What not to buy for the nursery
Short answer: Skip cot bumpers, pillows, duvets, pods, nests, wedges, sheepskins and weighted bedding for babies under 12 months. UK safer-sleep guidance advises against them.
Step by step
- Not needed: bumpers, pillows, duvets, positioners.
- Do buy: a firm flat mattress, fitted sheets, a sleeping bag, a room thermometer.
What the guidance says
- The Lullaby Trust advises removing cot bumpers: babies can get tangled in ties and fabric, or fall after pulling themselves up on them.
- Pillows, duvets and quilts are not recommended for babies under 12 months because of the risk of overheating and the head being covered.
- Keep the cot clear: no pillows, duvets, cot bumpers, loose blankets, soft toys, pods, nests, wedges or anything to keep your baby in place.
- Avoid weighted swaddles, weighted blankets, weighted sleeping bags and sheepskins.
Shop at Baby Kingdom
- Obaby Foam Cot Mattress 120 x 60 cm
- Obaby Eco Foam Cot Mattress 120 x 60 cm
- Tutti Bambini Eco Fibre Cot Bed Mattress (70 x 140 cm)
- Tutti Bambini Eco Fibre Deluxe Cot Mattress (60 x 120 cm)
Check each product page for its exact dimensions, mattress size, age and weight limits and safety standards.
More advice
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Sources
- The Lullaby Trust: Baby mattresses and bedding (accessed 2026-10-21)
- NHS: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (accessed 2026-10-21)
General information only, not medical advice. Always follow your product's instructions. If you are worried about your baby, contact your GP, health visitor or 111. In an emergency, call 999.