NSW Minister for Fair Trading Virginia Judge has called for the development of suitable Australian standards for baby hammocks and other infant sleeping devices, such as slings, after receiving a report on the safety of baby hammocks from the NSW Products Safety Committee.

Ms Judge ordered a review of baby hammocks in February this year, following the recall of an Australian made baby hammock in the United States, after it was linked to two deaths.

“The Committee recommended the supply of baby hammocks not be restricted at this stage because hammocks do offer certain therapeutic benefits,” she said.

“They have, however, recommended that their use as an alternate sleeping device be discouraged.

“I have written to Standards Australia calling for the development of suitable standards for baby hammocks and other infant sleeping devices, based on the Committee’s advice.”

Ms Judge said the Committee had also recommended an education campaign to alert consumers to concerns with baby hammocks and provide guidance on their usage.

“Fair Trading will undertake this campaign, in consultation with the Commonwealth, with the following key messages for the public:

• baby hammocks do not comply with established SIDS guidelines
• baby hammocks are not recommended unless for therapeutic reasons
• baby hammocks should not be used as an alternative to a conventional cot
• the benefits of breathable materials where they can come into contact with an infants face
• the need for adequate barriers to prevent tipping out or falls
• that children old enough to rollover should not be placed in them
• that children should not be placed in a position in which the chin is touching their chest, and
• nothing else should be placed in the hammock with the baby,” she said.

Ms Judge said Fair Trading would also investigate any baby hammock where advertising or promotion suggested the product met SIDS guidelines.

“SIDS and Kids Australia do not consider hammocks are a safe sleeping environment for babies and recommends babies not be left unsupervised in them,” she said.

Ms Judge said the Commonwealth would assume responsibility for product safety regulations and permanent bans and restrictions, from 1 January 2011.

“The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is currently considering the safety of baby slings, so I have sent the Commonwealth Minister a copy of the NSW Product Safety Committee’s report, to support consideration of any future proposed regulatory intervention, should a suitable Australian Standard be developed,” she said.

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