Most new parents learn about parenting from Google. We wade through copious amounts of expert advice and parent testimonials, only to find ourselves more confused than when we started. This is particularly true for drop side cots.
So a drop side cot is a cot where one side lowers.
Australia is a world leader when it comes to safety in children’s products. The Australian Standard (AS/NZS 2172:2010) for cots is a strict standard for creating safer cots for our children. The Australian Standard has comprehensive regulations to ensure a safe drop side cot.
A drop side cot is safe and can have great benefits for parents.
The safest and most convenient drop side is a single hand drop side – not a trigger or pin mechanism.
Watch our video from our engineering team about the benefits to your health and well-being of a good quality, smooth single hand drop side cot.
If you have any questions feel free to email us at sales@babyhood.com.au or call us (07) 3208 3555.
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What the drop side actually changes
Lifting a baby out of a cot is not one movement, it is a sequence. You lean over a fixed rail, reach down past it, take the weight of your baby at arm’s length, then straighten up while holding that weight away from your body. The further the rail is from you and the lower your baby sits, the more of that load your lower back carries.
Dropping the side removes the barrier you have to reach over. You get closer to your baby before you take their weight, which keeps the load nearer your centre of gravity and takes the bend out of the movement.
Who feels the difference most
Four groups notice it immediately.
Anyone recovering from a caesarean. Bending forward and lifting from a stretch pulls directly on the abdominal wall at exactly the point you have been told to protect. This is the situation a drop side was designed for.
Anyone with existing back or shoulder trouble. A newborn weighs little, but you are lifting them six or more times a day, every day, often at night when you are tired and not thinking about technique.
Shorter parents. If the cot rail sits near your chest, you are lifting with your arms fully extended and no leverage. Lowering the side changes that geometry completely.
Anyone with a shoulder, wrist or mobility limitation. A one handed mechanism means you can hold your baby, or steady yourself, with the other hand.
Why the mechanism matters more than the feature
A drop side is only worth having if it works smoothly every time and locks securely when it is up. That is why the mechanism is worth more attention than the feature on a spec sheet.
Look for a side that releases with one hand, so your other hand is free for your baby. Look for a lock that engages positively rather than one you have to check by feel. Test the action several times in the showroom, because a mechanism that is stiff when new does not loosen with use, it wears.
Return the side to the raised and locked position every time you walk away, even briefly, and check the lock has engaged rather than assuming it. If the side ever moves when it should be secured, stop using the drop function and contact the manufacturer.
Are drop side cots safe?
Yes, when the cot meets the current Australian requirements. From 19 January 2026, household cots sold here must meet the Consumer Goods (Infant Sleep Products) Safety Standard 2024, which can be met through AS/NZS 2172:2013 or an accepted overseas equivalent. That assessment covers the strength and durability of moving parts, along with gaps, stability and side height.
Modern single hand designs are not the drop sides that were withdrawn overseas years ago, which used a different mechanism. We cover this in full in are drop side cots safe.
Setting the cot up properly
Two things matter alongside the drop side. Use the mattress specified for the cot, at the size and depth in the manual, and check the fit. Red Nose Australia advises no more than a 20mm gap between the mattress and the sides, which is about two adult finger widths.
Then drop the base as your baby grows. Lower it as soon as they can sit unaided, and to the lowest setting once they can pull up to standing. If you are comparing models, our guide to the best baby cot options sets out how they differ.
The rest of the nursery
If your baby will start beside your bed, our guide covers whether you need one and how a round bassinet compares with other shapes, and you can browse the bassinets and cradles range.
The same thinking about your back applies to the pram, where weight and one handed handling matter every day. Our guide to choosing a single pram covers what to compare, and the full prams and strollers range is here.
