This is to prevent your baby's fingers becoming trapped. This is to prevent your baby being able to climb up and fall out of the cot. To prevent the cot from moving, if four legs are fitted with wheels or castors, at least two must have brakes. If not remove two of the wheels, or castors. This is to prevent your baby opening the catches and being injured.
Lead paint can be toxic.
When babies are teething they may chew the cot bars and swallow the lead paint. If you have a second hand cot and can't be sure if the paint contains lead, strip the cot and repaint it with a lead free paint. For further information check with your paint shop. To prevent your baby becoming trapped between the mattress and the cot frame, make sure the mattress fits snugly. There should be no more than a 2.5cm space between the mattress and the cot frame.