Household cots with wooden drop sides

Following a series of product recalls in the United States of timber cots with drop sides, concern has been raised about the safety of drop side cots here.

Of particular focus is the strength and integrity of the drop side itself, especially over a continued period of use. 

A large number of product failures have been identified in several cots supplied in the US with drop sides. You can see a summary of US cot recalls by clicking here.

Hazards

Some key things to look out for are:  

• loose or breaking slats, filler bars or rails in the drop side which create dangerous gaps which a child can become trapped in or fall through
• failing mechanisms and hardware which causes the drop side to separate or not engage or lock properly or efficiently, creating hazardous gaps
• incorrect assembly (and perhaps use) of drop sides and a lack of ongoing maintenance of the cot and the hardware causing potential safety concerns.

A small number of cots have been reported as faulty in Australia. Few incidents have been recorded as although product recalls apply internationally, there appears to have been minimal supply, if any, of recalled US cots here.

The ACCC is monitoring the Australian market to ensure products recalled in the US are also recalled in Australia.

Ensuring Safety

Consumers who have a cot with a drop side or are considering the purchase of a cot should be aware of the following:

• The current mandatory standard for children’s household cots has been in operation since 2005. The standard establishes a set of safety requirements for cots including requirements relating to the strength and integrity of the cot drop side.
• A children’s household cot is the safest and most appropriate sleeping environment for a baby or young infant.
• Children’s cots, especially those with movable parts like a drop side, have to be assembled with care and attention. They must be checked and maintained regularly.
• The drop side of a cot will be used repeatedly, with some degree of force, over an extended period of time. Drop sides can become loose due to the length of use, the quality of the timber, hardware and fastenings used.
• Cots that are re-assembled and used again can become less safe as a result of missing or loose fittings or damaged components and materials.
• Older or second hand cots may not meet current safety standards or come with the necessary instructions for proper assembly and safe use.
• Once a child can support its own weight and stand up in the cot, the mattress base should be (where adjustable) placed at its lowest position and thought given to the next phase of sleeping environment for the child.

As cots with drop sides have moving parts, those parts are subject to wear and tear and consequently require more attention.

Parents regard drop sides as convenient. The perception is that they allow for easier placement of the child in the cot and removal of the child from the cot.

Any cot, whether it has a drop side or not, may generate safety concerns if it is poorly constructed or uses inferior quality materials. 

There has been some evidence in Australia that certain products have shown signs of slat disengagement from the drop side rails. This has generally been as a result of poorly applied adhesives or badly aligned and joined slats. Consumers should perform a simple check on the cot by grabbing and shaking the slats or filler bars to see if they are loose or weak.

Consumers should always choose products based on safety as well as quality and cost considerations.

Consumers are advised to continue to monitor this website for any further developments.