Safety in Your Baby's Bedroom

• You don't really need to use cot bumpers – which are designed to protect your baby from knocking himself against the rails, but are thought to restrict air flow. If you do choose to use a bumper, though, and the type you are using ties on to the cot bars, make sure you cut the ties short enough that your baby can't get them caught around his neck if they come undone.


• Lie your baby on his back to sleep, with his feet to the foot of the cot: you'll need to make the sheets and blankets up accordingly. This will prevent him from wriggling down the cot and under the covers, or from getting tangled up in excess material.


• Keep your baby just warm, but not too hot, by adjusting his bedding as necessary. If he's less than a year old, don't use a duvet, quilt or pillow, and never use electric blankets or hot water bottles. Instead, use a sheet and one or more layers of light blankets, depending on the time of year. To check your baby isn't too warm or cold, place the back of your hand on his chest - the skin should feel tepid.


• Don't overdress him either - a vest and sleepsuit is fine in winter while in summer, just a vest or a sleepsuit on its own - or even just a nappy in very warm weather - will be adequate. His correct resting body temperature is between 36°C and 36.8°C; you can check this using a baby thermometer if you are concerned.


• Don't raise the cot mattress or leave the cot side down to make it easier to lift your baby out - when he eventually gets to his feet he could climb or fall out of the cot, and he may find his feet for the first time when he's unsupervised in his nursery. Don't leave toys that are large enough for him to climb on inside his cot either, remove anything dangling from above the cot, such as a mobile,when you are not in the room. Also make sure that you secure any freestanding furniture so that it can't fall on your baby once he's mobile.


• Install a baby monitor - the receiver plugs in somewhere in the nursery and the portable listening device is kept with you. This will enable you to hear if your baby is sleeping soundly or not.


• If the room is large enough, avoid placing the cot under a window as drafts will make your baby irritable, and he should be kept comfortably warm. Hot, direct sunlight is also bad 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.

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