Your guide to nursery setup - building guidance for Adelaide and South Australia.
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
The main nursery sleep space
Bassinet
Newborn months before moving to the cot
Convertible cot
Parents wanting one bed for the long run
Read time
Including FAQ and supplier shortlist.
Key takeaways
Plain practical advice for Australian builds. No fluff.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“Follow Red Nose safe sleep, with no pillows or soft items in the cot for year one”
George Giannakakis
Founder
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 |
A full-size cot to AS/NZS 2172 with a height-adjustable base.
Typical cost: $250 to $900 (cot), $90 to $250 (mattress)
Pros
Cons
Best for: The main nursery sleep space
A small, portable sleep space for the first few months.
Typical cost: $120 to $400
Pros
Cons
Best for: Newborn months before moving to the cot
A cot that converts to a toddler bed as the child grows.
Typical cost: $450 to $1,200
Pros
Cons
Best for: Parents wanting one bed for the long run
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.
All our bedroom & sleep guides in one place.
A moving-in checklist for the main bedroom: mattress, bedding, blackout, airflow and cleaning.
Every Australian mattress size with exact dimensions and the room each one needs.
Turn a spare room into a comfortable guest room on a budget, from mattress to bedside basics.
Sponsored · why?
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.
From Ergoflex
Mattresses
Ergoflex Mattress - Double Memory Foam Mattress
Mattress Protectors
Ergoflex Protector - Double Mattress Protector
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Ergoflex Protector - King Mattress Protector
Mattresses
Ergoflex Mattress - King Single Memory Foam Mattress
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Ergoflex Protector - King Single Mattress Protector
Mattresses
Ergoflex Mattress - Long Single Memory Foam Mattress
Mattress Protectors
Ergoflex Protector - Long Single Mattress Protector
Pillows
The Ergoflex Pillow - Memory Foam Pillow
Mattresses
Ergoflex Mattress - Queen Memory Foam Mattress
Mattress Protectors
Ergoflex Protector - Queen Mattress Protector
Mattresses
Ergoflex Mattress - Single Memory Foam Mattress
Mattress Protectors
Ergoflex Protector - Single Mattress Protector
From ECOVACS
DEEBOT Robot vacuums and mops
DEEBOT N20 Black Robot Vacuum & Mop with Mapping (Anti-Tangle, Voice Control, App)
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DEEBOT T30S PRO White Robot Vacuum & Mop with AI (Mapping, Anti-Tangle, Edge)
DEEBOT Robot vacuums and mops
DEEBOT N20 PLUS Black Robot Vacuum & Mop with Mapping (Anti-Tangle, Self-Empty, Pet)
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