaigner.

Our latest test batch includes many of the big-name brands that you’ll see at retail stores, but despite these manufacturers finally lifting their game, dangerous cots remain on the market.

“Many of the cots that failed our safety tests in the past are still available for sale,” warns Kim Gilmour, who heads up our household product testing.

“And with more consumers turning to online marketplaces to buy cheap cots these days, we plan to check if these sellers’ cots meet safety standards, too.”

Cot mattress firmness improving

After drawing attention to the importance of cot mattress firmness, we’re pleased to see that all passed the firmness test in our latest round of testing. However, two failed to provide sufficient mattress size measurements.

A gap of even a few centimetres between the cot wall and the mattress could cause suffocation, so we also make sure the claimed measurements are accurate.

Our safety test involves checking that the mattress is firm enough not to pose a suffocation risk.Ìý

Unlike cots, there’s no mandatory safety standard in Australia for cot mattresses, only a voluntary one.Ìý

Cot mattresses can be legally sold without meeting any safety requirements at all. This makes our testing at ÌÇÐÄVlog – and our fight for better product safety laws – all the more crucial.

“We need a more proactive approach to product safety from businesses operating in all markets – introducing a general safety provision into our law is the way to achieve this,” says Pereira.

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ÌÇÐÄVlog rejected the Bednest

The Bednest bedside sleeper, which attaches next to the carer’s bed to facilitate easy access, had a side which was able to operate in both fully open and half-open positions. More than 20,000 are claimed to have been sold worldwide.

We reviewed the product using our in-house test method in November 2014, six months before the April 2015 fatality occurred, and concluded that it wasn’t safe enough to be recommended due to, among other things, a lack of sufficient “breathable zones”.

We informed the manufacturer of our findings at the time, and was informed that Bednest had passed the US standard for bedside sleepers (which does not reference breathable zones). According to , the baby’s parents obtained a second-hand Bednest which didn’t have the instructions specifying that the baby must not be left unsupervised with the side in a half-open position, and had also placed the baby in a face-down (prone) position.

Lack of Australian standards an issue

The incident throws the lack of Australian standards for bassinets and bedside sleepers into the spotlight and asks whether the US standard for bedside sleepers, which is the only official standard currently available, is rigorous enough to prevent such accidents in future.

After UK investigations, Bednest issued a in November 2015 to prevent the bassinet from operating in the half-open position. The kit is now available in Australia, and affects all models sold from 2013 to 2015. Nursery supplier is the local point of contact for customers requiring one. Current Bednests are not being made with the ability to open halfway.

Bednest told ÌÇÐÄVlog that the voluntary modification was not related to the incident in the UK. It said: “As a precaution we decided to make available to our customers a kit which prevents the folding panel being left in the half-raised position. This was to address some concerns recently raised by some experts in the UK about the height of side panels in bedside cribs and questioning the 4″ height specified in the US Standard.”

Referencing the tragedy, the states: “If a parent is thinking about using products where there are no AS/NZS Standards, they need to ascertain not only whether the product may be effective but also is it safe to use under all circumstances and where the baby may be unsupervised.”

Do your research

If you’re still thinking of using a bassinet or bedside sleeper, you can read our bassinet buying guide which mentions what safety aspects to look for, and see what we recommend in our bassinetÌýreviews.

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