Safety concerns over popular baby products
Australia’s consumer watchdog will soon start cracking down on products which put children’s safety at risk.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced infant sleep products and other goods which affect children’s safety will be among their top priorities in 2023-24.
The renewed focus on protecting young Australians was announced by the organisation’s deputy chair, Catriona Lowe.
“Addressing issues for young children, who are among the most vulnerable consumers, is our highest product safety priority,” Ms Lowe said.
“This broad body of work will involve continuing compliance, enforcement and education initiatives with a focus on toys for children aged under three, products containing button batteries and toppling furniture.”
The organisation will spend this year implementing strategies to prevent injuries and deaths associated with infant sleeping products, including incline sleep products, bassinets and cots, bouncers and sleep aids.
“An education campaign to be launched in the next week on infant incline products – including inclined sleepers and rockers – will help consumers and industry become more aware of the safety risks associated with these products,” she said.
The ACCC hopes these campaigns will support informed purchasing decisions and that consumers can take action to protect their children’s interest and safety.
The organisation first outlined its renewed efforts to keep babies safe in 2022, with former ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard saying the risks of incline sleeping products were of particular concern.
“Tragically, since 2001, about two infant deaths in Australia per year have been associated with inclined sleep products, such as rockers and bouncers marketed for sleep, while the death of around one child per year has been connected to other infant sleep products such as cots, inflatable beds and mattresses,” Ms Rickard said.
“Sleeping babies are often placed on inclined sleep products such as bouncers and rockers by parents and carers who are totally unaware of the significant suffocation risks.”
Investigations will be undertaken into sleep products “of highest concern” and enforcement action will be taken when needed, according to Ms Lowe.
A mandatory standard will continue to be developed by the ACCC to address infant sleep products and the organisation will also look at new trends in these products to ensure their safety standards are up to date.
It will also consider whether products marketed for sleep with an incline angle greater than 7 degrees should be permanently banned.
“The ACCC will focus on assessing data and intelligence and engaging with other regulators, to inform our knowledge of product safety risks and emerging trends in the infant sleep environment,” the organisation’s priority manifesto said.
There have been 21 product recalls issued by ACCC relating to babies and children in 2023, including for cots, clothes, rattles and other toys.
