A number of baby cots sold online in Australia have been found to have serious safety failures, a consumer watchdog report has claimed.

Five of the 14 cots tested by Choice failed basic safety requirements, including a lack of safety warning or strangulation hazards.

According to Choice, numerous cots that did not meet safety regulations were bought from online marketplace platforms like eBay and Baby Bunting Marketplace.

“We found many cots from online retailers weren’t adhering to basic safety standard,” Choice household expert Chris Barnes said.

“Some cots had issues such as limb entrapment or strangulation hazards, lacked safety warnings, or were missing details on recommended mattress sizes, putting babies and toddlers at risk.”

The five cots that failed the tests were from five different companies, and their cost ranged from $139 too $370.

The cots in question included the Consol Roma cot ($229); the Grotime Haven cot ($139); Koko and Scar cot ($279); Luxo Baby Eudora cot ($249); and the Sweet Pea Anita cot ($370).

Australia will introduce rules and regulations on cot safety next year.

Barnes noted, “There is currently a legal gap that exempts online marketplaces from ensuring third-party products sold on their platforms are safe.”

“This highlights the need for robust product safety laws prohibiting the sale of unsafe products by all companies, regardless of the product type or seller.”

Baby Bunting stated that suppliers must show their products meet Australia’s mandatory safety standards, and one of the cots mentioned does comply with these standards.

“Before offering a cot for sale, we require that the supplier of the cot provide evidence that the product complies with the mandatory safety standard for household cots and AS/NZS 2172:2013,” a Baby Bunting spokesperson told 9news.com.au.

“We hold a current and recent test report that confirms that the Sweat Pea cot complies with the mandatory standard, including passing all tests required under that standard.”

An eBay Australia spokesperson said it was reviewing the Choice report: “eBay requires all sellers to comply with Australian product safety laws and does not allow items that are banned, recalled or have failed to meet Australian mandatory safety standards.

“Our team is reviewing the Choice report, and will take appropriate action on any cots that do not meet Australian safety requirements.”