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In this guide
Where your baby sleeps for the first months is one of the bigger decisions on your list. There are three main choices: a Moses basket, a bedside crib or a cot (or cot bed). They're all safe when used properly. The right one depends on your bedroom, your budget and how long you want it to last.
Wherever they sleep: the safe sleep basics
The Lullaby Trust and the NHS give the same advice whichever you choose:
- Same room as you for every sleep, day and night, for at least the first six months.
- On their back, with their feet at the foot of the basket, crib or cot.
- A firm, flat, waterproof mattress that fits with no gaps around the edges.
- Nothing else in the sleep space: no pillows, bumpers, duvets, soft toys, or sleep positioners and wedges.
- Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair.
Ideally, use a new mattress for each baby. If you use a second-hand one, it should be firm, flat, waterproof and in good condition, with no tears or sagging.
Moses basket
A small, portable basket, usually woven, that you can carry from room to room.
Good for: small bedrooms, keeping baby close downstairs during the day, and a lower price.
Bear in mind: most babies outgrow one by three to four months, or sooner if they're big or start to roll or push up. Then you'll need a cot anyway. Only carry it with your baby in it if the maker says you can, and put it on the floor or on a stand made for it, never a table or sofa.
