Safety in Your Baby's Bedroom

Setting up your baby's first bedroom is not only about making it look lovely, it's about keeping your baby safe too. It can be one of the most pleasurable parts of early parenthood. Once the aesthetics are sorted out, the next consideration is how to make it the safest environment possible for your baby.

• Your baby's cot should be deep enough to keep your baby safely inside, and the rails should be correctly spaced to prevent your baby's head or fingers getting trapped between them: the gap between each rail should be no less than 2.5cm and no more than 7.5cm. If your cot is second hand or you're borrowing it, check these specifications yourself. If it's not new and has been painted previously, strip and re-paint it with lead-free paint just in case the original paint was lead-based, which could carry a poison risk.


• Invest in a new mattress, as there should be no signs of wear and tear. The mattress should be firm, not soft, and fit the cot without any gaps. You can get hypoallergenic mattresses, foam mattresses and spring mattresses: they're all fine, so go with whatever your budget will allow. Don't put a plastic sheet over the mattress, though as this could make your baby overheat or suffocate.


• If the room is large enough, avoid placing the cot under a window as drafts will make him irritable, and he should be kept comfortably warm. Hot, direct sunlight is also not good for your baby. If the cot has to be under a window, tie up any blind cords to avoid the risk of strangulation, and try to draught-proof the window itself.


• Avoid placing the cot too close to a heater or other source of heat, as your baby could overheat or even burn himself. If it's unavoidable, turn the heating right down. A baby's skin is five times more sensitive than an adult's, so even if you think it's not too hot, turn it down until it feels just warm to your touch.

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