Cot safety fact sheet

A cot will be the first baby bed you purchase for your child. You might want to consider some helpful tips on how to use a cot or what to look out for.

• Check that the gaps between the bars on the cot gates are not too wide as babies may get their heads or arms/legs caught in the space between vertical cot bars.

• Babies should be moved to a bed once they are able to climb over one of the cot edges.
• Cot sides may serve as ladders if the mattress in the cot is too high, if your baby has objects such as soft toys in the cot to climb upon, or if the cot has horizontal bars on the frame.
• Babies may fall through vertical cot bars if the gaps are too wide.

• A baby’s clothing may become caught on protruding parts of the cot, creating a potentially fatal strangulation hazard for the baby.

• Make sure there isnt a wide gap between the cot sides and the baby mattress to avoid baby getting trapped .
• Babies could potentially suffocate if items such as toys, head bumpers and pillows placed in the cot prevent them from breathing.
• Babies could possibbly suffocate under bed linen, if the bed is made up incorrectly. Loose bedclothes may be pulled up over a baby’s face.

• Spaces between vertical bars should measure between 5cm and 8.5cm in width in order to prevent head entrapment.
• There should not be any gaps in the cot that measure between 3cm and 5cm in width, in order to prevent arm or leg entrapment.
• There should not be any gaps in the cot that measure between 5mm and 12mm in width, in order to prevent finger and toe entrapment.
• The distance between the top of the mattress and the top of the cot sides should be at least 60cm.
• The inside of the cot must be free from horizontal bars or other features that may allow your baby to climb over the side of the cot.
• There should be no protruding parts or screws that clothing may get caught on.
• Protrusions must not measure more than 8mm and bolts must not measure more than 5mm in height.

• Check that the side of the cot that is able to be released is held by child safety latches, which prevent children from unlatching them.
• Check that the mattress fits snugly inside the cot. The gap between a cot and its mattress should not measure more than 2.5cm.
• Place the cot away from windows that have cord or blind strings close by. These strings may pose a strangulation hazard if your baby can access them from the cot.
• Place the cot away from heaters, lights, power points and electrical appliances to ensure that your baby does not get burned.
• Make sure that the cot sheets fit snugly around the mattress with the sheets folded under the mattress so that they may not be dislodged when pulled on one side.
• Regularly check that the cot is free from wear and tear, particularly the edges and locking mechanisms.