Cot safety

I thought I would mention a little about recommended  features of a safe cot according to Australian Safety Standards. Australia has fairly high standards of safety compared to other countries.  Most of the items for sale in shops meet these standards.  However, what about those items imported from overseas, for sale on ebay or garage sale?

1. What are the safety features to look for on Cots?

Minimum spaces between bars of 50mm;

Maximum spaces of 95mm;

No protrusion hazards;

No lead based paints;

No entrapment hazards;

Devices to stop the cot moving, that is wheel locks or only two wheels;

Instructions on recommended mattress size.

Consumers should also read the Australian safety standard AS2172 for further information.

Cots - Portable

1. Is it safe to use secondhand portacots?

Only cots that comply with the current safety standard should be used. It is always difficult to evaluate whether secondhand cots comply with the latest safety standards.

In recent years major design changes have resulted in improvements to the safety of these products and unless consumers are certain that a secondhand product complies with the new standard they should avoid using secondhand portacots.

2. Can I use any mattress in a portable cot?

No. Only the original mattress supplied by the manufacturer of the portable cot should be used in the product. Additional mattresses should never be used in a portable cot.

The original mattress will provide sufficient support for an infant up to the weight of 15 kg. Portable cots are not recommended for use by infants once they exceed this weight.

Cot safety is important from newborn right through until your toddler is in a bed.

Additional information can be found at Kidsafeqld.com.au.  It is physically situated behind the Royal Brisbane Hospital at Herston. I hope this helps.