Cot mobiles: placement and Australian safety guidance

A nursery mobile can be a decorative addition to a room, but its position matters. Keep decorative mobiles away from the cot and out of children’s reach. They are not objects for a baby to pull, hold or mouth.

Red Nose’s safe-nursery guidance advises against mobiles or bunting over or near the cot. The ACCC also identifies decorative mobiles within a child’s reach as a cot hazard. Do not use a mobile as a reason to leave a baby unattended, and do not treat a fixed distance from the baby’s face as proof of safe placement.

Follow the exact product’s installation, use and removal instructions. Do not improvise attachments or modify the cot. If a mobile, its strings or its parts could become reachable, remove it from that location. A music or light feature does not make an unsafe setup safe.

For current Australian advice, read Red Nose’s safe-nursery guide and the ACCC’s household cots guide.

The previous shopping recommendations and testimonials have been removed while their placement advice, product details and Australian suitability are reviewed. This page received a limited safety correction on 15 October 2026; the complete editorial refresh is still being prepared.