What cot safety standard applies in Australia?

New household cots sold in Australia must meet the mandatory standard AS/NZS 2172, which covers bar spacing, base strength and the absence of footholds. Check for a compliance label and avoid older drop-side cots.

How firm should a cot mattress be?

Firm and flat. A baby should not sink into it, and it should spring back quickly. It must fit the cot snugly with no more than about a 20mm to 30mm gap around the edges to prevent wedging.

What bedding does a newborn cot need?

Keep it minimal: a correctly fitted sheet and a safe infant sleeping bag. Red Nose guidance is no pillows, bumpers, soft toys or loose bedding in the first year.

What temperature should a nursery be?

Aim for roughly 18 to 22 degrees. Use a room thermometer and adjust the sleeping bag tog rather than adding loose blankets.

Nursery Setup

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Nursery Setup

Your guide to nursery setup - building guidance for Adelaide and South Australia.

BPBuildPilot Editorial3 min readLast updated Feb 2026

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Content scope

This guide has been reviewed for South Australia (Adelaide metro + regional SA). Building licensing, warranty, stamp duty and approval rules differ in other Australian states — verify against your local authority before acting.

Setting up a nursery in a new home is equal parts exciting and overwhelming. The good news is that the essentials are few, and most of the spend that actually matters is about safe sleep, not decor. This checklist covers the decisions that affect a baby's safety and sleep in an Australian nursery: choosing a cot and a firm, correctly fitting mattress, meeting the relevant safety standards, controlling light and temperature, and keeping the room clean. Costs below are 2025 and 2026 Australian pricing.

At a glance

Standard cot

$250 to $900

The main nursery sleep space

Bassinet

$120 to $400

Newborn months before moving to the cot

Convertible cot

$450 to $1,200

Parents wanting one bed for the long run

Read time

3 min

Including FAQ and supplier shortlist.

Key takeaways

Spend on safety first: a compliant cot and a firm, correctly fitting mattress
Follow Red Nose safe sleep, with no pillows or soft items in the cot for year one
Blockout blinds and a steady 18 to 22 degrees help day sleeps
Clear construction dust before a newborn moves into a new-build nursery

Things to consider before you choose

Plain practical advice for Australian builds. No fluff.

Cot that meets AS/NZS 2172

In Australia a new cot must comply with the mandatory standard AS/NZS 2172. Check the bar spacing (50mm to 95mm), that there are no footholds, and that the mattress base is sturdy and adjustable in height. Avoid second-hand cots that predate the current standard or have drop-sides.

Firm, correctly fitting mattress

A nursery mattress must be firm and flat, and fit the cot with no more than a 20mm to 30mm gap around the edges so a baby cannot wedge into a space. Firmness matters for safe sleep. A snug, firm cot mattress with a waterproof, breathable protector is the single most important buy in the room.

Safe sleep setup

Follow Red Nose safe sleep guidance: baby on the back, feet to the foot of the cot, no pillows, bumpers, soft toys or loose bedding in the first year. A fitted sheet and a safe infant sleeping bag are all the bedding you need, which also keeps the shopping list short.

Light and temperature control

Blockout blinds or lined curtains help day sleeps and early mornings. Keep the room between about 18 and 22 degrees. In a new, un-shaded estate home a ceiling fan on low helps air movement, and a simple room thermometer takes the guesswork out of layering the sleeping bag.

Storage and the change zone

A low chest with a change mat on top saves buying a separate change table and gives years of use afterwards. Keep nappies, wipes and spare clothes within one arm's reach of the change zone so a baby is never left unattended while you fetch something.

A clean room before baby arrives

New builds shed fine construction dust for weeks, which is worth clearing before a newborn moves in. Give carpets, skirtings and robe tracks a thorough vacuum, and a scheduled robot vacuum keeps the floor clean day to day without you having to drag a vacuum out during nap times.

Types of nursery setup

Quick compare

	Standard cot	Bassinet	Convertible cot
Typical cost	$250 to $900 (cot), $90 to $250 (mattress)	$120 to $400	$450 to $1,200
Best for	The main nursery sleep space	Newborn months before moving to the cot	Parents wanting one bed for the long run

Standard cot

A full-size cot to AS/NZS 2172 with a height-adjustable base.

Typical cost: $250 to $900 (cot), $90 to $250 (mattress)

Pros

• Meets the mandatory safety standard
• Lasts to toddler years if convertible

Cons

• Takes floor space
• Needs a correctly fitting firm mattress

Best for: The main nursery sleep space

Bassinet

A small, portable sleep space for the first few months.

Typical cost: $120 to $400

Pros

• Compact, fits beside the bed
• Easy to move around the home

Cons

• Outgrown by around four to six months
• Firm, fitted mattress still required

Best for: Newborn months before moving to the cot

Convertible cot

A cot that converts to a toddler bed as the child grows.

Typical cost: $450 to $1,200

Pros

• Longer useful life
• One purchase spans several years

Cons

• Higher upfront cost
• Conversion kit sometimes sold separately

Best for: Parents wanting one bed for the long run

How much does it cost in Australia?

A safe, functional nursery comes together for roughly $900 to $2,500. The core safe-sleep items are modest: a compliant cot ($250 to $900), a firm fitted cot mattress ($90 to $250) and a waterproof protector ($40 to $90). The rest is storage and comfort: a chest with a change mat ($250 to $700), blockout blinds ($120 to $350 per window), a feeding chair ($200 to $800) and sundries. Spend where safety lives, the cot and mattress, and keep decor cheap and swappable. Buying the mattress and protector direct from a maker with clear firmness specs is usually better value than a bundled nursery package.

Common mistakes to avoid

Using a second-hand cot that predates AS/NZS 2172 or has drop-sides
A cot mattress that leaves a wide gap at the edges
Adding pillows, bumpers or soft toys to the cot in the first year
Leaving the window bare so early light cuts day sleeps short
Setting up before clearing weeks of fine construction dust

More on bedroom & sleep

Bedroom & Sleep hub

All our bedroom & sleep guides in one place.

Browse the hub

Setting up your bedroom

A moving-in checklist for the main bedroom: mattress, bedding, blackout, airflow and cleaning.

Read the checklist

Mattress sizing guide

Every Australian mattress size with exact dimensions and the room each one needs.

Compare sizes

Guest room setup

Turn a spare room into a comfortable guest room on a budget, from mattress to bedside basics.

Set up the room

Sponsored · why?

Products we've matched for this project

If you're tackling parts of this yourself, here's the practical gear owners reach for. You buy direct from the supplier at their price.

Suggested by BuildPilot suppliers

Mattress Protectors

Ergoflex Protector - Double Mattress Protector

Nursery Setup

Nursery Setup

Things to consider before you choose

Cot that meets AS/NZS 2172

Firm, correctly fitting mattress

Safe sleep setup

Light and temperature control

Storage and the change zone

A clean room before baby arrives

Types of nursery setup

Standard cot

Bassinet

Convertible cot

How much does it cost in Australia?

Common mistakes to avoid

More on bedroom & sleep

Trades who work with nursery setup

Popular questions

More from BuildPilot Learn

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Suppliers we trust for nursery setup

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