What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger: facts and fables in the baby industry

Hinges on Umbrella Strollers
Let’s start with the latest big deal, Maclaren's recall of over a million umbrella folding strollers due to safety issues regarding little fingers getting amputated in the side hinges. Don't be naive enough to think that these safety concerns are restricted to Maclaren, all umbrella folding strollers have a similar mechanism.

I'm inclined to agree with those who say follow the instructions, use common sense and your child will be safe. However, life is not always that simple and kids are not always predictable. Now that parents know of the danger they can be vigilant.

In the meantime, Maclaren, who have known of this concern for some time, have been beavering away designing a new chassis which will eliminate the problem.

It's important to note that many types of nursery equipment has these types of folding hinges, portable cots & high chairs included, so it's best to keep your kids away when setting up or putting away any of these products.

Got a Maclaren and this is news to you?, find out more in the Best Buys Blog.

Drop-Down Side Cots
If you thought the Maclaren recall was big, it's a drop in the ocean compared to the cot recalls that have occurred in the US as a result of tragic injuries and deaths. Although the recalls have mainly been for cots that have been too easy to assemble incorrectly or are faulty, there is a question about the ability of any cot drop-down mechanism to withstand a child's weight.

The US safety standards authority is currently investigating whether cots with drop down sides should be banned. Word on the street is that a ban is likely to occur in the US this year. US retailers have already started to remove them from sale.

Of course the Europeans have been onto this for ages which is why all those expensive, fancy-pants European cots don't have drop down sides (not to mention budget friendly IKEA).

Formaldehyde in Nursery Furniture
It's not commonly known that formaldehyde is an ingredient found in the adhesive used in the production of some nursery furniture including cots. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen and there are some questions as to whether the fumes that leech from the furniture, a process called outgassing, pose a health risk to infants.

There is no evidence yet, however studies are being conducted so time will tell. Chances are you slept in a cot made the same way and you're OK right?

There are Australian safety standards which apply to the chemicals used in furniture making but it’s generally accepted within the industry that not all nursery furniture made overseas adheres to those standards.

Unfortunately the best way to avoid chemicals in your baby's sleeping environment is to purchase an expensive European or Australian cots which are chemical-free.

It’s only a matter of time that chemical-free cots become a big selling point and we see more options become available on the market. For more information on outgassing see our feature story What are VOC's and how do you keep them out of your nursery?

Baby Hammocks
Recent deaths in the US and Canada have resulted in the recall of a popular branded Baby Hammock. In Canada their regulatory authority has gone as far as recommending parents destroy their Amby baby hammocks.

Word on the street is that the US regulatory authority has the safety standards of baby hammocks on their agenda for 2011, changes are in safety standards are also expected in Australia.

Irrespective I'd be surprised if we don't see improvements in safety very soon.

Baby Slings
In very similar circumstances to the Baby Hammock recall mentioned above at least one brand of baby sling has been recalled in the US and Canada due to suffocation risks.

A new set of mandatory safety standards are being developed in the US with a voluntary set being implemented as a matter of urgency.

Only some slings pose a risk, if you missed the news check out our blog posts US regulatory body issues warnings on the use of baby slings and More than 1 million baby slings recalled in the US.

BPA in Bottles
Thanks to one of those dodgy ‘current affairs’ programs on commercial TV, BPA hysteria has officially hit Australia. If you’ve missed all the action then you can find out all the details in our feature What’s the fuss about BPA?

The short version and latest update is that studies, although many in their infancy, are starting to show that BPA does affect the reproductive system and more interestingly, gender identity of humans. It’s not really that surprising.

Irrespective of the claims and counter claims that are bound to occur over the next few years about the safety of BPA in babies bottles, drinking cups and anything else associated with eating I’m personally going to ban as many BPA inclusive products from my Little Guy's feeding time as I can.

It’s only a matter of time before we see BPA bans in baby products across the US (it’s already started with California) and Australia.

We’ll update this feature story as new information comes to hand.