The cot is the most visible baby gift, and the one where guidance has changed most in recent years. Several accessories still sold in « new baby » gift sets are now advised against for sleep. Here's what to give — and above all what not to put in the cot.
💡 Smart move
A convertible cot with its mattress runs to €200–500. A shared list lets several people club together on that rather than each giving nursery decor.
🛏️ The empty cot rule
This is the most important point in the article, and the least intuitive when you look at catalogue photos: a baby's cot should be empty. A firm mattress, a fitted sheet, a sleep sack, and nothing else. No pillow, no blanket, no duvet, no soft toy, no positioner.
Cot bumpers deserve a specific mention, because they still appear on plenty of registries and in gift sets. Health authorities and paediatric bodies now advise against them: they carry a suffocation risk if the baby's face presses into them, and they restrict air flow. They don't meaningfully prevent knocks against the bars, which are harmless anyway. If you were looking at a cot bumper for a registry, an extra sleep sack will serve far better.
The recommended sleep position is on the back, on a firm flat mattress. Positioners and inclined surfaces meant to hold a posture are not recommended either. These rules sound austere, but they are the backbone of safer-sleep guidance — and they make the gift list a lot simpler.
🌙 Moses basket, crib or full-size cot
A Moses basket or crib covers roughly the first six months, until the baby can sit up or roll over. Their appeal is mobility: they move from room to room, and their snugness is reassuring. Their limit is obvious — they're outgrown quickly, at €80–250.
A 60×120 cm cot lasts from birth to around age 3, sometimes longer if convertible. It's the rational choice if only one is being given. Two details make the difference in daily use: an adjustable base height (high while the baby is tiny so you're not wrecking your back, low as soon as they pull themselves up) and removable bars, which turn it into a toddler bed when the time comes.
A bedside crib, attached to the parents' bed and open on one side, is a third route that's increasingly chosen for the early months. It makes night feeds easier while keeping a separate sleep surface for the baby.
📐 The mattress matters more than the cot
This is where you shouldn't economise, and what buyers most often overlook. A baby mattress must be firm — noticeably firmer than an adult one. A soft surface moulds around the face and impedes breathing. Comfort as you'd judge it for yourself is not the criterion here.
The dimensions must match the cot exactly. The test is one sentence long: no more than two fingers of gap between mattress and frame, on any side. A wider gap can trap an arm or a leg. This is why a mattress and a cot bought separately by two different people tend to fit badly — better that one person gives both, or that the cot is chosen first.
A firm mattress with a removable cover costs €60–150. A machine-washable cover isn't a gimmick: between posseting and nappy leaks, it goes through the wash more often than you'd think.
🧣 The sleep sack replaces the blanket
This is the safest gift in the category and one of the most useful. A sleep sack keeps the child warm with no risk of covering their face, unlike a blanket that slides. Two or three is a sensible gift: they get dirty, and there always needs to be a clean one.
The figure to know is the TOG rating, which measures thermal insulation. TOG 0.5 suits a warm room or summer; TOG 2 to 2.5 suits winter in a room around 18–20 °C. Giving two different TOGs is smarter than two identical sacks, since it then covers two seasons.
Watch the size: an oversized sleep sack lets the baby slip down inside it, head included. Choose by height in centimetres rather than the age on the label, and check the neck opening won't let the head through.
📊 What to give at each budget
| Budget | Idea | Useful life |
|---|---|---|
| €20–40 | Sleep sack + 2 fitted sheets | 6 to 12 months |
| €40–80 | 2 sleep sacks, different TOGs | All year |
| €60–150 | Firm mattress, removable cover | 0 to 3 years |
| €80–250 | Bedside crib | 0 to 6 months |
| €150–400 | Convertible 60×120 cot | 0 to 3 years and beyond |
⚠️ Mistakes to avoid
- Giving a cot bumper: advised against for sleep. A sleep sack is far more useful.
- Giving a mattress without knowing the cot: dimensions must match exactly. Two fingers of gap at most.
- Choosing a soft mattress: the natural instinct is the wrong one. It needs to be firm.
- Adding a pillow, duvet or soft toy: nothing in the cot before one year. Soft toys are a lovely gift — for playtime.
- Buying a second-hand cot without checking the standard: bar spacing and stability are regulated. An older cot may no longer comply.
🎁 In summary
A convertible cot, a firm mattress in the right dimensions, two or three sleep sacks in different TOGs: the list is short, and that's exactly the point. Everything you'd be tempted to add to make it look nice — bumpers, cushions, soft toys — doesn't belong in the cot before one year.
To round out the registry, see our guides to baby shower gifts, newborn clothing and car seats.
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