As a new parent, preparing your little one for their first sleep at home can be daunting. You’ve probably received endless tips from friends and relatives on how to get your baby to sleep soundly and it can all seem rather overwhelming. Your baby’s safety is number one priority which is why it’s best to seek professional advice and consult resources from the likes of the NHS or the Lullaby Trust.
As well as recommending you follow the safe sleep guidelines from the leading sources we’ve mentioned above, we’ve shared some helpful tips to give you peace of mind whilst your baby sleeps.
Cot Bed & Mattress Safety Standards
When choosing your baby’s cot bed and mattress, you should ensure they meet all relevant and current safety standards for your country. Our cot beds meet Australian safety standards AS/NZS 2172-2003, which means they've been tested with specialist machines designed to ensure they're fit to withstand the bumps and knocks of family life. Our mattresses meet BS EN 16890:2017 and/or BS 1877:10, ensuring they offer optimum safety for babies.
Buy a Mattress to Fit Your Cot Bed
Your baby’s mattress must be well-fitting for your cot or cot bed with no excessive gaps. It’s advisable to purchase your mattress at the same time as your cot to ensure you purchase the correct size. Boori cot beds feature a suitability label on the base which indicates which mattress you should buy, a 132cm x 70cm mattress will fit current Boori cot beds only.
Buy New, Buy Safe
You should always buy a new mattress for your baby, even if it’s for a sibling. When using secondhand, mattresses can lose some of their firmness which means they won’t be as supportive for newborn babies.
With trusted, high quality brands, it’s common to assume buying secondhand furniture is just as safe as buying new but there are some points to bear in mind. We’ve shared these key considerations here on our blog.
Where Should a Newborn Sleep?
The NHS advises that the safest place for a newborn baby to sleep for the first 6 months is in its own cot in the same room as the parents. This gives you the ability to easily tend to baby’s needs by keeping them close at hand.
Choose a cot that offers optimum visibility and can be moved easily between rooms for when your little one moves into their nursery.
Baby Bedding
Fitted sheets and mattress protectors should be fitted snugly around your baby’s mattress and blankets should be properly tucked into the sides. Cushions and toys should only be used as decoration and should be removed from the cot or cot bed when baby is unattended. Quilts, thick blankets and pillows should only be used for babies over 12 months old.
For more information on practicing safe sleep for your baby, please read through the resources available on the Better Health Channel or the Lullaby Trust.
