How to Set Up a Safe Cot

A safe sleep space should be calm, breathable and carefully set up. Baby should always be placed on their back, with their feet near the base of the cot and their head and face uncovered.

Maison Elle’s position is that safe sleep is not only about removing items from the cot. It is also about choosing the right materials, supporting airflow, avoiding heat-trapping synthetics and positioning bedding correctly.

Choose a firm, well-fitted mattress

The mattress should be firm, flat and fit snugly within the cot frame. There should be no gaps at the sides where your baby could roll or become trapped.

Use a fitted sheet only, preferably in a natural fibre such as organic cotton.

Maison Elle prefers natural fibres against baby’s skin and does not recommend polyester-heavy bedding, synthetic sleepwear or materials that trap heat and cause baby to sweat. If using a mattress protector, choose one that is breathable, well-fitted and smooth under the sheet. Avoid synthetic waterproof layers that reduce breathability, bunch under the baby or create extra padding.

Choose a cot with airflow

Maison Elle prefers a cot with open slats on all sides so air can move freely around the sleep space.

Avoid placing baby hard against the cot edge or pressed close to one side where airflow may feel restricted. Baby should be positioned on their back, with space around them and bedding kept low, smooth and away from the face.

Keep the floor around the cot clean and free from dust build-up. Avoid clutter, heavy fabrics or soft furnishings close to the cot that can collect dust or restrict airflow.

Keep the cot clear of unsafe items

The cot should not contain pillows, doonas, quilts, cot bumpers, loose toys, mattress padding or synthetic bulky bedding.

For young babies, comfort items should not be placed loose in the sleep space. Comfort items, including the Maison Elle Sleep Softie, should only be introduced once baby is developmentally ready and can roll, move freely and move items away from their face independently.

Position your baby safely

Always place your baby on their back for sleep, with their feet near the base of the cot.

This positioning helps keep bedding lower on the body and away from the head and face. Baby’s head, neck and face should always remain uncovered.

Layer blankets correctly

If parents choose to use blankets, Maison Elle recommends lightweight, breathable layers in natural fibres only. We prefer organic cotton and cellular cotton blankets, layered according to the room temperature and baby’s needs.

Blankets should be positioned below baby’s armpits and kept well away from the head, neck and face.

Maison Elle does not recommend pulling blankets so firmly around the mattress that a baby could become restricted, trapped or unable to move freely if they roll or wriggle. We also do not recommend leaving blankets loose enough to fold upward toward the face.

Fold the top edge of the blanket back toward the feet. Keep the layers smooth, low and neat.

The aim is correctly placed, breathable bedding: secure enough to stay low, but never restrictive; neat enough not to fold up, but never tight around the baby’s body.

Avoid overheating

Maison Elle does not recommend synthetic bedding, polyester-heavy sleepwear or bulky layers that can trap heat.

Use breathable natural fibres and adjust layers to the room temperature. Baby should feel comfortably warm, not hot or sweaty.

The Maison Elle perspective

At Maison Elle, we believe baby sleep spaces should be natural, breathable and carefully considered.

We choose organic cotton and breathable fibres because babies sleep closest to the materials around them. We believe bedding should support comfort without synthetic heat-trapping layers, unnecessary bulk, trapped air or loose fabric near the face.

A safe cot begins with baby on their back, feet near the base of the cot, a firm mattress, a breathable fitted sheet, open airflow around the cot, a clean floor around the sleep space and any blanket layers kept low, smooth, natural and away from the head and face.

From around 7 months, once developmentally appropriate, a familiar comfort item may become part of the sleep routine. The Maison Elle Sleep Softie is designed for those small repeated moments: quiet time, pram walks, travel and bedtime preparation.

Source note

Some Australian safe sleep guidance recommends firmly tucking blankets under the mattress. Maison Elle’s view is more cautious: bedding should never be so firm that it restricts movement or creates a trapping risk, and never so loose that fabric can fold upward toward the face.

Parents should follow the advice they trust from their chosen health professional or safe sleep authority. Maison Elle’s position is to use natural, breathable layers only, keep bedding below the armpits, fold blankets back toward the feet, support airflow and keep baby’s head and face uncovered at all times.

For context, Red Nose currently recommends placing baby with feet at the bottom of the cot, tucking blankets firmly on three sides and keeping blankets to chest height. NSW Health advises keeping baby’s head and face uncovered, using tucked sheets and blankets or a safe infant sleeping bag, and avoiding doonas, cot bumpers, mattress padding, sheepskins and soft toys in the cot.

Back to blog