When choosing and using cots, there are some safety guidelines you should follow to protect your baby from injury.
When purchasing a cot, pay particular attention to the following:
● the bars of the cot should be no more than 6 cm apart
● the mattress must fit snugly against the sides of the cot, with no gaps
● choose the firmest mattress possible
● the corners of the cot should be the same height as or higher than the sides.
If you are using a second-hand cot, follow these instructions:
● Avoid cots older than 10 years, as they may not meet modern safety standards. Cots made before 1978 may have been painted with lead-based paint, so a family heirloom cradle or cot may not be the safest choice
● Check the condition of the second-hand cot: stability, whether any parts are missing, the condition of each component, and whether missing parts can be replaced. Pay special attention to the spacing of the bars and any decorative cut-outs where a child’s limb could get stuck. Ideally, the cot should come with assembly instructions
Additional precautions for safer sleep
● Always place your baby on their back to sleep.
● Do not place cot bumpers (soft, padded barriers with ties), soft toys, pillows, or decorative cushions in the cot due to the risk of suffocation.
● Do not put your baby to sleep in the cot with a bib or necklace around their neck.
● Do not hang toys from the cot using strings or cords.
● Do not position the cot near a window, curtains, or other furniture and objects the child could pull on.
● A mobile above the cot should be out of the baby’s reach.
● Remove the mobile once the baby starts pushing up on their hands and rolling over.
● Choose bedding and clothing made from natural materials (cotton, merino wool, silk, linen) instead of synthetic ones (acrylic, polyester, rayon, acetate, and nylon), which are treated with many chemicals.
● Check regularly that all parts of the cot are securely fastened.
● Keep up to date with product recalls for baby equipment and products.
● Do not put your baby to sleep on sofas, couches, or armchairs, as they could fall and be injured. This is especially dangerous with soft furniture due to the risk of suffocation.
● Never leave your baby alone on a bed without supervision.
● Babies should not sleep in an overheated room or be overdressed.
● Do not smoke in the room where your baby sleeps, or in any room where the child spends time.
Once a cot with bars is no longer needed, some children will continue sleeping in the same room as their parents, while others will sleep in a separate children's room in a bed without sides.
Extract from the brochure “Safe childhood”, UNICEF 2020.
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