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Published in the latest edition of Cosmo Pregnancy is an article on Baby Slings Do’s and Don’ts. It’s recommended reading for anyone currently using a baby sling or considering the purchase of a baby sling.
For more information on Safe Sleeping visit click here or call SIDS and Kids in your area on 1300 308 307 for more information.
Download here Cosmo Pregnancy Are Baby Slings Safe
Parents are being warned not to purchase a type of child car restraint being sold online that appears to breach Australia’s mandatory safety standards, said Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, David Bradbury.
The products, sold through some online retailers, are marketed under various names, including ‘Baby Car Seat Pouch’, ‘Portable belt baby car safety seat for 1-5 years old’ and ‘Portable baby car safety seat for 20-40 lbs’, pose potential safety hazards and are likely to fail to protect children adequately in an accident.
An official consumer safety warning notice has been issued and can be found at www.productsafety.gov.au.
“Parents are warned against buying these unsafe children’s car restraints and should stop using them immediately if they have already purchased them,” said Mr Bradbury.
“The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) discovered these unsafe restraints on some online retailing sites and has already worked with a number of these retailers to have them removed from sale to the Australian region.
“While suppliers claim the products are safe for use as baby car seats, the products do not appear to have been supplied with an upper tether strap and a minimum five point harness system, as required by the mandatory standard for child restraint systems for use in motor vehicles.
“The restraints look to be made only of padded material and do not appear to provide any side impact protection. They are also marketed to be used in the front seat of a vehicle, which is contrary to Australian road rules.
“A mandatory safety standard applies to vehicle child restraints. Anyone selling these child restraints in Australia must ensure they meet the standard.
“The ACCC is continuing its investigation as to the potential safety hazards associated with these products.
“While some consumers may prefer shopping online to access lower prices and greater product diversity, I would encourage people to remain vigilant about product safety when buying products online, particularly when buying products for use by children.”
If you are using these products, you should cease using them immediately and contact the ACCC via www.productsafety.gov.au or 1300 302 502.
The ACCC’s Keeping baby safe booklet, includes information on hazards and safety tips for child restraints. The booklet and videos are available online at www.productsafety.gov.au/keepingbabysafe.
WHEN you meet Wiremu Rennie it’s easy to see why his nickname is Wiz.
In between studying outdoor education at Bendigo’s La Trobe University, working as a swimming instructor and volunteering with several community groups, including the YMCA and CFA, Wiz has found time to organise a charity bike ride to raise money for SIDS and Kids.
“When I was a kid I used to run around a lot and my parents called me The Wizzer, over the years that got shortened to The Wiz and then just Wiz,” Wiz laughed.
It seems none of that enthusiasm has been dampened in his older years.
On Saturday, Wiz plans to leave Sydney on his trusty bicycle and travel all the way back home, arriving in Bendigo 15 days later.
“It’s just over 1300 kilometres because I can’t travel on the highways,” he said.
Not bad for a young man who’s never done a long-distance ride before.
Wiz, 21, said he was inspired to raise money for SIDS, a charity which aims to save babies from sudden infant death syndrome, because of his own battle with illness.
At six weeks old Wiz was diagnosed with sleep apnea, a sleep disorder characterised by abnormal pauses in breathing or instances of abnormally low breathing.
“I was at the GP’s for my six-week check up and when my mum and dad carried me in I wasn’t breathing, and the GP had to resuscitate me,” he said. “I wouldn’t be alive without SIDS.
“SIDS donated a monitor to my parents so I slept with that. If I stopped breathing the alarm went off. So I’m really lucky to be alive, and part of the reason of why I am doing the ride is to show that I am still here.”
Sleep apnea is a life-long condition with no cure.
Wiz has grown out of it somewhat, but he said he was keen to raise awareness about the condition as it is a big contributor to cot death.
“I want to make parents aware of what’s happening,” he said
Wiz has already had a lot of support from the Y Service Club of Eaglehawk and a Bendigo bicycle shop which provided his road bike at half price. He said his main aim was to increase awareness but he also wanted to raise money to help SIDS with its research and support of families.
