Jess
Are moses baskets safe for babies to sleep in? We cannot fit a cot into our room and was wanting to use a bassinet for a couple of months, we were given a Moses basket and wondering if this is a safe option. Thanks.
Red Nose Education
Red Nose does not recommend or endorse any specific brand name products.
In Australia there are no Mandatory Standards for bassinets, however Product Safety Australia does provide some buying tips, which include:
Ensure the sides of the bassinette are at least 300 mm higher than the top of the mattress base.
Ensure it has a wide stable base and a sturdy bottom so that it won’t tip over.
Ensure the mattress fits well and is firm, smooth and no more than 75 mm thick.
If the product has folding legs, make sure it cannot accidentally fold during use.
https://www.productsafety.gov.au/products/babies-kids/kids-furniture/bassinettes
Red Nose has the following information about bassinets in general.
As there is no Australian Standard for bassinets, we are careful to keep up to date with reports of accidents associated with their use. To date, the most frequent accidents associated with bassinet use are falls and suffocation hazards. The Australian government draws on these reports and produces guidelines on ways to reduce these types of accidents
https://rednose.org.au/article/bassinettes