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Safe Sleeping
Key Updates to Safe Sleeping Standards
- Mattress Firmness Requirements: The revised standard (AS/NZS 8811.1) expands the range of products subject to firmness testing, ensuring that all infant sleep surfaces are firm enough to prevent suffocation and maintain an infant's airway. AS 5407.1 to be published 27 June.
- CO₂ Mitigation Standard: This revised standard addresses the risks associated with CO₂ buildup in infant sleep products, particularly those marketed as 'breathable.' It sets specific design requirements to minimise CO₂ accumulation. AS 5407.3 to be published late 2025.
- Improved Communication Standard: Enhances labelling, advertising, and educational requirements for sleep products, providing clear guidance on safe usage. To be published early 2026.
Free access to the standards available online via Standards Australia Reader Room
Resources for Parents and Caregivers
For further information on safe sleeping, please go to:
- Red Nose Australia: Evidence-based advice on reducing the risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy.
- INPAA: INPAA is the voice on infant safety and product quality in Australia.
- Rivers Gift: An Australian solely SIDS focused charity, dedicated to funding world leading scientific research, providing safe sleep education, 'Uniting' SIDS families and raising awareness of this devastating syndrome.
- NSW Health Safe Sleeping Recommendations: Guidelines on creating a safe sleep environment for your baby.
- ACECQA Safe Sleep and Rest Practices: Legislative requirements and best practices for sleep and rest in childcare settings.
Get Involved
Parents, caregivers, industry professionals, and stakeholders are encouraged to review all proposed standards and provide feedback. Input of all stakeholders is invaluable in helping to create the safest possible sleep environments for infants.
For more information or to provide feedback contact: sem@standards.org.au
Who created the set of revised Safe Sleeping Standards?
Participating organisations involved in development of. AS/NZS 8811.1:2013 Methods of testing infant products, Method 1: Sleep surfaces - Test for firmness include:
- Australasian Furnishing Association
- Australasian Injury Prevention Network
- Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
- Australian Industry Group
- Australian Retailers Association Australian Toy Association
- CHOICE
- Consumers' Federation of Australia
- Furntech - Australasian Furnishing Research & Development Institute
- Infant and Nursery Products Alliance of Australia
- Intertek Group
- Kidsafe Australia
- National Retail Association Australia
- Office of Fair Trading (QLD)
- Public Health Association of Australia
- Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit
- Red Nose Australia
- Wellbeing South Australia
Background on SUDI & SIDS
SUDI is an umbrella term used to describe the sudden and unexpected death of a baby for which the cause is not immediately obvious.
The only way to find out why a baby has died suddenly and unexpectedly is to perform an autopsy, review the clinical history and to investigate the circumstances of death, including the death scene, thoroughly.
Following thorough investigation, some deaths are identified as accidental - for example, asphyxiation by bedclothes, pillows, or overlaying whilst co sleeping. Infant deaths that are determined to be accidental and that occur during sleep are labelled "Fatal Sleeping Accidents".
Other deaths remain unexplained, even after a full investigation. When no cause can be found for the death in a baby, it is called SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). For this reason, SIDS is known as a diagnosis of exclusion.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) are critical concerns for parents and caregivers. Standards Australia’s revised set of standards aim to reduce risks by helping caregivers set up safer sleep environments for infants.
Click here to read Red Nose Fast Facts regarding the goal of zero preventable deaths of babies and children during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood