Beautiful designs, patterns, colours, bedding and trims are important, of course, but what really counts is your baby's safety.

What to look for

• Look for a cot which has been certified by an independent authority (for example Lloyds, SGS , QAS) as meeting the Australian/New Zealand Standard (AS/NZS 2172:2003).
• Cots should be well-finished and made from quality materials.
• If made of metal, they shouldn't be bent or rusty, and their joints should be close-fitting and securely and cleanly welded.
• Timber cots shouldn't have dowels, nails and screws that are exposed above the surface.
• The timber shouldn't have large knots, insect damage, cracks or splinters.
• There should be no sharp edges or points that could cause a cut or head injury.
• There should be no gaps where children can trap their limbs or head.
• No knobs or protrusions that could catch a child's clothing.
• No decorative transfers that can come off easily.
• No crossbars or trim that could be used as a foothold.
• No bumpers or anything else inside the cot that has strings or ties.
• No choking hazards such as small toys, small items, medication, string or elastic in the cot.
• Make sure that the mattress you buy corresponds to the cot manufacturer's size recommendations - it should fit snugly with no gaps.
• Check that locking devices are easy to use for an adult but very difficult for a child.
• Check that the locking mechanism has a clear difference between locked and unlocked.
• Make sure there are no pillows, comforters or other soft products under infants while they sleep.
• Make sure the cot is placed at a reasonable distance from curtains, blinds, heaters and power points.
• Move children to a single bed once they start climbing out of their cot.

For more information including latest test results see Cots review and compare.

A baby carrier/sling can help you get the shopping done while keeping your baby content. Here's what to consider when shopping for a sling or pouch type carrier.

There are three main styles of baby carrier/sling to choose from:

• A soft padded carrier (pouch) worn on your front. These allow your baby to snuggle up in the face-in position. Many carriers also allow you to position your baby face out, which allows more freedom of movement and visibility for an older baby.
• A sling, also worn across your front, usually offers not just the vertical face-in and face-out positions, but also the 'peapod' position, where a young baby is carried wrapped around or across your body.
• Backpack carriers usually have rigid frames and are suitable for older babies and toddlers.

What to look for

• Broad, well-padded shoulder straps that cross at the back help distribute the weight.
• A broad hip or waist strap will take some weight off your shoulders and limit sideways movement of the carrier, adding stability.
• Try the carrier on in the shop to make sure it fits firmly and the straps are long enough to fit other potential wearers. The baby’s weight should be evenly distributed.
• All straps should be fully and easily adjustable with one hand. They shouldn’t obscure a baby’s vision or cut into their face.
• Make sure you can put it on and take it off easily without assistance. Clips and buckles are usually easier to do up and release than straps that tie up.
• The carrier should support a baby sufficiently without restricting head, leg and arm movement.
• Adequate head support is particularly important for younger babies who have little or no head and neck control yet.
• For the baby’s comfort, inside seams should be well-finished so they don’t rub or chafe.
• The loose fit of a baby sling allows you to breastfeed a baby, which could get a bit awkward in a pouch. However, a sling can also be bulky for smaller babies, uncomfortable to wear, or offer less security for older babies.
• Clear and concise instructions are important, especially if you haven’t used one before. Pictures are helpful, as is a video, or instructions printed on the carrier itself.
• Most of the carriers trialled indicated a suitable weight or age range from birth up to 18 kg or even preschool age. While some of these ranges can be useful to see whether it’s suitable for a small newborn baby, in most cases you or your baby will decide when it’s time to stop using a carrier — the baby will get too heavy or wriggly for you to carry them safely, too big to fit in comfortably, or will find it too confining.
• Consider the season you’ll be using it. Lightweight carriers with a more open design may be more comfortable for the baby in warmer months.
• If you plan to use it for more than just a few months, make sure it can accommodate your baby’s growth. A facing-out option is particularly important for carrying older babies.
• Useful features include a ‘dribble-guard’ to protect your clothes, a pouch for your wallet or keys and a rain guard or sun cover.
  

For more information, including the results of our test, check out our March 2008 online report on Baby slings.

Going out visiting? Baby staying with your Mum for the day? Going on holidays with baby in tow? There are plenty of times when a portable cot can come in handy.

They're light enough to carry and can fit in the car boot when folded. All-in-all they're a handy addition to your baby arsenal, but no substitute for a regular cot for everyday use because they're not as durable.

New standard

While the Australian standard for portable cots is currently only voluntary, a new mandatory safety standard will take effect from 1 March 2009. It includes requirements for ensuring the folding mechanism is secure, that there are no gaps that could trap a child’s head, the mattress is safe and that the cot has adequate warnings about safe use.

It’s a basic set of safety tests based on the voluntary Australian standard for folding cots, AS/NZS 2195:1999. The full standard includes many other tests, such as for finger and limb traps; sharp edges and points; and strength of construction.

We welcome the introduction of the mandatory safety standard, but it is a minimum standard. Portable cots should ideally comply with the full voluntary Australian standard.

Here's what to look for

• Don't use a portable cot if your child weighs more than 15kg.
• Don't put additional mattresses in the cot.
• Inside surfaces should be free of bumps, ledges and protruding parts so children can’t hit their heads, get their clothing snagged or use them as a foothold to climb out of the cot.
• Look for possible entrapment areas, where children can trap limbs, heads or fingers.
• There should be no sharp edges or points where a child could injure itself.
• The mattress should be firm enough and fit snugly without gaps on any side.
• Remove all toys from the cot when the child is sleeping.
• The rails should have two locking mechanisms to prevent accidental collapse and closure. Check these before placing your child in the cot.
• The cot floor shouldn’t sag. Press down on the base to check this.

For in-depth information regarding safety, what to look for, what to buy and detailed profiles, check out our article on Portable cots.

Each year about 4,000 Australian children need medical care because of bunk bed related injuries. About 400 of them require hospital treatment, mostly for broken bones and concussion. Tragically, about one child dies every three or four years.

Before you buy, make sure the bunk bed has been tested to and complies with AS/NZS 4220:2003. Bunk beds supplied since November 2002 must comply with the mandatory safety standards based on the Australian Standard for bunk beds AS/NZ4220. If you're buying second hand, you won't have this assurance.

What to look for

• Never allow a child under 6 years on the top bunk.
• The bunk bed design shouldn't allow hanging points and there shouldn't be holes or gaps that can trap heads, legs and arms. In particular, there should be no gaps more than 95 mm but less than 230 mm - such gaps could allow a child's body to fall through, but trap the child's head.
• Do not let children use bunk beds as a play area. Many injuries occur when children fall from the top bunk while playing.
• Never place a bunk near a window, and keep the bunk beds at least two metres away from a ceiling fan.
• Check ladders and guard rails are permanent and stable and regularly check that nuts and bolts are tight.
• Make sure ladders are easy to use even when sleepily getting out of bed in the dark.
• Check regularly for wear and tear; always undertake repairs immediately.

When you’re out and about, the right stroller can make a difference to your – and your baby’s – day. But what about making a baby-as-fashion statement with the latest must-have stroller -you know, it’s always the one with the hefty price tag, the most fashionable colours and just different enough from last year’s model to make second hand a non-option. Will it make your life easier? That’s the question.

Take a walk through the world of strollers and make an informed choice:

Types of prams and strollers

• Pramettes (a pram/stroller combo).
• Umbrella strollers (fold up easily, like, well, an umbrella).
• Layback strollers (baby can sit up, or lay down).
• Jogger strollers (with three wheels, rather than four).
• A double stroller for twins, or if you already have a toddler when the new baby arrives. 

Which type will suit best?

There’s probably no one stroller that’s going to work for you in every situation, so you need to consider what you’re most likely to be doing, and which would work best in your situation.

• Where are you going to be using it? For shopping, you need one that’s not too wide or bulky (or it won’t get around small aisles), and a good size basket is handy; if you’re going to do a lot of jogging or walking, inflatable tyres make for a more comfortable ride.
• If you’ve a car, it needs to fit in the boot. If you’ll be catching public transport, something light and easily foldable is important.
• You might not have taken much notice of the footpaths around your area before, but what are they like? If you’re going to walk to the shops or the park, big wheels make the ride over rough ground easier and more comfortable.
• Will you get enough use out of a pram, or could you get by with a pramette (stroller/pram combo)?
  

Keep up-to-date

If you'd like to know when there's new tests and reports on our site, why not join our free Baby Newsletter (follow the sign-up links from the Baby home page).

New standard

From July 2008, the Australian Standard (AS/NZS 2088:2000) will be mandatory for all strollers. Among other requirements, strollers will require wrist tether straps (with a label warning the adult carer to use it), to help reduce the chance of a stroller rolling away The brake pedals/levers will have to be red so they’re easily seen (and more likely to be used).

What to look for

Car boot size: Measure it to make sure the stroller fits without needing the wheels removed.

Weight: Try folding it in the shop and see if you can lift and carry it comfortably.

Brake locks: Get an idea of how well they work by applying the brakes while you try to push the handle.

Straps: Give them a tug to check they're secure and the seat doesn't come away from the frame.

Wheels: Give them a tug to see they don't come off.

Also, consider:

• Are there protruding parts or ones that could pose a choking risk?
• Are there gaps that could trap your, or your child's fingers?
• Are there sharp edges or points?
• Is there a child-resistant mechanism for locks?
• And is the stroller stable enough not to tip easily?

Look for the following features:

• Wheels: Large ones tend to be better on kerbs or stairs; pneumatic (inflatable) ones can puncture but generally give a comfier ride. In a pramette, fixed rear wheels will become front wheels if you're using it with the handle reversed, making it more difficult to steer. It will be easier to manoeuvre if you can lock or swivel both front and back wheels. In a three-wheel jogger stroller, look for one where the front wheel can swivel, it can make manoeuvring easier, and some can also be locked in the forward direction, which is useful over rough terrain.
• Harness: A five-point harness with two shoulder straps (preferably attached to the backrest at shoulder level; padded ones are softer), a waist strap and a crotch strap, with adjustable length as your baby grows. The straps should be easy to adjust and the buckles easy to use (for you, but not your child).
• Brakes: Rear brakes; it's handy if they're linked, so the left and right brakes can be locked with a single action. Some also have front brakes — particularly handy on a pramette, as it means you can always lock the brakes nearest you (at the back) whichever way it is facing (pram or stroller mode). Locks you can activate and release with your feet prevent you bending, but make sure your feet fit under them easily.
• Adjustable height handle: This is handy for particularly short or tall people, as well as if two people of different heights will be using the stroller at times.
• Reversible handle: It can be convenient to have either head or feet end of your baby facing forward - unless the brakes are on only one set of wheels. Check in the store how easy it is the reverse the handle.
• Adjustable backrest: Some have an upright backrest that can also move to at least one semi-reclined position; some can be fully reclined (best for sleeping). A three position adjustment makes the stroller more versatile.
• Footrest: Reduces the chance of injury from your child's feet touching the ground or getting caught in the front wheel.
• Front bar: A detachable bar your child can hold onto. But they're usually not secure, so it's not safe to use them to lift the stroller.
• Storage: A basket under the stroller is useful for carrying things like nappies, baby food, clothes and your handbag. Check its size and weight limit - and how accessible it is. A back pocket or pouch is good for lightweight items.
• Canopy: That you can extend for shade or shelter. Some have a viewing window so when it's extended you can still see your child.
• Leg/boot cover: It's a bag-like attachment you can pull over the child's legs for protection against the weather. Often available as an extra, check the instructions or ask your retailer.
• Rain cover: A clear plastic you can drape over the stroller in wet weather. Again, check the instructions or with your retailer whether it's available as an optional extra.
• Wrist strap: A leash on the handlebar of jogger strollers that you can loop around your wrist in case you lose your grip while jogging.
• Tyre pump: A hand-operated pump for inflating pneumatic tyres; some strollers have a clamp or holder for one.

Stroller and pram tests and comparisons

For more information, including the results of our test, check out:

• The August 2008 report on Three and four-wheel strollers
• The August 2007 report on Four-wheel strollers
• The July 2006 report on Double strollers

It's time for first foods - and first food-fights. Time to choose a high chair: that we can help you with, the mess is up to you!

What to look for:

Safety

• Armrest/side barrier: can prevent a child from sliding sideways out of the seat. It should move with the chair when you push it from the reclined into the upright position.
• Castors: If there are castors, make sure at least the front or rear castors have brakes.
• Construction and framework: should be sturdy and robust enough to carry the weight of a child.
• Crotch or vertical bar: at the front of the seat (or, alternatively, a crotch strap, preferably wide and firm) helps prevent the child from sliding forwards.
• Five-point harness: helps prevent a child from falling out of the seat or climbing out of the chair. High chairs account for 25 per cent of nursery furniture accidents, often due to falls. The harness buckles should be quick and easy for you to engage, but not easy for a child to release. The length of straps should be adjustable. Look for a chair whose five-point harness is mounted on the back of the seat at shoulder height.
• Hazards: No parts when moved should be able to pinch, crush or trap a child's finger, toe, limb or head.
• Horizontal bar: at the front of the seat helps prevent a child from falling forward once the tray is removed.
• Stability: the legs should taper out or extend outwards, preferably farther than all other parts of the chair.

Comfort and ease of use

• Foldable chairs: should be easy to fold and preferably lock into position. The more compact when folded, the easier it is to store.
• Footrest or leg support: it's important to support the child's feet or calves.
• Height adjustable (or the seat reclinable) chairs: they should be easy for you (but not for a child) to lock and unlock. The locks should either be difficult to reach for a seated child, or require some dexterity to release.
• Seat widths and depths: if you're planning to use a chair for several years, choose one with a larger seat. Some chairs have booster padding for smaller children.
• Trays: should be secure when it's fitted but easy to remove, attach and adjust (if applicable).

For more information and our test results, check our Highchairs report.

If you're having your first baby, you might not realise just how much time you'll spend at one end of your change table. Believe us when we say that choosing one that works for you - and is safe for your baby - can make all the difference.

Change table injuries

It's a sad reality that many babies are injured in change-table accidents. They usually happen when a baby rolls or wriggles off and falls.

Researchers estimate that 8 out of 10 injuries would be prevented by a correctly used restraint. However, nothing is a substitute for constant adult supervision.

There is no Australian Standard for change tables.

What to look for

• Look for a model with a restraint, and always use it.
• Choose a change table that has some form of roll-off protection such as raised sides and ends at least 100 mm high.
• Ensure collapsible frames are locked securely in place before use.
• Never leave your baby unattended on a change table - even to grab something just across the room - always take them with you. Also be aware of older siblings climbing on change tables.
• Keep everything needed to change your baby close at hand but out of their reach.
• Ensure the change table is free from small objects that can cause choking.
• Consider a towel or change mat on the floor or in the middle of a double bed as an alternative - but this may not be comfortable for you.

For more information see the 2009 report Change tables review and compare.

Bouncers are designed to allow a young baby to recline and bounce and watch the world go by. Babies are not generally known for their liking of being left out of the action when they're awake, so a bouncer can be handy.

But injuries can happen, usually when a bouncer falls off something like a table, or the baby falls out of the bouncer.

Using a bouncer safely

• Never put your bouncer or rocker on a table or other high surface - no matter how tempting or safe-looking. Even slight movement could move baby and bouncer to the edge and over.
• Bouncers should only be used on the floor on a flat surface.
• Always use the safety harness.
• Never leave your baby unattended in their bouncer.
• Place the bouncer well clear of heaters and stairs, particularly when they're on a smooth or polished surface.
• Don't carry your baby around in a bouncer.
• Stop using the bouncer when your baby begins to roll.

What to look for

• Choose a bouncer that has a waist and crotch strap to secure your baby - and always use them.
• Look for a bouncer with rubber tips or other features on the base to stop the product "walking" as your baby rocks.
  

Babywalkers pose safety hazard

Babywalkers allow babies to move about at an age when they aren't developmentally ready for it. In a walker, babies can gain quick access to potentially dangerous objects normally out of their reach.

Most injuries associated with babywalkers are caused by falls down steps, scalds, burns and poisoning from household chemicals.

CHOICE strongly discourages the sale and use of babywalkers. There’s no evidence that they help children to start walking sooner; in fact, they may even delay a child’s first steps. All babywalkers sold in Australia must pass a product safety standard (based on a US safety standard, ASTM F977-00). If you feel you must use one, look for a model that complies with the standard.

Before you decide on a babywalker, consider other products without wheels such as playpens, bouncers, rockers, playmats and playtables, that can entertain your baby.

What to consider if you still want to use a babywalker

• Babywalker-proof your home - block off stairways and put barriers around stoves, heaters and fires.
• Always supervise your child in the babywalker.
• Look for a babywalker that has a 900 mm wide base (which shouldn’t fit through a standard doorway) and/or a brake mechanism to prevent them from being ridden over the edge of steps.
• Ensure all metal parts are smooth and free of sharp edges.
• Check that any locking mechanisms work and are out of baby's reach.
• Remove any objects that may cause the baby walker to tip over.
• Keep items such as kettles, irons and hot drinks out of the way.
• Don't use babywalkers on surfaces where there is a change in floor level. Most accidents happen on steps or stairs.
• Don't use babywalkers if your child can't sit up without assistance.
• Don't use babywalkers if your child can walk unaided.

Baby monitors are a modern day nursery accessory many parents rely on for peace of mind. They really come into their own if you've a two-story house, or baby's room is some way from the kitchen or living areas of your home. A monitor can also be useful if you're visiting with baby and want to put them down to sleep in an unfamiliar environment.

What to look for:

On the baby unit:

• Mains operation, and battery operation if you want to use it in areas without mains power (say, out camping).
• A night light, if you intend to use one anyway.

On the parent unit:

• Mains and battery operation, so you can take the unit with you in and around the house.
• A belt clip.
• Volume control.
• A light display to indicate the sound level, if you want to see the noise your child makes rather than hear it — while you’re watching TV or vacuuming, for example, or if you have (or your babysitter has) problems with hearing.

On both units:

• At least two different frequencies to choose from.
• Power-on light.
• Battery condition indicator.
• Automatic battery back-up is useful in areas where power failures are common.
• A cord long enough for your set-up.