Hi, I’m expecting my first baby in November and have been reading about safe sleeping. We have a lovely pet cat and have read cats should be kept away from sleeping infants. We will try to do this but cats can be sneaky and I’m worried I might accidentally let the cat in the room where baby is sleeping. We’ve bought a mosquito net for the cot which has a tent like structure. We’ve been looking at nets for a bassinet. Do you have any recommendations re cats and mosquito nets?

Some concern has been expressed about safety when using mosquito nets/canopies
The main concern about the use of mosquito nets is the risk of baby pulling it down & become entangled in the netting.

Some cats have been known to jump into the bassinet or cot to be close to baby. This may risk baby’s head & face being covered.
Maybe it might be helpful to chat with a vet about how to manage a cat (or dog) with a new baby, & your concern of having cat access to baby’s cot/bassinet.
I also know that some people have installed a screen door on a baby’s bedroom to reduce the risk of a cat having access to baby’ in the cot or bassinet.

As with all products on the market, Red Nose asks parents to think about the following in relation to products.

Not all products designed for babies are safe. They often attract parents with the promise of making sleeping, teething or carrying easier.
But without safety regulations or proper use guidelines, they could cause a serious incident.
https://rednose.org.au/article/baby-products-you-dont-need

It is often assumed that all nursery products sold in retail stores must be safe, however many products have never been formally tested so it can be difficult to tell what is safe for your child.

Parents need to assess:

1. Is the product I am thinking of buying/using safe for my baby especially during sleep?

2. What are the potential benefits of using this product and what are the potential hazards?

3. Am I using the product in a safe way?

4. What is my baby/infant doing in this product, and does this create any potential hazards?
https://rednose.org.au/article/baby-safe-sleeping-products

We put a baby gate on the bedroom door so our cat can’t get into the room,  she hasn’t figured out how to jump over it.