• Is it big enough for your baby to grow into or will you want to buy different cots
• Adjustable bases are good, so that the cot can be lifted and you don’t hurt your back - you can lift your baby out with ease

• Some cots have removable sides so you can put your cot next to your bed

• Some cots come with a built in teething rail, but remember hygiene.

If you are buying a second hand cot:

• Remember old family heirlooms may be sentimental for you but may not meet current safety standards!!

• To check if the cot will be safe to use - measure the bar spacing: it needs to be between 2.5cm and 6.5cm, and there must be at least 51cm between the top of the mattress and the top of the cot.

• Make sure the drop-side mechanism works and stays reliably in the ‘up’ position.

• Don’t use a cot that has paint peeling off, the paint could contain lead, so strip it and re-paint the cot with lead free paint.

• Remove any stickers that may be on the cot as they could come off

• If the cot has a mattress you will need to change it as it may not meet today’s standards and could be a fire risk. Also for hygienic reasons, change the mattress for a new one.

• The mattress ideally should fit from end to end so there are no gaps that your baby could get trapped in.