Baby dummies and dummy chains mandatory standard

Products the mandatory standard applies to

A baby’s dummy has a rubber or soft plastic teat, a hard plastic shield with holes and a ring or a handle to hold the device easily. Babies suck on dummies for comfort.

Dummies are also called pacifiers or soothers.

A dummy chain is a pin, ribbon, string, cord, chain or any similar article that attaches the baby’s dummy to their clothing.

This mandatory standard applies to:

• dummies for babies
• dummy chains and similar products to attach a baby’s dummy to their clothing.

Complying with the mandatory standard

The mandatory standard outlines the design, construction and labelling of babies dummies and dummy chains. It also outlines what’s not allowed for dummy or dummy chain decorations.

This mandatory standard references these voluntary standards:

• For babies dummies, suppliers have a choice of complying with certain sections of either the voluntary Australian standard or the voluntary European soothers for babies and young children standard.
• For dummy chains, suppliers must comply with certain sections of the voluntary European soother holder standard.

Design and construction of babies dummy parts

All parts must be free from any sharp edges that could cause injury.

Shield integrity

The dummy shield must:

• not fit fully inside the baby’s mouth.
• have 2 or more ventilation holes of a specific size and in certain positions to allow the baby to breathe in case the dummy becomes lodged in the mouth.

Teat strength

The teat must be:

• smooth
• not allow fluid to leak inside or fill the teat as bacteria can grow and potentially cause infection.

Ring and handle

The ring or handle must be:

• secure and not detach or come apart from the shield. This can be a choking hazard
• designed to be gripped for easy removal of the dummy by an adult carer in case it becomes lodged in the baby’s mouth.

Testing

To make sure dummies comply with the mandatory standard:

• undertake tensile and shield tests make sure the dummy meets requirements for strength, durability and size
• when tested, no part of a dummy should become detached, torn, fractured or broken.

Suppliers must organise product testing through specialist testing laboratories.

Safety labelling

A warning notice must be provided with a dummy. The warning notice can come with the packaging or in a leaflet supplied with the dummy.

Packaging

Dummies must be sold:

• in a clean condition
• in a sealed pack
• including instructions for dummy use and hygienic care.

Decorations

Dummies must not have any:

• printing on the sucking side of the shield
• adhesive decals attached to any part of the dummy.

Decorations must not become detached during dummy conditioning or testing. These can result in a choking, inhalation or swallowing hazard.

Design and construction of dummy chains

Baby dummy chains must meet the requirements for length, impact resistance, durability and tensile strength.

• A dummy chain must have a maximum length of 220 mm so it doesn’t become a strangulation hazard.
• No part of the dummy chain should break, tear or separate when subjected to impact resistance and tensile strength tests so it doesn’t become a choking hazard.
• The garment fastener must not break, tear or separate during testing. Testing involves repeated opening and closing of the fastener jaws. The fastener jaws attach the dummy chain to the baby’s clothing.
• Adhesive decals and labels must not be attached to the dummy chain, as these can become a choking, inhalation or swallowing hazard.

When a product does not comply

Fines and penalties may apply for failure to comply with a mandatory safety or information standard. For more information, see fines and penalties.

Suppliers may need to recall a product when it doesn't meet the mandatory standard or is potentially unsafe.

See also

Baby dummies consumer guidance

DEHP in children’s plastic items ban