IS YOUR BABY AT RISK?

Nearly one in three babies is at risk of dying in a portacot a recent Monash University study has found. The study, conducted by Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC), discovered that 30 per cent of parents were placing an extra mattress in their portacot, unaware of the potentially fatal consequences.

Tim Wain, Executive Director of the Infant & Nursery Products Association of Australia (INPAA) said he was alarmed and urged parents and grandparents to immediately stop this practice.

“The extra mattress may create a space that infants can roll into and potentially suffocate as a result of becoming trapped between the portacot side and the mattress,” Mr Wain said.

“The use of an additional portacot mattress is an extremely unsafe practice that may have fatal consequences,” Mr Wain said.

“There is a perception among parents and grandparents that extra comfort is needed for their child, which is why they use an additional mattress. This perception is simply untrue and unnecessary”. Mr Wain further explained that parents and grandparents are often ignorant of the danger and the industry is desperate to raise awareness of the problems.

He said the mattress supplied with the portacot was the only safe option when using a portable cot. He stressed that a portacot, when used correctly, is a safe sleeping environment for young infants. SIDS & Kids, Australia’s leading child bereavement and counselling organisation, strongly supports INPAA’s concerns and recommends only firm bedding be used for an infant.

Mr Wain pleaded with parents and grandparents to immediately stop using extra mattresses in portacots. “We need to stop kids from being killed with this dangerous practice,” he said.

Australian regulators have now recognised the need to address this serious problem with the introduction of a mandatory safety standard for portacots from 1/3/2009 that specifically highlights warnings against using additional mattresses.

The MUARC study was part of a collaborative project between MUARC, INPAA, SIDS & Kids and the City of Geelong, designed to increase awareness of the safe use of nursery items. The project was funded by the Department of Health and Ageing.

For further information contact

Tim Wain

Infant & Nursery Products Association of Australia