Can I put my baby down awake in the cot?
Short answer: Yes. However you settle your baby, put them down on their back in a clear cot, the same way every time.
Here is the detail behind that answer, taken from current UK guidance from the NHS and the Lullaby Trust.
Things to check
- Check the internal size and buy a mattress that fits with no gaps.
- Adjustable base heights let you lower the mattress as your baby learns to sit and stand.
- Teething rails protect the top rails from little teeth.
What the guidance says
- Always place your baby on their back to sleep, in the feet-to-foot position (feet at the bottom of the cot, Moses basket or pram).
- Keep the routine consistent. Babies who usually sleep on their backs but are sometimes put on their fronts are at higher risk.
- Keep the cot clear: no pillows, duvets, cot bumpers, loose blankets, soft toys, pods, nests, wedges or anything to keep your baby in place.
Related questions
What is a cot?
A framed baby bed with fixed sides, usually taking a 120 x 60cm mattress.
Shop at Baby Kingdom
- Coleby Space Saver Cot
- Bantam Space Saver Cot - White
- Hartley Classic Cot
- Obaby Stamford Space Saver Cot in Warm Grey
Check each product page for its exact dimensions, mattress size, age and weight limits and safety standards.
More advice
Can a 5 month old sleep in a toddler bed?What bedding goes in a travel cot?Can a 2 month old sleep in a cot?Cot bed vs Moses basket: which is better?Sleep position quizWinter sleep safety quizAll safe sleep and sleep spaces advice →
Sources
- NHS: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (accessed 2026-10-21)
- The Lullaby Trust: Safer sleep advice (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.