Sleep Products FAQ

Do your sleep products comply with the September 2026 sleep requirements in the EYFS?

Our Cots, Dream Coracle and Rest Mats provide a flat, firm, and waterproof sleep surface as specified by the EYFS, and are safe and appropriate for children in their recommended age ranges.

• Cots for ages 0-18 months.
• Rest Mats for ages 1-5 years.
• Dream Coracle for ages 6-20 months*

*Please note that regulators of early years settings in some countries may not permit use of floor beds below a certain age; purchasers are responsible for regulatory compliance in their use. For England, the EYFS requires that “Babies aged 12 months and under must only be placed to sleep in a cot” and the Department for Education has said this does not include floor beds.

What standards do your products comply with?

Our sleep products fully comply with the following applicable standards:

• All Cots: BS EN 716-1:2017
• All mattresses (Cot, Dream Coracle and Rest Mat): BS EN 16890:2017+A1:2021
• Cot and Dream Coracle mattresses: BS 7177:2008+A1:2011 for Medium Hazard
• Dream Coracle: BS 8509:2008+A1:2011 – Children’s beds

Additional assessment for the Dream Coracle

As the Dream Coracle is an innovative product that does not fit neatly into a single category, it has also been independently assessed and fully complies with a bespoke test protocol for “Baby beds for day-care centres”. For additional information on the Dream Coracle, see the supplemental product guide.

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, omitted, or from a previous version of the standard. This does not affect compliance or indicate a different standard.

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.

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.”

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.

Read more about the cot mattress 

Do you have any written evidence, statement, or wording that settings can share with parents, consultants, or inspectors to support the use of your Dream Coracle?

Please see the Dream Coracle Supplemental Product Guide