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Parents Urged to Look Out for Blinged Up Baby Products
Parents and carers should be on the lookout for baby dummies containing 'bling', featuring decorations with small beads and gems that can choke a baby if they become dislodged.
A national ban on these products came into effect on 14 July 2011 following a compliance exercise by the NSW Office of Fair Trading.
"These 'bling' dummies might be visually appealing but they are a serious choking hazard," Minister for Consumer Affairs, Michael O'Brien warned.
"Dummies are designed to settle and sooth babies, not to cause distress and injury. These dummies are dangerous and should not be given to any baby."
The dummies are sold mostly over the internet with around 30 Australian-based internet sites selling the products.
Any consumer who may have purchased one of these dummies should stop using them immediately.
"While there are no reports of injuries resulting from these dummies in Victoria, I welcome this ban as the product presents an unacceptable risk to our youngest and most vulnerable residents," Mr O'Brien said.
In addition to this ban, under mandatory safety standards, baby dummies must meet certain requirements for design, construction and safety labeling.
The standard applies to anyone in the business of supplying baby dummies, including manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers.
Children under the age of three are particularly vulnerable to choking as they have not yet developed reflexes to automatically cough up objects that lodge in their throats.