Happy Baby, Happy Christmas

With Christmas so close by it’s time to place your Happy Baby orders online to make sure you and baby don’t miss out!

Our new latex soothers can now be purchased from our online store and feature a stronger teat, and a laser coded manufacturing date marked onto each soother.

If you’re thinking of giving a loved one a gift, our Baby Travel Gift Pack would be ideal for the holiday season and comes packaged in a reusable storage tub – very handy for containing those toys!

Welcome Back Happy Baby Latex Soothers!

Delighted to announce that new Happy Baby Latex Soothers are officially available today via the Happy Baby website.

Log on to www.happybaby.com.au to start ordering from the new and improved range featuring a laser printed batch code, and a stronger teat.

For a full update and outcome of the voluntary recall, you can download the media release which is available on the front page of the website.

Thanks to every patient mum, dad and carer out there for your support, it's great to finally welcome these back into Australian homes!

Happy Baby Latex Soothers Coming Back Soon!

We have an important update to announce regarding our Happy Baby Softfeel Latex Soothers.

The ACCC have completed their recommendations and that report is now with the Minister (Treasury) awaiting final approval.

We are pleased to be able to let you know that with the ACCC's approval, we are once again manufacturing our latex soothers, featuring a new, stronger teat.

We promised we'd let you know any updates as soon as we could, so bear in mind this is hot off the press, and I can't tell you the exact date that they will be available - but it's a matter of weeks now.

Once we know exactly when they will be available for purchase, we will send out another update.

For anyone who made a claim on our website, we'll also send an email out, to keep everyone informed.

Thanks to everyone, we can't wait to welcome our latex soothers back!

Update on the Voluntary Recall

Hi to all parents and carers out there,

There has been an update to the Voluntary Product Recall that we would like to share with you:

The ACCC is in the process of finalising its conclusions and Sanbrook and the ACCC are now discussing the details of returning Happy Baby Latex Soothers to sale.

The ACCC has indicated that we should have a decision before the end of this week.

Of course, we will keep you updated and informed as soon as we become aware of any new developments.

Important Update

HAPPY BABY LATEX SOOTHERS - RECALL UPDATE

Sanbrook Brands has completed its investigations into the possible teat separation issue with its Happy Baby Latex soother products. Sanbrook has identified no reason why the soothers should not be placed back on the market. However, the ACCC's investigation still has not been finalised and in the interests of absolute consumer safety, Sanbrook has decided to continue to withhold those soothers from the market pending the ACCC's results.

Sanbrook's recall is therefore still in effect, and we reiterate that Happy Baby latex soothers should not be used or sold (click here for details).

Sanbrook is continuing to urgently seek resolution of this matter and will provide a further update as soon as possible.



Yours sincerely,




Teresa Thompson
Managing Director

Happy Baby Latex Soother recall FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions:

When will the HB latex soothers be back in the shops for sale?
Sanbrook Brands is still working with the ACCC to investigate incidents of teat separation involving Happy Baby Softfeel® Latex dummies. We understand that the temporary unavailability of our soothers has caused inconvenience to families, and we apologise for that, however, customer safety is our first priority. We will provide updates on the situation via our website as soon as new information comes to hand.

I ordered replacement items, but I received a refund instead – why?
Wherever possible we endeavour to provide consumers with like for like silicone replacements for recalled latex soothers. In the event this is not possible, (due to short supply) we will issue consumers with a full refund.

Are the BPA Free range of dummies also part of the recall?
All Happy Baby soothers are BPA free, however our packaging has recently been updated to reflect that. If you have purchased Happy Baby dummies, made from latex, then we are asking for these to be returned directly to Sanbrook Brands, or disposed of.

What about the silicone soothers? Should I return those too?
Our silicone soothers are not affected by the voluntary recall.

I’ve just been to a shop recently that has your latex soothers for sale. Are they part of a new batch?
As part of the voluntary product safety recall, Sanbrook Brands has requested the immediate removal of all Happy Baby Softfeel Latex dummies from sale. Should you find an outlet still has these items for sale, we would appreciate it if you could let us know so that we can follow this up directly with the store involved.

How have you calculated my refund?
With the information you have provided to us with your returns, or via your online claim form, we have calculated refunds based on the RRP of the store that these items were purchased from.

I asked for half refund, and half replacements, but I didn’t receive any replacements?
We are unable to fulfil requests for split reimbursements. If we are unable to fulfil any part of the order, we will automatically provide consumers with a full refund.

I requested an online voucher – how long will this be valid for? Do I have to use it all in one go?
Your online voucher reimbursement will be available for use until Oct 30th, 2011. You are free to use it in one go, or you may choose to use it to make separate purchases over time. Every time you log in and enter your voucher number in the shopping basket, the screen will display the total amount remaining on your voucher. Just remember, postage is free for the first time you use your voucher, but you will be charged freight for any subsequent use based on a standard postage rate calculator.

I asked for a pink soother replacement, but I received a different colour - why?
Wherever possible we endeavour to provide consumers with their first colour preference, however, occasionally a same colour match is not always available.

I have noticed some liquid in my silicone soother after I sterilise it, is it faulty?
As part of either the cleaning or sterilising procedure, in order to completely clean inside and outside, a small amount of water may enter the teat. This water should be expelled by squeezing the teat with sterilised teat tongs before use.

Where can I buy silicone soothers, I looked everywhere and can’t find any?
Our silicone soother range can be purchased from a number of retail and pharmacy outlets nationally. For full stockist details, please view the product grid below.

My child is unhappy with replacements what can I do now?
We understand how your child may become very attached to their dummy, and we also know how difficult it can be to make changes when it comes to soothing your baby. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees that one dummy will be accepted over another, it will all come down to the individual preference of your baby for shape, feel, texture.

