How to choose the right mattress

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'Don't choose anything too soft and for ease find one with a washable cover.'
Gail Johnson, Royal College of Midwives

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Babies spend up to 70% of their time on their cot mattress so it's worth putting in a bit of thought when choosing one.

The most important thing to make sure of is that it fits exactly with no gaps around the edges so there's no risk of the baby getting stuck.

If you can put two fingers between the edge of the cot and the mattress then it doesn't fit properly and it could be a safety hazard.

There are so many choices of mattresses around: sometimes the mattress will come with the cot, other times it won't and you'll have to buy something new and they vary hugely in price.

Mattresses can be made of foam, springs, or organic and natural fibres and be anti-allergenic and anti-dustmite, it's simply a matter of how much you want to spend and whether you want a basic mattress (foam cot mattresses start at about £20), or something a bit more advanced.

If you're worried about allergies and dust mites, PurFlo mattresses are washable, hollow and foam-free. They also have an outer layer that protects against dust mites and are recommended by Allergy UK.

Prices start at £107.61 for a cot mattress. If you're worried about the environment and want something very natural for your baby, then you could splash out on an organic version for around £90.

By Louise O'Connell and Anna Penniceard