When Should You Start Making Your Baby Sleep in a Wooden Baby Cot?

Adult beds aren’t designed for babies, so before you think your bed’s a safe place, think again and check that-

-your little one can fall out of bed

-your baby can get trapped between the mattress and the wall

-your other child and pets may be in the bed at the same time as your baby

Mothers do sometimes share the bed while they are breastfeeding, however, without planning and thought it can be dangerous.

For the initial six months, the safest place for your little one to sleep is a baby cot in your room besides your bed and in the same room as you. You’ll be close by if they need a feed or a cuddle, it will also keep you mentally satisfied.

Help your baby have a good sleep

You can help your baby get a good sleep and stay safe by:

-always putting them flat on their back in the wooden baby cot on a firm flat mattress and putting them on their back again in case they roll over

-tucking them in with blankets across their chest

-removing any pillows or soft toys from their baby cot as these can affect your baby’s breathing if they’re close to the face

-make sure they don’t feel too hot or cold, you can check their temperature by feeding the back of their neck or stomach

Why it's safe for your baby to sleep separately?

Your baby should sleep separately in their baby wooden cot bed in these situations:

-your baby’s small or was born early

-you and your partner are over-tired - slept less than four hours

-you smoked during pregnancy

-you and your partner are under the influence of alcohol

Tips to help your baby sleep in the wooden baby cot

-Ensure that the mattress of the cot is flat and firm

-The space should e free of any choking hazards such as blankets, pillows or toys

-As your baby grows, lower the mattress of the cot to prevent them from climbing out of it

Help your little one to get accustomed to the baby cot by acclimatising them with colourful toy hanging above the cot. Another powerful tool is a consistent bedtime routine which helps calms the baby before bedtime and turns going to sleep into a fun activity.

Also, we wouldn’t advise just putting your baby down into a new sleep space and expect all to go well. Instead, start with a small nap time routine, similar to the one at your bedtime but keep it a bit shorter. This way your little one will get the idea that sleep is coming. When you think they are ready to transition and move to sleep place them carefully in the baby cot.