CHOICE Testing Expert Kim Gilmour
The latest round of independent CHOICE testing has found 6 new children's playpens pose significant safety risks.
The newly failed models are:
Baby Care - Baby Play Pen
Major failures: Entrapment hazards. Strangulation risk. Fall/escape risk. Poor structure.
Cuddly Baby - Plastic Baby Playpen
Major failures: Entrapment hazards. Strangulation risk. Escape risk.
Gupamiga - Safety Playpen 14 Panels Multiple Classic
Major failures: Entrapment hazards. Strangulation risk. Escape risk
Komodo - Indoor Outdoor Kids Playpen Instant Set Up
Major failures: Entrapment hazards. Poor structure.
Nanny Annie - Interactive Block Style Baby Playpen with Door
Major failures: Entrapment hazards. Strangulation risk. Choking hazard. Escape risk. Poor structure.
Tobbi - Playpen with 8 panels and gate
Major failures: Entrapment hazards. Strangulation risk. Fall/escape risk.
Available as an embeddable infographic: https://infogram.com/playpen-safety-warning-1hnq4100vr8np23?live
Further detail and previously failed models are available here.
The failed products were or are still available from retailers such as Kogan, Amazon and eBay. Amazon Australia has since removed the Gupamiga - Safety Playpen 14 Panels Multiple Classic since being notified by CHOICE.
"If you've bought one of these playpens, CHOICE recommends that you discontinue use and seek a refund from the retailer," says CHOICE testing expert Kim Gilmour.
"There's no Australian standard for playpens, so CHOICE testing is based on standards for other relevant products as well as international standards. Retailers and buy, swap, sell platforms should remove these products. We're pleased to see Amazon has recognised CHOICE's testing and removed one of these products from sale but more action is needed. All retailers should stop selling unsafe playpens. Parents need to watch out for unsafe playpens that may still be available at other retailers or sold second hand," says Gilmour.
Only 2 playpens are recommended by CHOICE - the Kmart Anko 3 in 1 Playpen 42193715 and Dreambaby Royale Converta 3-in-1. However, 11 other models passed CHOICE's key safety tests and should not pose a significant risk. Read the full reviews here.
CHOICE is continuing calls for a General Safety Provision - a law that puts the onus on manufacturers and retailers to ensure products they sell are safe before they hit store shelves and online platforms. Australians can join the call for better product safety laws at: CHOICE.com.au/ProductSafety
Media contact: Jonathan Brown, 0430 172 669, [email protected]
Media assets available at: https://sites.google.com/choice.com.au/playpensafety2021/
(Note: Due to the shutdown of our previous file sharing service, we are trialling a new method of providing video/images/audio. We apologise for any teething issues. Let us know if you have any issues accessing files)
