Folding cot safety

On this page

• Assembly
• Mattresses
• Cot position
• Safe use
• Folding away

Assembly

• Make sure that you safely assemble the cot according to instructions. Keep children well away from the cot as you do this to avoid trapping or injuring their fingers or limbs.
• The instructions for the safe use, assembly and maintenance of folding cots are printed in detail on the cot base. This is so they can be visible when the user is assembling the cot.
• Some suppliers now also provide warnings on the cot rails so that key safety messages are visible at all times.

Mattresses

Use the right mattress

• Only use the mattress specifically designed for the cot—an ill-fitting mattress can create dangerous gaps that can trap a sleeping child and cause suffocation. 
• If you need to buy a mattress, get one from the supplier that meets the specified dimensions.

Extra mattresses and bedding

• Never place an extra mattress in the cot.  While the mattress that comes with the cot may look thin and uncomfortable to you, it has been designed for the comfort and safety of babies and infants. 
• Excessive and soft bedding can smother young children
• Babies can roll into the gaps created by extra mattresses and beddings. They are unable to move out of these gaps and can suffocate if the fabric of the bedding or mattress covers the face and blocks airways.

Inflatable mattresses or parts

• Folding cots should not have a mattress or any other parts that are inflatable. Both manually inflating and self-inflating mattresses may cause babies to suffocate by forming to the shape of their face.

Cot position

• As it is used in varying environments and situations, ensure that the folding cot is placed well away from potential hazards.
• Keep the cot well clear of blinds and curtains cords. Infants have died after being strangled by loose blind or curtain cords hanging in or near cots.  Similarly, keep decorative mobiles out of reach.
• Keep heaters or any electrical appliances away from the cot to avoid the risk of overheating, burns and electrocution.

Safe use

Do not use for permanent sleeping

• Folding cots should only be used as temporary sleeping facilities. They are not suitable for long term sleeping arrangements. Because these cots are fold able and transportable, they are subject to more wear and tear and are generally less robust than permanent sleeping enclosures such as household cots.

Always provide instructions to people who borrow your cot

• Ensure that anyone using your portable cot knows how to out it up and use it safely.

Preventing strangulation and entrapment

• As they are designed to be unfolded and folded frequently, always check folding cots to make sure they are safely assembled and that locking mechanisms are secure. If cots collapse they can trap and strangle infants.
• Never leave accessories, such as change tables or bassinette inserts, in cots while children are in there. Children have become trapped in these.

Preventing falls

• As a parent or carer, always be aware of the development levels of your children to determine whether they can climb out of a cot. Children who can stand confidently in a cot, shake the sides and ends and attempt to climb are usually ready for a low bed or a toddler bed.  This can prevent falls out of the folding cot.

Folding away

• After use, make sure that you safely fold away the cot according to instructions. As with its assembly, make sure you keep children well away from the cot as you fold it to avoid trapping or injuring their fingers or limbs.
• Keep the folding cot away from children’s reach when you are not using it.

For more safety tips, view Safe sleeping for infants .