Cot reducers: are they dangerous for babies?
Oct
Using a cot reducer for your baby: good or bad idea? It's a question many parents ask, and that's completely normal. The intention is excellent: to give baby a cosy little nest. Yet the cot reducer is one of the products health authorities consider dangerous. I'll explain why, and above all how to recreate that cocoon safely.
Why baby needs a small space
Photo: Marius Muresan / Unsplash
In the first months, baby needs to sleep in a snug, reassuring space. The smaller the space, the more it reminds them of their mum's tummy, and the better they sleep. So, to create a cosy little corner for them, many parents set up a cot reducer from birth. The aim is simple: for baby to be in constant contact with the sides, which reassures and soothes them.
So the original idea is the right one. Unfortunately, the cot reducer is not the right solution.
Cot reducers: why they're dangerous
A cot reducer, also called a “baby nest”, is strongly advised against by the Haute Autorité de santé (France’s national health authority). In its fact sheet on preventing sudden unexpected infant death (February 2020), it lists cot reducers among “restraint devices”, along with baby wedges and positioning cushions. And its verdict is unequivocal: they are “useless, harmful and dangerous”. The reason comes down to two words: soft sides. Braided cot bumpers have exactly the same flaw.
Baby can suffocate. When rolling or turning over, baby can end up with their head buried in the soft side of the reducer or bumper. And in the first few months, they aren’t yet strong enough to free their head. That’s what makes these products so dangerous.
No standard regulates them. It’s actually quite crazy when you think about it! In Europe, manufacturers must meet safety standards for a whole host of baby products: clothes, cots, cribs, bedside cribs, Moses baskets, pushchairs… But for cot reducers, there is no safety standard at all. In fact, in an investigation by the DGCCRF (the French consumer protection authority) into childcare products, all five cot reducers tested were found to be non-compliant and dangerous. And yet, even though most paediatricians strongly advise against them, they are still on sale.
4 safe solutions for a real cocoon
So, without a reducer, how do you recreate a cosy, reassuring space for baby? Good news: you have several options, and they all provide a safe sleeping environment.
1. The Moses basket
Small and narrow, it is designed for young babies. Baby sleeps safely in it, in a space that reassures them. What’s more, it goes with you from room to room! Our baby Moses basket with mattress has a soft lining made of GOTS-certified organic cotton fabric, so baby can enjoy lovely, cosy nights.
2. The bedside crib
It attaches to your bed: baby sleeps right next to you, but in their own safe space. Discover our bedside cribs.
3. A small hospital crib, to rent
It's a little-known tip: you can rent a small maternity crib from a pharmacy for the first few weeks. It's handy if you want to wait before buying a cot.
4. The pram carrycot
Already have one? Baby can perfectly well sleep in it for the first few weeks. It also offers a small, safe space.
And to keep baby nice and warm without a blanket, think about a baby sleeping bag: it wraps them up like a little nest, with nothing soft around their face.
Why I'm telling you about this
When I became a dad for the first time, I realised how little information there was to help choose the products best suited to your baby. That's why I created Premiers Moments: a baby shop designed by parents, for parents, with only useful products suited to baby's everyday needs. And that's also why I share these tips with you today.
Your questions about cot reducers
Are cot reducers banned?
No, it is still sold. However, it is strongly advised against, because its soft sides present a risk of suffocation for newborns.
Are a baby nest and a cot reducer the same thing?
Yes, they're two names for the same type of product, with the same soft sides.
How can you reassure baby in a big bed?
The simplest solution is to have them sleep in a smaller bed for the first few months (Moses basket, bedside crib, crib). Then, to move on to the cot, put the Moses basket inside the cot for a while: baby discovers their new bed while keeping their cocoon.
Dylan
Proud dad of three little ones and founder of Premiers Moments. Together with the whole team, I share our parenting tips here to support you, from pregnancy through your child's first years.
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