Choosing A Baby Cot In Singapore: What Matters

We're doing a short 1 minute survey on the type of baby cribs mums prefer. Your results will help other new mums know which crib to buy.

The cot is one of the few baby purchases where the decision is partly a safety one, and where the expensive option isn’t automatically the better one.

Here’s what to look for, what our readers did, and what to check before you pay.

When our readers bought theirs 1,257 votes

66%: during pregnancy
19%: before pregnancy
11%: after giving birth

Most buy during pregnancy, which is sensible. Delivery and assembly aren’t things you want to be arranging in week one. Aim to have it built by around 36 weeks.

Cot safety

Almost everything about safe infant sleep comes down to a firm, flat surface with nothing else on it.

The mattress must fit tightly. No gaps at the edges. If you can fit two fingers between the mattress and the frame, the gap is too big.
Firm and flat. Not memory foam, not soft, not tilted.
Nothing else in the cot: no bumpers, pillows, duvets, positioners or soft toys. Bumpers in particular are still widely sold here and aren’t recommended.
Slats no more than about 6cm apart, so a head can’t fit through.
Baby on her back, every sleep.
A sleep sack instead of a blanket keeps her warm with nothing loose near her face.

If you’re buying secondhand or inheriting one, this is where to be careful: check it hasn’t been recalled, that all fittings are present and tight, and buy a new mattress regardless. A mattress that fitted the previous frame may not fit yours.

Which type


Type	Worth it when	Watch out for
Bedside / side-car crib	The first six months, when guidance is to room-share. One side drops so you can reach the baby without getting up, much easier for night feeds and after a caesarean.	Outgrown quickly, usually around six months. Check it straps securely to your bed frame.
Standard cot	The default. Lasts to around two or three.	Check the mattress height is adjustable: you want it high for a newborn and low once she can pull up.
Cot bed (converts to a toddler bed)	If you want one purchase to last to four or five.	Often needs a conversion kit sold separately. Ask before buying.
Travel cot / playpen	Grandparents’ place, holidays, and a second daytime sleep spot.	The mattresses are thin. Fine for occasional use, not ideal as the only cot.

For a Singapore flat, measure the room before you fall in love with anything. A cot that fits the space with the door still opening properly beats a beautiful one you have to shuffle around.

The yao lan question

“Do you still use yao lan / spring cots / baby hammocks?” 797 votes: 69% said no, 29% said yes.

Still used in roughly three in ten households, and often a point of friction with grandparents who used one for their own children.

The safety concern is real: sleep surfaces that are curved, soft or inclined can allow a young baby’s chin to fall towards her chest and restrict her airway, and a hammock isn’t flat. Current safe-sleep guidance everywhere is a firm, flat surface. If a yao lan is used, it should be for supervised naps, not unsupervised night sleep, and that distinction is usually enough to satisfy everyone.

How long they stay in it

“Should your child be transitioning out of the crib after two?” 778 votes: 70% said yes, 19% said it depends, 12% said no.

The usual signals are climbing out, or being taller than about 90cm. A child who can climb out of a cot is safer in a bed. There’s no prize for moving early, and no shame in a three-year-old still happily in a cot.

What you can skip

Cot bumpers: not recommended, and sold anyway
Pillows and duvets: not before around 12 months at the earliest
Sleep positioners and wedges
Cot mobiles: pleasant, not necessary, and they need removing once she can reach
A top-of-the-range mattress. Firm and well-fitting matters. Expensive doesn’t.

Frequently asked questions

When should I buy a baby cot?

During pregnancy, which is what 66% of the readers we asked did. Aim to have it delivered and assembled by around 36 weeks. You don’t want to be arranging delivery and construction in the first week home.

What makes a cot safe?

A firm, flat mattress that fits the frame tightly with no gaps at the edges, slats no more than about 6cm apart, and nothing else inside: no bumpers, pillows, duvets, positioners or soft toys. Baby sleeps on her back, and a sleep sack replaces a blanket.

Is a secondhand cot safe?

It can be, with checks. Confirm the model hasn’t been recalled, make sure every fitting is present and tight, and buy a new mattress instead of reusing the old one. A mattress that fitted a different frame may leave gaps in yours.

Are yao lan or baby hammocks safe?

They’re still used in about three in ten households, but they aren’t a flat surface, and current safe-sleep guidance is a firm flat one. A curved or inclined surface can let a young baby’s chin drop towards her chest and restrict her airway. If one is used, keep it to supervised naps, not unsupervised night sleep.

When should a toddler move out of a cot?

Usually when they start climbing out or are taller than about 90cm. A child who can climb out is safer in a bed. Seven in ten readers thought after two was right, but there’s no advantage to moving early.

Do I need a bedside crib as well as a cot?

Not necessarily, but many find one worth it. Guidance is to room-share for the first six months, and a bedside crib with a drop-down side makes night feeds much easier, particularly after a caesarean. It’ll be outgrown at around six months, so it’s a convenience purchase, not an essential.

The main points

Buy during pregnancy and have it built by 36 weeks. Firm flat mattress, tight fit, nothing else in the cot. Skip the bumpers.

If a yao lan is in the picture, keep it to supervised naps. And spend on a mattress that fits properly instead of one that costs a lot.