New mandatory standards

Two new mandatory standards were introduced for infant sleep products and inclined non-sleep products on 18 July 2024.

The standards aim to reduce the risk of death and injury from products that are unsafe for baby to sleep in. 

Suppliers of folding cots have until 19 January 2026 to comply with the new standards.

There is a transition period for businesses to prepare to meet the new requirements. During this time, suppliers can continue to comply with this folding cots mandatory standard.

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Products the mandatory standard applies to

Household cots include the following types:

  • rectangular cots that are a permanent sleeping enclosure for a baby. It has raised sides and ends made of slats or filler bars. Often one side drops down to give easy access to a child
  • circular cots made with walls that have no slats
  • cots that convert to a toddler bed. When this type of cot is constructed as a cot, it must comply with the mandatory standard.

Complying with the mandatory standard

This information is an overview of how to comply with the mandatory standard. Suppliers must not rely on this information as a complete guide to compliance.

View the full detail of the mandatory standard.

Testing

The mandatory standard requires that cots meet requirements for impact, strength, load, durability and stability.

Suppliers should organise product testing through specialist testing laboratories.

New cots design and construction

Cots can have a ‘fixed base’ or up to 2 allowed base positions.

Fixed base cots and cots in the lowest base position

The distance between the top of the mattress base and the top edge of the lowest cot side or end must be a minimum of:

  • 600 mm when the access is closed
  • 250 mm when the access is open.

Cots in the upper base position

This distance between the top of the mattress base and the top edge of the lowest cot side or end must be a minimum of:

  • 400 mm when the access is closed
  • 250 mm when the access is open.

Slats or filler bars

The distance between slats or filler bars must be at least 50 mm.

Cot mattresses

Cot mattresses of the recommended size must be no more than:

  • 20 mm from any cot side or end when centred on the mattress base
  • 40 mm from any cot side or end when the mattress is pushed to one side or end.

Footholds or toeholds

The cot must not have any:

  • footholds or toeholds between 150 mm and 550 mm above the mattress base
  • protrusions or bits that stick out greater than 5 mm, unless they are designed not to snag clothing
  • accessible sharp edges or points.

Safety and performance

Cots must not have any hazardous gaps:

  • between 30 mm and 50 mm that can entrap a child’s limbs
  • greater than 95 mm that could trap a child’s head or neck.

Informative labels

The cot must come with information about:

  • safe assembly
  • safe use
  • recommended mattress size.

Suppliers must have the information required by the mandatory standard on the:

  • leaflet with the cot
  • swing tag or label attached to the cot
  • external packaging that comes with the cot, and
  • cot base.

Safety markings

Cots must have legible, durable and prominent markings on the mattress base which has information about:

  • the supplier
  • recommended mattress size and thickness
  • recommended use of adjustable bases on cots that have this feature.

Second-hand cots requirements

Design and construction

Second-hand cots generally have the same design and construction requirements as new cots.

There are 3 exceptions:

  • protrusions must be no greater than 8 mm
  • there must be no gaps greater than 95 mm but there is no requirement preventing gaps between 30 mm and 50 mm
  • there are no requirements for informative labels and safety markings.

Regardless of these exceptions, it is wise to only use second-hand cots that come with:

  • full instructions for safe assembly and use
  • all necessary parts in good working order.

Antique and collectable cots

Antique and collectable cots are a special class of cots. They are not for sleeping.

Antique and collectable cots are exempt from the mandatory standard if they are supplied with the following certificate and permanent label.

Labels

Antique and collectable cots require 2 permanently fixed metal plaques on the cot with the words:

WARNING: this cot does not meet the mandatory standard. For display purposes only. It is dangerous to place a child in this cot.

Mandatory standard certificate

Antique and collectable cots should be supplied with a certificate warning consumers that it is not safe to place a child in the cot.

It's illegal for retail, second-hand, antique shops and internet sites to supply antique and collectable cots that don't come with labels and a mandatory standard certificate.

Mandatory standard details

Consumer Protection Notice No. 6 of 2005 sets out the mandatory requirements for household cots.

The mandatory standard is based on certain sections of the voluntary Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 2172:2003 Cots for household use - safety requirements.

You can buy this standard from Standards Australia, Intertek Inform or Accuris.

We can make a copy of this standard available for viewing at an ACCC office, subject to licensing conditions.

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.

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