Safety tips for your baby’s sleep
Every family decides which way is best for them: co-sleeping, cot, separate rooms, etc. Having said that, it's one thing to decide, but it's another thing altogether what your baby lets you do each day. Either way, sleep is a vital element of a baby's health and development. Don't worry, here are a few more essential safety considerations that can help you cope with one of a parent’s biggest challenges.


A good cot is the foundation of a peaceful sleep
In their first year of life, most babies will sleep for around 12-15 hours each day. So, how you dress the cot is vital for your peace of mind, as baby will spend a lot of time there.
Essentially, the cot should contain no more than a firm mattress and a fitted sheet. Play around with different types of light clothes for sleeping in, depending on the temperature of the room, to keep your baby not too hot and not too cold.

Baby’s cot should contain nothing other than a firm mattress and a fitted sheet.
Baby safety in and around the cot
IKEA cots are designed, built and tested to be safe for your baby. But it’s important to also consider how you dress it and know what other home furnishings may be nearby in the room.
A few tips for when you dress the cot
- Use a firm baby mattress. The cot and mattress should have the same dimensions so that baby can't fall down the side and get trapped. All of our cots and mattresses are the same size so that's one less thing for you to worry about.
- Fitted sheets should have the same dimensions as the mattress – a tight fit avoids loose material in your baby’s cot.
- Use a LEN mattress protector made with breathable fabrics. The ones made of non-breathable materials are only for children aged over 3 years.
- Stuffed toys and other dolls should be left outside the cot so that your baby can sleep and move around easily with no risk of anything falling on them.
- Keep the base of the cot in its lowest position once your baby can sit up on their own to avoid them climbing out.
- When your child is able to get in and out of the cot unassisted, it's best to remove the side panel to stop them climbing up and possibly falling back down. This is also a good time to think about swapping the cot for an infant bed.
A few tips for safety around the cot
- Our blinds are already cordless, but also try to keep curtains and lamp cables out of your baby's reach to avoid them from getting caught up in them.
- Canopies, baby mobiles and other textiles are pretty and babies love them. But it's best that these big items aren't hung over the cot.
- It's best to place the cot away from radiators, hot pipes and even direct sunlight because baby's skin is much more delicate than an adult's.
- Keep furniture a safe distance away from the cot. If your baby is restless, they could use it to climb up the cot and this brings a risk of falling.
- Never attach hooks, handles or similar objects to the cot. Your baby could get caught when moving around in the cot.

A safe mattress is one that fits the cot perfectly, leaving no gaps for baby to get stuck.