Household cots

It is important to keep your child’s sleeping environment safe and secure.

Think safety first with these helpful tips on household cots.

Choose a safe model

Buy a cot that complies with the Australian Standard (AS 2172).

By law, all cots sold by businesses must meet this standard.

Only use the mattress that is specifically designed for the cot. This information is stamped on the base of the cot.

The mattress should also be firm and fit snugly.

An ill-fitting mattress can create dangerous gaps that can trap a sleeping child and cause suffocation.

Don’t put anything into the cot with your child. This includes:

Items like these can be used as footholds to assist the child to climb out of the cot and can cause suffocation.

Never place a cot under a window. Hanging blind or curtain cords pose a strangulation danger.

Window ledges can also make it easier for children to climb out of their cot.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully, including all safety warnings. Keep the instructions somewhere safe.

Second-hand and heirloom cots might not meet current safety standards. Some older cots may be coated in dangerous lead paint.

Second-hand cots have the same design and construction requirements as new cots. There are 3 exceptions:

protrusions must be no greater than 8mm
there must be no gaps greater than 95mm, but there is no requirement preventing gaps between 30 and 50mm
there are no requirements for informative labels and safety markings.

If you’re buying a second-hand cot, regardless of these exceptions make sure that: