Safe baby furniture checklist

Every year, approximately 700 children in Victoria between the ages of 0 and 4 require hospital treatment for injuries related to nursery products. In fact, baby furniture is at fault for around 10% of injuries to babies under 12 months old. 

This is why safety should be your number one priority when looking for furniture. This means following the manufacturer's instructions so your baby’s furniture is assembled correctly, and ensuring the product meets Australian (AS) or Australia/New Zealand (AS/NZS) standards.

The first step to choosing safe furniture (especially furniture that is bought second-hand) is ensuring the product hasn’t had any recalls. The easiest way to do this is by searching the brand and model on Product Safety Australia. If it has been recalled, you can see the standards it failed to comply with, and when the recall was issued. 

Choosing safe furniture means only buying or accepting equipment that meets the necessary standards – AS or AS/NZS. This illustrates the product is adhering to quality and compulsory Australian and New Zealand safety standards. 

If a friend offers you their old baby furniture, you’ll need to check a few things off your list before accepting. Does it come with full instructions? Does it comply with AS or AS/NZS standards? In the case that there are no AS/NZS standards, contact the manufacturer or retailer to see if it meets European or US standards. 

It should also be solid and stable, with any brakes or locking devices in good working order. Additionally, look out for any sharp edges, rough surfaces, or screws that stick out as this can pose a safety hazard. 

It's easy to think that just because the bed or high chair has been used by someone else, then it’s automatically safe to use for your baby. However, sometimes safety issues relating to the design or product line can emerge years after they are used. The risk of the product can increase if it's old or has been previously damaged, so it's best to assess how worn the furniture is before saying yes. If it’s been previously damaged, broken, fragile, or misused, it's best not to accept it.

An average of 134 children in Victoria reach year required hospital treatment for cot-related injuries. Most occurred when the child fell from the cot, while others got their arm or foot stuck in between the bars.

Above all else, ensure your baby’s cot, mattress, or bedding complies with the proper manufacturing standards. This includes AS/NZS 2172 for cots, AS/NZS 2195 for portable cots, and AS/NZS 8811.1:2013 for mattresses. These standards require the cot to meet the requirements for stability, durability, strength, and impact. 

When assessing the safety of the cot, keep an eye out for the following:

• The cot’s bars should sit between 50 and 95mm. Anything wider can trap your child’s head.
• The base to the top of the cot should measure at least 600mm. This is essential in preventing falls once your baby can stand.
• Check for any holes or openings between 5 mm and 12 mm that could trap your child’s fingers.
• Make sure there are no horizontal bars or footholds that bub can leverage to climb out.
• Check the firmness of the mattress and ensure it fits snugly into the cot.
• Remove any crib bumpers. 
• The sides of the mattress to the ends of the cot should measure no longer than 20mm. Anything wider and your child’s head, arms, or legs can get caught.
• Ensure the cot has four castors, one pair including brakes. 
• Regularly check the tightness of the nuts and bolts as per the maintenance instructions that come with the cot. 
• Lift the drop side when your baby is sleeping.

Once you’ve bought, assembled, and are using the cot, don't make any alterations, as this can compromise the stability and safety of your baby’s sleeping environment. To reduce the risk of suffocation and keep bub’s bedroom as safe as possible, we’d avoid using any plush toys, pillows, doonas, or restraints as these can pose the risk of suffocation. 

Ensure the cot is positioned away from all heaters, power points, curtains, and blind cords, as these can pose a fire hazard and strangulation hazard if your baby gets curious. Don’t hang any pictures or mirrors up nearby, and make sure their mobile is out of reach if you’re using one.

Portable cots are intended for short-term use. While they are handy if you’re travelling, portable cots are not as durable or suitable for larger babies, so it's better to use a standard cot for everyday use. 

When looking for a portable cot, make sure it ticks the following boxes:

• The cot is 500mm deep from the top of the mattress.
• It has a firm mattress that touches each side of the cot. 
• There are no footholds so baby can climb out.
• It has locking devices on the frame with clear locked positions so your child cannot unlock them. 
• It comes with instructions to ensure correct assembly.
• It comes with a warning not to add an extra mattress, to only use a mattress with specific dimensions or to only use the supplied mattress.

Before inserting your child into the cot, check it's properly locked together and stable. Once you begin using it, do not make any alterations. 

Each year on average, 189 children in Victoria need hospital treatment for an injury related to a pram or stroller. Most of these injuries are caused by falling out of the pram.

To ensure utmost safety while using a pram, choose one that adheres to the AS/NZS 2088. This also means choosing one that has:

• A tether strap so you can retain control. 
• A restraint harness to prevent falls. 
• A safe use warning label and safety requirements to prevent entrapment. 
• A strong frame, easy steering, solid and durable wheels
• A gap-free interior to prevent your baby’s toes or fingers from getting caught. 
• Brakes that are fitted to at least two wheels. 
• A backrest that reclines more than 135 degrees to the bottom of the seat if the pram is for a baby under 6 months.

