Buying a Secondhand Cot in Australia: Safety Checklist

Quick summary A secondhand cot is worth buying only if it passes an in-person check: not recalled, bars no more than 95mm apart, a tight-fitting mattress (20mm gap is a conservative check), a secure drop-side lock, all parts and instructions present. Bassinets and cradles now have their own mandatory standard too. If you can't confirm a cot or bassinet is safe, don't buy it. Dressers, chairs and storage are much lower risk.

Buying a secondhand cot can save money, but safety matters more than appearance. A baby sleeps in a cot unsupervised, so small design details, such as gaps between bars, a poorly fitting mattress or a drop side that doesn't lock, can create serious risks. Scuffs and faded paint matter far less than whether the cot meets safety requirements.

That doesn't mean secondhand nursery furniture is off the table. Some used cots may be suitable if carefully checked, while dressers, nursing chairs and storage can be practical secondhand buys. This guide covers what to measure, how to check for recalls and what to look for when buying nursery furniture in Melbourne.

Why cots are different from other secondhand furniture

Most furniture risks are about durability or hygiene. Cots are about entrapment, strangulation and suffocation. According to Product Safety Australia, two mandatory standards for infant sleep products began applying to suppliers on 19 January 2026. They cover household cots, portable folding cots, bassinets, cradles and similar products, with product-specific requirements for each, plus the safety warnings and instructions that must come with them.

Here's the catch for secondhand buyers. The same page lists second-hand goods (other than those imported into Australia) among the products the standards don't apply to. So a secondhand cot doesn't come with the same built-in assurance as a new one. The checking falls to you.

Are secondhand cots legal to sell?

The rules depend on how a cot is supplied, and they're easy to over-simplify. Product Safety Australia's supplier guidance says the infant sleep safety standard doesn't apply to second-hand goods, other than second-hand goods imported into Australia or antique and collectable cots. It doesn't spell out how that applies to private sellers compared with businesses.

WA Consumer Protection is more direct: it says a second-hand cot may not meet current Australian safety standards, that it is illegal for retail stores or online businesses to sell a product that fails mandatory safety standards, and that non-compliant cots should never be passed on or sold. If you're buying or selling a cot in Melbourne, check the current requirements with the ACCC and Consumer Affairs Victoria rather than assuming an older cot is exempt. If a cot can't be confirmed safe, don't use it for infant sleep.

The in-person cot checklist

Product Safety Australia's household cots guide says to check, before buying or borrowing a second-hand cot, that it hasn't been recalled, meets current mandatory standards, has all parts in good working order, and comes with its assembly and use instructions. In practice, take a tape measure and run through this:

Measurements per WA Consumer Protection's second-hand cot guidance, except the protrusion note.

Then use your eyes and hands:

• Recall check. Search the model on the recalls database before you travel. Here's how to check whether a cot has been recalled in Australia.
• Drop sides. Product Safety Australia says drop sides need a clearly distinct, secure locked position. If it feels loose or the lock is missing, walk away.
• Surfaces and edges. No sharp edges, splinters, or flaking paint where a baby will chew or grab.
• Missing parts. Replacement bolts that aren't the original are a red flag.
• Instructions. Ask for them. No instructions usually means a seller who isn't sure how it's meant to be assembled.
• Brand, model and label. Photograph the safety label and note the exact model so you can check recalls and ask questions. A label or an intact-looking cot isn't, by itself, proof it's safe.

If you aren't confident it meets the standard, Product Safety Australia's advice is simple: don't buy it. A cot that looks old-fashioned or antique should never be used to put a baby in.

The mattress matters as much as the cot

The cot can be perfect and still be unsafe with the wrong mattress. Product Safety Australia says to use only the mattress size and thickness designed for that cot, and that a mattress should fit snug and flat within the cot, bassinet or cradle. Product Safety Australia's supplier guidance allows a gap of up to 20mm if the mattress is centred, or 40mm if it's pushed against one side or end. Treat 20mm as a conservative screening check at the door, and don't buy a mattress that leaves obvious gaps. Soft, sagging or damp-smelling mattresses are a no. Our guide to secondhand mattress safety in Melbourne covers adult mattresses, which have different considerations, so don't treat it as a cot mattress checklist.

Bassinets, cradles and portable cots

Bassinets and cradles are no longer a "no standard" category. Product Safety Australia states that they have a mandatory standard, and recommends looking for the safety warning statements when buying. Portable folding cots are covered too, and the ACCC publishes separate guides for each product type.

For a secondhand bassinet or portable cot, apply the same logic. A visual inspection alone doesn't prove it's safe: check for recalls, confirm the warnings and instructions are present, make sure the base is flat and firm, check that stands and folding mechanisms lock fully, and test that nothing wobbles. Baby sleeps in them for months, so a tired locking mechanism is a reason to pass.

Keep the cot clear: what goes in matters

Once you have a safe cot, set it up properly. Product Safety Australia's guide says to place baby on their back on a flat, firm, level surface, keep the cot clear of blinds, curtain cords, heaters and mobiles, and avoid extra mattresses, padding, pillows, bumpers and folded quilts. It also says to lower the mattress as soon as the child can sit, pull or stand. For wider safe sleep advice, Red Nose has a dedicated hub at rednose.org.au.

Nursery furniture that's an easy secondhand win

The good news: most of the nursery isn't a cot.

• Dressers and drawers. Solid timber chests of drawers are often better built than flatpack. Check the runners, and wall-anchor every tall piece. Product Safety Australia calls securing furniture to the wall or floor the best way to prevent tipping, and says this applies to furniture you've bought second-hand too. Our secondhand kids' furniture safety guide covers tipping risk in detail.
• Change tables. Check stability and that any rails or straps are intact and working before you buy.
• Rocking chairs and nursing chairs. Check the frame for cracks and loose joints, and sit in it for a minute.
• Bookshelves and toy storage. Low and open is ideal; secure anything tall.
• Rugs, lamps, baskets. Low risk, just clean them first.

Anything second-hand that comes into the nursery should be cleaned thoroughly. Our guide to cleaning secondhand furniture before bringing it home walks through it.

Where to Buy Secondhand Nursery Furniture in Melbourne

Browse the Kids Furniture category for nursery pieces across Melbourne, or check nearby suburb pages such as Moorabbin to see what's close to home. Message the seller early with specific questions: brand, model, whether instructions are included, and whether it's ever been recalled. A seller who answers clearly is usually a good sign. For the other side of the transaction, see how to write a secondhand furniture listing that gets replies.

Selling a cot or nursery furniture

If you're clearing out after your little one has outgrown the nursery, list the dressers, chairs and storage freely. For cots and bassinets, be conservative. Include the brand and model, photograph the safety label if there is one, keep the instructions with it, and only list it if it's in full working order and you're confident it meets current requirements. If you're selling as a business, confirm your obligations with the ACCC first. If it doesn't, don't sell or pass it on. WA Consumer Protection says ideally it should be destroyed.

The bottom line

Buy the dresser, the chair and the shelves without losing sleep. For a cot or bassinet, bring a tape measure, check for recalls, and be ready to walk away. A few minutes at the door is cheap compared with the alternative.

Ready to clear out the nursery? List your nursery furniture on Zirkly and connect with local Melbourne families who are looking for it.