The Kidco Peapod travel cot
Last week concerns regarding a popular travel cot, the KidCo Peapod travel bed arose. As a result of incidents involving two children, Health Canada has issued warnings to parents to immediately cease sleeping children under the age of 12 months in the cot. In the USA the Consumer Product Safety Commission is investigating the Peapod travel cots. As yet there is no statement from Australian authorities and the cots have not been recalled. The concern with the travel cots is that there is the risk that an infant’s breathing may be obstructed between the mattress and the tent.
We own a KidCo Peapod travel cot, having purchased one when my first son was four months old. I quickly became dubious about the safety of the cot and it currently resides under our verandah, full of plastic balls for my children to play, rather than sleep in.
The concerns regarding this particular travel cot raise an important issue for parents traveling with babies. Namely, what steps should they take to minimize the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS when they are traveling. Many families will have put care and thought into this in their own home, but when traveling, arrive at a new destination to find a safe sleeping environment for their infant has not been assured.
Queensland Health recommends the following to provide a safe sleeping environment for an infant:
- always place baby on the back to sleep, never tummy or side;
- put baby’s feet at the bottom of the cot
- the cot must meet the Australian standard for cots;
- use a firm, clean mattress that fits snugly in the cot;
- no additional mattresses or extra padding should be placed in a travel or porta cot;
- tuck in bedclothes securely so bedding is not loose;
- keep quilts, doonas, duvets, pillows, cot bumpers, sheepskins and soft toys out of the cot or sleeping place.
Babies should never be put to sleep with older children or pets. It is also easy for babies to fall out of bed, placing them on a mattress to sleep may be a safer alternative.
As parents, you have every right to insist that your infant has a safe environment in which to sleep. Family, friends or hotel managers that do not respect this should be firmly put in their place, and alternative arrangements made.
Kidsafe is an organization that strives to “make a safer world for kids”. This is the third in my series of safety articles supporting them in their endeavor.
Disclaimer: I am participating in the National Kidsafe Day Bloggers Competition to support and promote child safety, along with the added bonus of chances to win prizes. All opinions are my own and not those of Kidsafe. To find out more or to enter the competition, please visit www.kidsafeday.com.au
