Infant sleep products
Using infant sleep products incorrectly, or for purposes they were not designed for, can put your baby at risk.
Infant sleep products include, but are not limited to:
- household cots
- portable folding cots
- bassinets
- cradles
- co-sleepers and inclined sleepers.
Only buy infant sleep products that comply with these Australian mandatory standards:
- Consumer Goods (Infant Sleep Products) Safety Standard 2024
- Consumer Goods (Infant Products) Information Standard 2024.
Using sleep products safely
Keep your baby safe by using sleep products correctly. You should:
- only use baby products for their intended purpose and according to the instructions
- always read product warnings and labels
- make sure products are right for your baby's age and size
- regularly check for wear and tear, and don't use damaged products
- make sure mattresses fit snug and flat in a cot, bassinet or cradle
- settle your baby in a safe environment for every sleep—place them on a flat, firm, level surface with their head and face uncovered.
Products to avoid
Products with inclined surfaces or restraints aren't safe for sleep.
Some products aren't safe for sleep because they can put your baby in unsafe positions or restrict breathing. They include:
- baby hammocks
- anti-roll pillows
- nests or loungers
- sleep comforters
- sleep positioners
- soft toys
- weighted products, including blankets, sleep sacks and swaddles.
Read the guide to products that are safe for baby to sleep in from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for more information about safe sleep.
Cots
To keep your child's sleeping environment safe and secure and avoid injuries to your child, follow these tips for using cots.
Follow these tips to keep your child safe when using a cot:
- Read and follow all safety instructions.
- Only use the mattress specifically designed for the cot—this information is stamped on the base of the cot.
- Put your baby on their back on a flat, firm and level surface with their head and face uncovered.
- Keep the drop side locked and check regularly that it's still locked.
- Don't put anything in the cot with your child.
- Don't place the cot under a window—hanging blind and curtain cords pose a strangulation danger. Read more about blind and curtain cord safety.
- Only use a second-hand or heirloom cot if you're sure it's safe and meets current standards.
Read the ACCC's guide to using household cots safely.
Follow these tips to keep your child safe when using a portable cot:
- Read and follow all safety instructions.
- Use the mattress that came with or is designed for the cot.
- Don't put anything in the cot with your child.
- Lock the sides and ends in place before putting your child in the cot, and double check the locks are fully engaged.
- Make sure second-hand cots meet current safety standards and are in good working order.
- Regularly check the mesh and locking mechanisms for damage, and don't use the cot if you find any damage.
- Make sure the straps aren't hanging inside the cot—they can be a strangulation hazard.
- Don't use portable cots as a permanent sleeping arrangement.
- Stop using if your child weighs more than 15kg or can stand, shake the sides or climb.
Read the ACCC's guide to using portable folding cots safely.
More information
- Find out more about mandatory standards for infant sleep products.
- Read the best practice guide for the design of safe infant sleeping environments for information about reducing risks to infants from sleeping products.
- Read the infant sleep products supplier guide.
- Read the guide to products that are safe for baby to sleep in.
- Find out how to make a product safety complaint.