Tips For Creating A Safe Sleep Environment For Your Baby

Creating a safe and comfortable place for your baby to sleep is essential for their healthy development and to ensure that they (and you!) get adequate amounts of rest. Central to this is selecting the right nursery furniture and bedding, and ensuring that the environment is conducive to a good night’s sleep. Here are some useful tips. 

Baskets, cots & cribs

Moses baskets

Moses baskets are popular for newborns because they can be placed by the bedside at night, and are also light enough to carry a sleeping baby around the house during the daytime. Small babies appreciate the snug and cosy interior of the basket, which helps them to feel warm, safe and secure and can help them to sleep more soundly.

The basket can be placed on a stand during the night or for daytime naps, so that your baby is elevated above ground level. Once your baby is three to four months old, weighs over 6kg, or is able to sit up, roll over, or push themselves up, the basket is no longer suitable for them.

Cots & cribs

Cots are suitable for babies up to two years old. There are many different designs to match the interior decor and colour scheme of your nursery, but whichever cot you choose, it’s important to ensure that it complies with the British Safety Standards (BSEN716). These are in place to mitigate against the risk of cot death through suffocation or strangulation.

There should be a distance of at least 50 cm between the top of the cot and the mattress to ensure that your baby cannot climb out; and the bars should be vertical and no more than 6.5cm apart to prevent your baby getting trapped in between the bars.

Cots with bars on all four sides can aid air circulation, which can help with air quality and temperature regulation. However, some babies may prefer the sense of safety of a cot with two or three solid sides.

Cotbeds

Cotbeds are larger than cots, and can be used until the infant is around four years old. This can mean that they are a more economical choice, but very small babies may find it more difficult to sleep in a larger space. If you have a very small nursery, a cot bed will take up extra space.

However, if you have plenty of room they can be a good investment. Some cot beds can also be converted into a toddler bed by removing the side rails. This is a bed that is smaller and lower to the ground than a full-sized single bed, and as well as avoiding the need to buy a separate cot and bed, it can also make it easier for your child to transition to an adult bed.

Mattresses

Ideally, you should buy a new mattress for your baby to ensure that it is clean, hygienic and comfortable. Look for a make with a wipe clean surface, or one with a removable cover that can stand repeated washes at high temperatures. The mattress should fit snugly in the cot with no gaps.

Firmer mattresses are better for babies, because they offer more support while they are sleeping. The mattress should conform to British Safety Standards, and it should not have handles on the sides, as these can trap your baby’s hands and feet.

Bedding

Babies under one year old should not be provided with pillows or duvets, as this can increase the risk of suffocation, and duvets may also cause them to overheat. A lightweight blanket should be placed over the baby when sleeping, firmly tucked in and no higher than the shoulders to avoid the risk of the baby’s face or head becoming covered.

The baby should be placed on their back to sleep, and the cot should be clear of soft toys or any other loose items.

Other considerations

It’s important to keep the nursery at an appropriate temperature, because babies cannot regulate their own temperature and can be at risk of overheating. The cot should not be placed in direct sunlight or next to a radiator or other heat source. The ideal nursery room temperature should be between 16 and 20°C.

If you are using a second-hand cot that is likely to have been manufactured before the 1970s and it is painted, it should be stripped down and repainted in case of lead contamination. The cot should also have no stickers or transfers on the side, because they may peel off and be a choking risk.