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From 19 January 2026, new mandatory safety standards for infant sleep products will be taking effect across Australia. These changes affect all consumers who use infant sleep products, including early childhood education and care (ECEC) services. Read on to find out what this will mean for ECEC services in NSW.

The updated mandatory standards set out requirements for the design, construction and warning labels on infant sleep products and inclined non-sleep products, and will apply to items purchased from 19 January 2026. They include:

• Safety information and warning label requirement. Infant sleep products and inclined non-sleep products must be supplied with safety information on the use of the product and warning label affixed to the product during its lifecycle at the service.
• Use of inclined sleep products. These products must have an incline of no more than 7 degrees to reduce the risk of suffocation from chin to chest position. A range of features required of these products has been updated in line with safety regulations, and more details can be found on the .
• Use of inclined non-sleep products. A range of inclined non-sleep products not intended for sleep, such as rockers and bouncers, are now covered under the mandatory standards. These products must only be used for their intended purpose, and children must not be left unsupervised when using these products.

These changes aim to reduce the risk of injury or sudden death linked from products that infants do or may fall asleep in.

Bassinets continue to be prohibited on ECEC premises at any time while children are present, as per .

What this means

Approved providers must take steps to ensure they are meeting their regulatory obligations under the , and that these new standards are reflected in practice when they take effect.

Approved providers must:

• ensure all sleep equipment is safe, clean and in good repair ()
• have a Safe Sleep and Rest Policy (PDF 204 KB) and Procedure (PDF 171 KB) () which addresses the safety and suitability of cots, bedding and sleep equipment (). Policies and procedures should also be updated to align with the new mandatory standards before they take effect
• ensure infant sleep products such as cots are used in line with and any product warning labels
• conduct regular safe sleep risk assessments () to review the safety and suitability of infant sleep products.

While new mandatory changes come into effect on 19 January 2026, approved providers should still assess the risks posed by current sleep products particularly if the products have an incline.

Approved providers or services who plan on purchasing new sleep products or inclined non-sleep products for use at their service must carefully read instructions and labels on their safe use and ensure these products do not contain features that could cause harm or hazard.

To ensure these mandatory standards are reflected in practice, authorised officers may review service’s sleep and rest policies and procedures and request evidence, such as the purchase date of sleep products or inclined non-sleep products used at their service.

More information

• For more information on the new mandatory standards, visit the .
• Learn about Safe sleep and rest.
• Read about your responsibilities relating to safe sleep and rest under the National Quality Framework.
• Access resources and templates from .
• Read ACECQA guidance on .
• Access the for family day care services.