Children's portable folding cots

Under the mandatory standard, children’s folding cots are portable enclosures that are:

• used for sleeping and are folded when not in use
• items referred to as playpens that also have a floor.

The mandatory standard excludes playpens without a floor.

On this page:

• Hazards
• Mandatory standard
• Does this apply to your business?
• Complying with the mandatory standard
• Penalties and consequences
• Some key requirements
• Testing
• Design and construction
• Safety and performance
• Safety markings

Hazards

Falls

Children can suffer serious injuries such as concussion and fractures if they fall when trying to climb out of the cot using footholds or objects left in the cot.

Strangulation

Infants can become trapped and strangle if cots inadvertently collapse when they are not properly assembled and locked into place.

Suffocation

Infants can become trapped and suffocate if they roll into gaps created by ill-fitting or additional mattresses.

Mandatory standard

This mandatory standard is based on Australian Standard AS/NZS 2195:1999 ‘Folding Cots – Safety requirements’.

AS/NZS 2195:1999 is a voluntary standard except for those sections specifically called up by the mandatory standard.  For complete information about all mandatory requirements for folding cots, we strongly advise that you read the Consumer Protection Notice No. 4 of 2008.  This information is essential to ensure you and your business comply. 

The mandatory standard came into effect on 1 March 2009.

Does this apply to your business?

Under the ACL supply includes:

• in relation to goods - (including re-supply) by way of sale, exchange, lease, hire or hire-purchase and
• in relation to services - provide, grant of confer. 

This mandatory standard applies to anyone in the business of supplying folding cots, including:

• manufacturers
• importers
• distributors
• retailers
• hirers.

To allow for staggered implementation, there are some cases where a mandatory standard or ban prescribes different compliance dates for the manufacturing, importing and supply of a product. Manufacturers, importers and distributors should check for this detail in the mandatory standard before embarking on production, importation or distribution of these goods.

Complying with the mandatory standard

For complete information about the mandatory requirements for folding cots, we strongly advise you read: 

• Consumer Protection Notice No. 4 of 2008
• AS/NZS 2195:1999 ‘Folding Cots – Safety requirements’ available from SAI Global.

Suppliers may also find these documents helpful in understanding aspects of the mandatory standard:

• Supplier guide—Children's portable folding cots
• Regulation impact statement—Children's portable folding cots.

Penalties and consequences

Suppliers can face heavy fines and product recalls if they supply bean bags that do not meet the mandatory standard.  For more details, view Penalties and consequences.

Some key requirements

The requirements below are key requirements only. They may help to give suppliers a general idea of the detail they must look up in the regulations.  This information may also assist consumers when they are choosing folding cots.

While we provide some advice on this page to help you understand aspects of the standard you can visually check, suppliers must not rely on this information as a complete guide to compliance.

Testing

While the mandatory standard includes some features you can visually check, it also specifies testing to ensure cots meet requirements for impact, strength, load, durability and stability.  Suppliers need to organise this testing through specialist testing laboratories with the right skills, experience and equipment.

Design and construction

Folding cots can either come with a fixed mattress that forms part of the base or a separate mattress that can be removed.

Mattresses, padding and cushioning material

The mattress and all padding and cushioning material must be sufficiently firm to stop them forming to the contours of a child’s face. The base should be designed to provide a firm flat support for a mattress, or should incorporate a mattress.

The mattress must touch the cot on every side and should fit snugly.

Folding cots must not have a mattress or other parts within the cot that are inflatable in their construction.  Both manually inflating and self-inflating mattresses are not allowed.

Minimum measurements

While all folding cots have one base sleeping position, some folding cots also come with an additional upper base position designed as a bassinette or change table. To stop children climbing out of the cot, the mandatory standard sets out particular minimum height measurements that apply to:

• the sides or ends of folding cots in relation to the lower cot base and any upper base position 
• the position of features that might be used as footholds.

Depth of folding cot lower position

• When no mattress is fitted, the vertical distance from the top of the base to the top edge of the lowest side or end must be a minimum of 550 mm.
• When a mattress is fitted, the vertical distance from the top of the mattress to the top edge of the lowest side or end must be a minimum of 500 mm.

Depth of folding cot upper position

• With or without a mattress fitted, the vertical distance from the upper base to the top of the lowest side or end must be a minimum of 250 mm.

Footholds

• There must be no features up to 500 mm above the mattress base that present a potential foothold that would allow a child to climb out.

Locking devices

The locking devices that operate the folding mechanism must be designed so that the cot does not collapse inadvertently.  All locking devices should:

• have a clearly distinct locked position 
• be designed so that a child inside the cot cannot open or activate the mechanism.

Safety and performance

To stop children climbing out of the cot, the mandatory standard sets out specific minimum height measurements that apply to:

• the sides or ends of folding cots in relation to the lower cot base and any upper base position 
• the position of features that might be used as footholds.

Safety markings

Folding cots must be permanently, prominently and legibly marked on the inside so that users will see the marking when erecting the cot. The marking must at least inlcude:

• instructions for assembly and locking procedures 
• a warning to check before each use that the cot is correctly assembled and that locking devices are fully engaged
• either a warning to only use a mattress of specified dimensions or a warning to only use the mattress supplied with the product—both are allowed 
• a warning not to add an extra mattress as this may cause suffocation.