Choosing a Baby Cot or Crib: Safety, Sizing and What to Skip

The mattress should sit snugly against all four sides. If you can fit more than about two fingers between the mattress and the cot frame, the gap is too large. Buy the mattress and cot together where you can, or check the cot's internal dimensions before ordering separately.

A firm, flat mattress is what you want. Softness is not a comfort upgrade here.

Gaps between the bars should be narrow enough that a baby cannot get their head or body through. Most cots sold for the purpose meet this, but it is worth checking on second-hand or informally made furniture.

An adjustable base height saves your back early on and then drops down once your baby can sit or pull up. Lower it before they can push up on their hands and knees, not after.

Look for a smooth, splinter-free finish and non-toxic paint. Run your hand along the top rails — that is where teething babies chew, and where a rough edge shows up first.

Solid wood lasts longer than particleboard, especially if the cot will convert to a toddler bed or be used again for a second child.

Current safe-sleep guidance is consistent on this: a bare cot is the safest cot. That means no pillows, no duvets, no cot bumpers, no positioners and no soft toys for a young baby.

A fitted sheet and a correctly sized sleeping bag cover the job. If you are unsure about your particular baby, ask your paediatrician rather than an online forum.

Bassinets and cribs are smaller, more portable, and outgrown quickly — often within four to six months. A full-size cot costs more upfront but usually lasts into toddlerhood. If space and budget allow only one, the cot is the more economical purchase.