A guide to safely listing inclined infant sleepers

To keep our youngest Kiwi safe, the New Zealand government has banned the sale of certain inclined infant sleep products. This action was taken because these products have been linked to infant deaths overseas.

The ban applies to everyone, from businesses to private individuals. It is illegal to sell, offer to sell, or even give away these specific products, whether they're new or secondhand.

Safe sleep experts agree the safest place for an infant to sleep is on a firm, flat surface. This is why inclined products are now considered unsafe for any kind of sleep, including naps.

Why the ban is in place

The key reason for the ban is the serious risk of suffocation (positional asphyxiation).

Airway compression: When a pēpi is on an incline, their head can slump forward, pushing their chin to their chest. This can block their small airway and stop them from breathing.
Rolling and entrapment: Babies can roll or move into the soft padding of the sleeper. On an incline, it’s much harder for them to lift their head and turn back to a safe position.

The rules

This ban is covered by the Unsafe Goods (Inclined Infant Sleep Products) Indefinite Prohibition Notice 2022, which is issued under the Fair Trading Act 1986.

As a seller, you are legally responsible for making sure the goods you list are safe and comply with the law. As well as being the law, it is also part of complying with Trade Me’s terms and conditions.

What products are banned?

A product is banned if it meets all three of these criteria:

It’s made for a child under one year old.
It’s designed or marketed as being suitable for sleep.
Its sleep surface has an angle of more than 7 degrees.

How to tell if a product is "marketed for sleep"

A product is likely considered ‘for sleep’ if its name, advertising, or instructions mention words like "sleeper," "bed," "bassinet," "napper," or "dreaming." We also consider a product as being for sleep if the marketing images show a baby sleeping in the product.

A warning label like "not for prolonged periods of sleeping" does not get around the ban if the product is otherwise marketed for sleep.

What products are NOT banned?

The ban does not apply to the following products:

Products with a sleep surface of 7 degrees or less.
Car seats and capsules (used for supervised transport).
Prams and strollers (used for supervised transport).
Baby bouncers, rockers, and play seats that are not marketed for sleep.
Baby hammocks and slings.
Medical devices prescribed under the Medicines Act 1981.

Listing on Trade Me

It is strictly against our policy to list any banned inclined infant sleeper. If we become aware of any listings for these products we will remove them.

If you own one of these banned products, you must not sell it or give it away. The safest thing to do is destroy and dispose of it.

By understanding and following these rules, you’re helping to protect our tamariki and keeping Trade Me a safe and trusted place for everyone.

Want to know more?

For more detailed information, check out these official sources:

Author

Trust and Safety