The size of the soother is very different from the latex version, why is this?
Happy Baby has been making latex soothers for over 45 years, and we’ve been making them specifically for the Australian market. Our silicone soothers are sourced from overseas, like the majority of soothers on the market, and these are made to more general sizes. As an Australian manufacturer, we’ve been proud to be able to offer such a diverse range of teat sizing shaped especially for Australian babies’ mouths.

Happy Baby would like to thank our loyal customers for their continued support and patience – we really appreciate it.

Please view the list below for details on where to purchase Steam ‘n’ Go™

Silicone Soothers:
Size: 0-3+ months Product: Steam ‘n’ Go™ Silicone Soother with Cherry Shaped Teat
Stockists: Coles, IGA, Foodland, Priceline, Chemmart, Baby Bunting, Toys R Us

Size: 0-3+ months Product:Steam ‘n’ Go™ Silicone Soother with Orthodontic Shaped Teat
Stockists:Big W, Coles, Priceline, Chemmart, Baby Bunting

Size: 0-3+ months Product: Steam ‘n’ Go™ Sterilising Pod + Silicone Soother with Cherry Shaped Teat
Stockists: Coles, Foodland WA, Chemmart, Baby Bunting, Toys R Us

Size: 0-3+ months Product: Steam ‘n’ Go™ Sterilising Pod + Silicone Soother with Orthodontic Shaped Teat
Stockists: Big W, Coles, Priceline, Chemmart, Baby Bunting

Size: 3-6+ months Product: Steam ‘n’ Go™ Silicone Soother with Orthodontic Shaped Teat
Stockists:Big W, Coles, Priceline, Chemmart, Baby Bunting

Size: 3-6+ months Product: Steam ‘n’ Go™ Silicone Soother with Cherry Shaped Teat
Stockists: Coles, Priceline, Chemmart, Baby Bunting

Size: 3-6+ months Product: Steam ‘n’ Go™ Sterilising Pod + Silicone Soother with Cherry Shaped Teat
Stockists: Priceline, Chemmart

Size: 3-6+ months Product: Steam ‘n’ Go™ Sterilising Pod + Silicone Soother with Orthodontic Shaped Teat
Stockists: Big W, Priceline, Baby Bunting

Happy Baby Softfeel Latex dummies voluntary recall

Sanbrook Brands Pty Ltd is working with the ACCC to investigate incidents of teat separation involving Happy Baby Softfeel Latex dummies.

Pending the outcome of this investigation, Sanbrook has begun a voluntary, immediate recall of all Happy Baby Softfeel Latex dummies.

Parents and carers should immediately remove these dummies from children. They can return them to us for a refund or replacement.

The freecall number for concerned customers is 1800 335 917. The email contact address is safety@sanbrook.com.au

Important Update regarding Happy Baby Dummies

Important Update regarding Happy Baby Dummies

What are some of the key differences between Latex Soothers and Silicone Soothers?

Latex rubber differs from silicone. It is a natural material, with molecules that are interlinked and thus more tear resistant. Those interlinked molecules mean it is not as susceptible to tearing as silicone.
Latex, because it is a natural material is softer, more malleable (and for that reason, is preferred by more babies). Despite being a softer feeling texture for baby, it is actually more resilient.

But latex will deteriorate with age, and certain types of conditions will cause it to age prematurely, which is important to note. Things that can affect the performance of soothers, or that can actually damage it include leaving a soother in direct sunlight, or exposing the soother to sweet foods (like dipping it in honey). All of these things can weaken the latex, which means it won’t be as strong as it needs to be, it might not be safe for your baby to use, the latex teat can actually come away from the shield and that becomes a choking hazard.

If your dummy seems to be sticky, it’s a sign you need to change it. If the soother comes into contact with certain medications (like the ones used to treat reflux) this can compromise it. Over sterilising, excessively boiling it, even exposure to UV light all of these things are really tough on a dummy. This is why we recommend using 3 dummies in rotation and changing them all every 2 months.

We know that it’s not always easy to be a parent. We understand that parents are extremely busy people and it is one of the reasons we like to get involved in these discussions to help raise the importance and awareness of the care and usage instructions and warnings on the back of pack. Highly important issues include rotating the dummies, throwing them out if they don’t look “right”, or they are an unusual colour. We know it’s important to you and it is importance to us.

Deflation
Happy Baby soothers are pneumatic (they hold air inside them, like a tyre)

Watch out when your little one starts to get teeth, remember, little baby teeth are very sharp! They might puncture the soft latex dummy, and this will cause it to deflate. That’s actually not such a bad thing. If your baby makes a tiny bite mark in a dummy, so tiny that you can’t see it, then that dummy is no longer perfectly hygienic. The deflation acts as a warning sign that the dummy should be replaced. For teething babies, we recommend using Gummy which is designed to withstand sharp teeth and chewing actions. Using that with a good teething gel is a great combination as it soothes the tender gums and provides an safe outlet for the chewing.

All soothers need to be replaced on a regular basis, at least every 2 months. We recommend using 3 soothers in rotation, and replacing them all every two months.


Discolouration/Feel

Make sure your latex soother teats are a nice creamy colour. Any soother that looks purply/pink or brown has probably been exposed to UV light, or may be old. Also, check how the soother feels- is it a bit “tacky” or sticky? This too is a sign that the dummy shouldn't be used any more.


Testing & Safety

Soothing babies is an important part of our business, and we’ve been doing it for over 45 years. Our products have passed all the tests, ACCC, Choice, CSIRO, we adhere to all the Australian Safety Standards, and in fact our Chairman helped develop those standards many years ago. But we also conduct our own daily internal production testing – testing that shows we exceed those standards in several areas. For example, our strength tests show that our dummies are up to 3 times stronger than the standards require.