“I will dye my hair SIDS red if donations reach $500 before I go,” he said, laying the challenge down to his supporters.
To make a donation, visit www.everydayhero.com.au/wizrides.
Blinged-up babies via the Internet
For the baby with everything, there’s a bling dummy encrusted with “genuine Swarovski crystals”.
They’re mostly standard dummies and chains from major brands which have been decorated after-market by small businesses. No doubt many well-meaning friends and relatives bought them for little Taylah or Kaydee, not realising they were veritable minefield of questionable safety – and good taste, but that’s another story.
Concerned that the small decorative crystals might detach and become a choking hazard, the ACCC had some tested against the certain clauses of the dummy standard to see if the decorative crystals could come off under reasonable force (compression, bite and impact tests). They did.
These crystals not only constitute a choking hazard but would also be a hazard if eaten.
The ACCC duly banned them, though they’re still available online.
Most of these suppliers have a warning on their sites that the dummies are only novelty and not for actual use as a pacifier. Some companies don’t even acknowledge they’re dummies – packages we received from overseas described them as ‘hair bows’ and ‘jewellery’ on the customs label. Yeah, baby, they’re shonkadelic!
For more information on infant safe sleeping visit www.sidsandkids.org
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, David Bradbury has issued a warning notice to the public in relation to amber teething necklaces.
Amber teething necklaces and bracelets consist of amber beads which are a fossilised tree resin and range in colour from yellow to white and beige to brown.
The warning notice was issued after ACCC testing of several of these products indicated that they could break into small parts and present a choking hazard to children under three years of age.
Suppliers claim that when worn close to the skin, succinic acid will be released by the amber beads to relieve the symptoms of teething. Some suppliers also make claims for other conditions including eczema and asthma.
Consumers using this product are advised to:
- always supervise the infant when wearing the necklace or bracelet
- remove the necklace or bracelet when the infant is unattended, even if it is onlyfor a short period of time
- remove the necklace or bracelet while the infant sleeps at day or night not allow the infant to mouth
or chew the necklace or bracelet
- consider using alternate forms of pain relief
- seek medical advice if you have concerns about your child’s health and wellbeing.
To view the warning notice click here.
SIDS and Kids Frequently Asked Questions has been updated to include additional information on Baby Slings and Car Seats.
You can download the new FAQs below or visit www.sidsandkids.org to view FAQs and information on Infant Safe Sleeping.
Download copy of FAQs 2011.pdf here.
The Keeping Baby Safe booklet provides some easy steps you can take to ensure your baby remains safe in your home.
The booklet shows you what to look for when purchasing infant and nursery products, and tips on how to use these products safely. The guide is aimed at expectant parents, and parents and carers of children under five years old.
This valuable resource is produced by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commision.
You can download your copy of Keeping Baby Safe by clicking the link.
Support SIDS and Kids run the Virgin London Marathon!
Imagine your heart thumping as the start gun fires and you take off from Blackheath. You run along the River Thames catching glimpses of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre before reaching the halfway mark at the commanding Tower Bridge.
Now you’re moving east towards Canary Wharf, where you enter the final leg of the race – St. Paul’s Cathedral to Ludgate Hill to Embankment. As the London Eye comes into view, you see sights of Big Ben and Westminster in the distance.
Minutes later you pass the finish line in front of Buckingham Palace, wearing an enormous smile weighted with exhilaration, relief, and pride.
THIS COULD BE YOU!
Find our more visit: http://www.inspiredadventures.com.au/adventure/234/virgin-london-marathon.html
Download SIDS and Kids Virgin London Marathon Info Brochure.pdf
Parents and carers should take care when using slings and pouches to carry babies. Babies have suffocated while using slings. They are at risk if placed incorrectly in a sling because they do not have the physical capacity to move out of dangerous positions that block their airways.
To download the Baby Sling Alert Brochure click here and scroll to the bottom of the page.
For more information on Safe Sleeping please contact SIDS and Kids in your State or Territory on 1300 308 317.