Sleep Products FAQ
Supporting our customers in protecting the children in their care is central to everything we do at Community Playthings. New guidance from the Department for Education in response to the Campaign for Gigi has prompted important discussion around how we provide the highest standard of care for our youngest children. To help you navigate this evolving guidance, we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions from our customers. Please contact your account manager if you have any further questions or would like clarification on any of the information provided.
Do your sleep products comply with the new EYFS safer sleep guidance from the DfE, and recommendations from the Lullaby Trust?
Yes. Our Cots, Coracle and Rest Mats provide a flat, firm, and waterproof sleep surface as specified by the DfE guidance and as recommended by the NHS and Lullaby Trust, and are safe and appropriate for children in their recommended age ranges.
What age ranges of children are your products suitable for?
We recommend the Cots for ages 0-18 months, the Coracle for ages 6-20 months and Rest Mats for ages1-5 years.
Do you plan to change the age recommendations for your products in light of the new guidance?
No. We have reviewed our age recommendations and do not plan to change them at this point. We are confident that our products are safe and appropriate for their recommended ages and that they meet EYFS requirements and the expectations of the DfE.
What standards do your products comply with?
Our sleep products comply with the following applicable standards:
- All Cots: BS EN 716-1 & 2:2017
- All mattresses (Cot, Coracle and Rest Mat): BS EN 16890:2017+A1:2021
- Cot and Coracle mattresses: BS 7177:2008+A1:2011 for Medium Hazard
- Coracle: BS 8509:2008+A1:2011 – Children’s beds
Additional assessment for the Coracle
As the Coracle is an innovative product that does not fit neatly into a single category, it has also been independently assessed using a bespoke test protocol for “Baby beds for day-care centres”. This included relevant requirements from:
- BS EN 716-1 & 2
- BS EN 1466
- BS EN 1130
About standard references
Standards are periodically reviewed or updated, which is indicated with a year reference (for example, BS EN 16890:2017) or amendment reference (such as +A1:2021). In some places, these references may be shortened or omitted. This does not affect compliance or indicate a different standard.
Note regarding recent DfE guidance
The DfE guidance states that:
This list [of standards] is provided for reference, you must ensure you are satisfied that your sleeping arrangements meet the EYFS requirements. The Department for Education does not offer advice on specific products to use. Providers must ensure their arrangements and spaces for sleep meet the EYFS requirements. Providers must also take into account the individual needs of each child in their care.
The DfE has referenced both the current and a withdrawn version of BS EN 1466. This standard relates to carry cots. Community Playthings does not manufacture carry cots, so this standard is not generally applicable to our products.
Are standards mandatory?
No. For the most part, standards are voluntary. However, they are a useful and accepted way of demonstrating compliance with product safety legislation. The DfE guidance states that “Providers may find it useful to check whether products meet the relevant British Safety Standards” but it does not mandate conformity with any particular standard.
What is the difference between a “BS” and an “EN” standard?
Some standards exist only as British Standards (BS), such as BS 7177 and BS 8509, and were developed by the British Standards Institution (BSI). However, most childcare product standards are now developed at European level by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and first published as EN standards. The UK then adopts these as British Standards, adding the BS EN prefix, and withdraws any conflicting older BS standards.
Are your products tested by a third party?
Yes. All our products are third-party tested to the most relevant standard by an accredited laboratory.
The number of the standard listed on an old sleep product I purchased a long time ago does not match the current standard number. Does it still comply with the current standard?
We can confirm that all our products, when produced, complied with the version of the relevant standard current
at the time. We cannot say definitively whether our old-style products would comply with the current versions of
the standards.
Prior to July 2019, our products were sold with a 10-year warranty so products would have been produced with a
minimum of a 10-year life expectancy. Since July 2019, the warranty has been 15 years. However, the important
thing is to carefully inspect your aging sleep products to make sure they are still in good working order.
How often should we replace cot mattresses?
The safest mattresses for babies are firm and flat and protected by a waterproof cover. If any of these features
are compromised, or the mattress is no longer in good condition, the safety of the baby may be compromised and
therefore the mattress should be replaced.
Some mattresses, if well maintained, will be suitable for many years but we cannot make a recommendation of how
often to replace mattresses as the use scenarios can be so varied.
For example, if the mattress cover is cracked or ripped making it no longer waterproof, or if the surface has
permanent indentation or sagging, the mattress should be replaced.
How might the DfE’s current definition of “cot” affect settings that use Coracles as their main sleep provision?
There was no definition of a cot in the original DfE guidance. However, in the update on 20 April 2026, the DfE broadened the definition of “cot” to include carrycots, Moses Baskets and travel cots and also clarified this in their answers to frequently asked questions. Our Coracle fits comfortably within this broader category.
Do you have any written evidence, statement, or wording that settings can share with parents, consultants, or inspectors to support the use of your sleep products?
Yes: “Community Playthings welcomes the Government’s steps to update the EYFS guidance on sleep safety. Our
Cots, Coracle and Rest Mats create a flat, firm, and waterproof surface as specified by the guidance and are
safe and appropriate for their recommended ages. Our sleep products comply with the relevant standards as
referenced by DfE, and we are confident that they meet EYFS requirements.”
See also the product-specific Declarations of Conformity under “Product support” on the relevant product pages
of our website.
