What Is the Safe Gap Between Mattress and Cot?

What is the recommended and safe gap between the sides of the mattress and the sides of the cot?

The History

Let's go back to the 1990s when we weren't part of European regulations and all our measurements were in imperial. The recommended gap around the edge of the mattress in a cot was 1 inch, so if you pushed the mattress up to one corner, the biggest gap you'd get would be 2 inches.

"With me so far?"

This standard never caused any traps between the baby's arms, feet, or head, and all worked well.

The EU Change

Then we joined the European Union, and in 1993 the Single European Market was created. Clearly, we couldn't keep to our one-inch rule because we had to go metric. Therefore, the gap all the way round would have been 2.54cm - much too difficult to cope with as a standard. So the gap was reduced to 2cm all round.

We were all OK with that.

The Unnecessary 2018 Change

Then in 2018, some genius was clearly bored in the European Standard Organisation office and decided to reduce the gap from 4cm to 3cm (1.5cm all the way round). Supposedly for safety - just nonsense! Jobs for the boys! It's just not workable.

Practical Advice

Just work on the principle that if you push your mattress up to the edge, the gap should not be more than the width of two fingers. That's what's easy to work towards and safe for your baby.

A Note About Vintage Cots

There are thousands of lovely cots coming out of lofts for use by grandchildren and indeed great-grandchildren. They all have sentimental value!

These cots took a mattress 46 x 21 inches, which equates to 117 x 54cm. This will leave a gap just under the inch recommendation - that's the perfect size for your cot.

Please don't worry about minute fractions of a centimetre!