Sleeping

For the first few months, you will need a crib, a carry cot or a Moses basket. Your baby just needs somewhere to sleep that is safe and warm and not too far away from you. You also need:

• a firm mattress which must fit the cot snugly, without leaving spaces round the edges – the baby could trap his or her head and suffocate. It’s best if the mattress has a built-in plastic cover but, if not, you can put a waterproof sheet under the bottom sheet (never use thin plastic or a bin liner as your baby could suffocate in the loose folds);

• sheets to cover the mattress – you need at least four because they need to be changed so often – fitted sheets make life easy but they are quite expensive; you could use pieces of old sheet or pillow cases instead;

• several light blankets for safety and warmth.

Cot safety

Your baby will spend many hours alone in a cot so make sure it’s safe.

• The mattress must fit snugly with no space for a baby’s head to get stuck.
• The bars must be smooth, securely fixed and the distance between each bar should be not less than 25 mm and not more than 60 mm so that your baby’s head can’t become trapped.
• The cot should be sturdy.
• The moving parts should work smoothly and not allow fingers or clothing to become trapped.
• Cot bumpers are not recommended as babies can overheat or become entangled in the fastenings.