Enlarge this image

For the first few months, you'll need a crib, a carry cot or a Moses basket (a light, portable bassinet). Your baby needs to sleep somewhere that's safe, warm and not too far from you. If you are borrowing a crib or a cot, or using one that has been used by another of your children, you will need a new mattress.

You will also need:

• a firm mattress that fits the cot snugly without leaving spaces round the edges, so that your baby cannot trap their head and suffocate 
• sheets to cover the mattress – you need at least four because they need to be changed often (fitted sheets make life easier but they are quite expensive, so you could use pieces of old sheet)
• light blankets for warmth

Pillows and duvets
Don't use pillows and duvets – they are not safe for babies who are less than a year old due to the risk of suffocation. Duvets can also make the baby too hot. Quilted sleeping bags and baby nests are not suitable for your baby to sleep in when you're not there because of the danger of suffocation.

Cot safety
Your baby will spend many hours in a cot, so make sure it is safe. Also:

• The mattress must fit snugly, with no space for the baby’s head to get stuck.
• The bars must be smooth, securely fixed, and the distance between each bar should be not less than 25mm (one inch) and not more than 60mm (2.5 inches), so that your baby’s head can’t get trapped.
• The cot should be sturdy.
• The moving parts should work smoothly and not allow fingers or clothing to get trapped.
• Cot bumpers are not recommended because babies can overheat or get tangled in the fastenings.
• Never leave anything with ties, such as bibs or clothes, in the cot because they might get caught around your baby’s neck.

The safest place for your baby to sleep is on their back in a cot in the same room as you for the first six months.

For more information on safe sleeping, see reducing the risk of cot death.