Most parents with young children have looked into buying a portable cot at some stage.
They're convenient and easy to use for travel or visiting family.
But consumer group CHOICE is warning they can pose a serious safety risk to babies, with a number of products failing its annual safety test.
So, which brands failed the test?
Each year, CHOICE tests a selection of the portacots currently available in the Australian market.
It assesses the models against both mandatory Australian safety standards and voluntary standards.
Six out of the 11 portacots tested this year failed.
They include:
- Kmart Anko 3 in 1 portacot
- Target Adventure V2 3 in 1 portacot
- Baby Bunting 4Baby Clouds 2 in 1 portacot
- Baby Bunting 4Baby Vacation portacot
- Phil and Teds Traveller 2021
- Star Kidz Vivo Super Light Travel Cot
"We found with most of them they are failing the mattress firmness test," says CHOICE's Chris Barnes. "It's all about having a level and firm sleeping surface."
If a mattress is too soft, it can be a risk factor for sudden unexpected death in infancy.
"The very fact they do fold up means there is a certain amount of variability in the sleeping surface.
"It's not like a regular cot mattress, which is not meant to be folded and put away, which means there is less scope for it to get out of shape."
The tests also looked at whether the cots had breathable sides, sturdiness and stability and entrapment hazards.
Portacot suppliers dispute the tests
Target and Kmart told the ABC their products actually did meet all mandatory and voluntary standards.
"We disputed CHOICE's findings over a month ago and questioned testing methods," says a spokesperson.
They have had no reported injuries relating to these mattresses.
Nanny Annie Pty Ltd says its Star Kidz portacot also complies with both standards and disagrees with the CHOICE findings.
"We have the product tested independently by Intertek and [it] passed all the components of the same test conducted by CHOICE," explains a spokesperson.
Baby Bunting also says independent laboratories confirm its products comply with the mattress firmness standard.
"Our portacots are safe and parents and caregivers should feel confident using our products," a spokesperson says.
The ABC also contacted Phil and Teds for comment.
There is a grey area around standards
Confusingly, there is a grey area around the Australian standards, which may be the reason for the dispute, says Chris Barnes.
"There is an accepted Australian standard for measuring how firm a sleeping surface is (Australian standard 8811) where they often fail."
"The portable cot standard itself — the regulation it has to pass doesn't call on that test, just a general statement saying the sleeping surface has to be sufficiently firm."
"Where you have this scope for different types of test it does create these types of problems," he said.
The nursery products industry body, INPAA, has slammed CHOICE's report.
"We believe the reporting of this terrifies parents and will possibly lead to the use of unsafe sleeping environments," says INPAA director Tim Wain.
He says all portacots have firm mattresses and the biggest risk factor is when parents introduce new, softer, mattresses.
"They've identified a hazard that isn't a hazard."
I'm confused. Is the consumer watchdog doing anything about it?
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says it is aware of CHOICE's testing but won't comment on the steps they may take to investigate such reports.
It says since 2017, there have been five recalls for portacots (the latest being Pharmrec Trading's Mamakiddies Happy Dino Portable Travel Cot last year).
The six products that failed CHOICE's test have not been recalled.
The ACCC is also focusing on addressing product safety issues with sleep products this year.
It is currently seeking feedback on a range of proposed regulatory options which aim to prevent infant injuries and deaths.
Umm. Did any portacots pass the test?
Yes.
Five of the 11 portacots tested by Choice this year passed the safety tests (there are also others on the market that have passed in previous years that are not listed here).
They are:
- Bebe Care Zuri Timber Travel cot
- Bugaboo Stardust
- Jengo Travellite Wooden 2 in 1 cot
- Joie Commuter Change V2 Travel cot
- Nuna Cove Aire
I can't afford new. It is risky to buy second-hand?
It can be.
"Buying second-hand with any baby and kids product is a risky enterprise, unfortunately," warned Chris Barnes.
However, for many parents, it's the cheapest option.
So, if you do want to use a second-hand portacot, Chris Barnes suggests checking a few things first.
"Check the product claims to meet the standards — don't get an unnamed import."
He says to also check the product hasn't ever been recalled — you can find that on this government website.
And do your own stress test — checking all the joints open and close and the sleeping surface looks flat and firm.