For maximum safety, ensure you use the full five-point restraint harness at all times, even when you’re just going on a short trip. To stop roll-away accidents, we’d also recommend wearing the tether strap when walking and using the parking brake and strap when it's stationary. 

Additionally, avoid overloading the basket underneath the pram and hanging shopping bags on the handles as this can cause the pram to tip over. 

To ensure you choose a safe highchair, ensure that it:

• Meets AS/NZ 4684.
• Has a 5-point body harness.
• Can be locked firmly into position if it has wheels or folds.
• Is slip resistant, if it can hook onto the back of an adult chair. 

We’d recommend looking out for a simple design, preferably one that doesn’t rock. They’re also easier to clean with less chance of your baby’s fingers getting caught. Once you’ve chosen and are setting up the highchair, make sure it is:

• Kept away from walls and cupboards so they can't use the momentum to push their chair over.
• Kept away from curtains, blind cords, windows, and electrical appliances as these can pose a strangulation and electrocution hazard. 
• Kept at least a metre away from kitchen benches and stovetops to reduce the risk of scalds from hot pots, pans, or splashing oil, water, or food.

There are no Australian Standards for change tables, so it’s important to carefully assess the safety features of any change tables you’re interested in:

• It should have roll-off protection, like a harness or raised edges (we’d recommend at least 100mm higher than the changing surface).
• There should be no gaps or spaces baby’s limbs can get stuck in. 
• It should be stable and secure with locks, and a child safety harness if possible.
• It should sit at a comfortable height so you’re not bending uncomfortably and causing yourself unnecessary pain.

At home, it’s safest to change your child on a mat on the floor so they can’t fall. It's up to you to assess whether or not you need a change table. If you do, ensure you:

• Keep all clothes, wipes, and nappies within arm's reach before bub is placed on the table. 
• Keep your hand on your child to keep them from wriggling off. 
• Teach older children if you have them to stay off the change table. 
• Ignore any interruptions, and if you need to leave the room, take your baby with you.

Playpens can be used to hold young children for short amounts of time, like while you’re cooking or talking to a friend. When buying a playpen, ensure it:

• Has bars that are spaced between 50 and 95 mm apart, as anything larger can trap your baby’s head.
• Is sturdy – kids as young as 9 months can pull themselves up and climb over the pen.
• Is at least half a metre high.
• Is not in reach of a heater, stove, or powerpoints.
• Is kept away from blinds and curtain cords.
• Can be locked securely, and any folding components can not come undone by your baby (when your baby can undo the latches, it's a good idea to cease use)

There are no Australian Standards for safety gates, so it’s important to ensure your gate has the following:

• A foot pedal
• A gate that needs reasonable force or two separate actions to open (like an unlock and lift)
• Space between the bars that are 50-95 mm wide
• No mesh or crossbars that can be used as leverage to step over
• No sharp edges or small detachable components that your baby can choke on

When affixing the gate to the stairs (if you’re in a home with more than one story), ensure it's secured attached to the wall or bannisters, and is intended for stair use. Not all safety gates are safe to use for the top of the stairs, so it's a good idea to confirm with the retailer or search for baby gates that advertise this as a primary function. Finally, make sure you have one at the top of the stairs and one at the bottom of the stairs.

Bouncers (or bouncinettes) allow the baby to be rocked or bounced in an inclined position and can help your baby settle during their first few months of life. While they can be useful, your baby should only be using a bouncer up until about six months, or when they start to sit, roll, or have outgrown the bouncer in length. 

When in use, always ensure you have both eyes on the jumper, and it's situated away from any pets or animals. Additionally, refrain from letting your baby sleep in the bouncer, as it can put them at risk of blocking their airway.

Baby walkers have a bad reputation – and for good reason. Between 2000 and 2008, 135 emergency baby walker-related injuries were treated in Victoria alone, the most common injuries being broken bones, burns or scalds, and head injuries. 

The Canadian government conducted a review into walker-related injuries and found these devices were doing much more harm than good. Consequently, the government’s health regulator banned their distribution. 

There is little evidence to suggest baby walkers help babies develop their walking skills. In fact, there is ample evidence to suggest the opposite, and that kids who use baby walkers experience a delay in learning how to crawl, walk, and stand alone without the assistance of a walker. 

If you’re still interested in buying a baby walker, make sure the model (whether it is new or second-hand) is compliant with the mandatory US ASTM F977 safety standard. Make sure it has:

• A braking mechanism to prevent the walker from falling down the stairs 
• Tipping resistance to prevent it from falling over if the baby leans out of the walker 
• A ‘parking brake’ mechanism to keep it immobilised 
• A folding mechanism that latches securely and doesn't collapse once assembled 
• No sharp edges where fingers or toes can get stuck

Most pieces of baby furniture are not inherently dangerous. However, they can be if not enough care is taken to ensure it meets the correct standards and safety instructions. Ensure you tick off each item on the checklist to keep your baby safe and free from injury!