RUSSELL CROWE - RUSSELL CROWE'S COT CONUNDRUM

New dad RUSSELL CROWE has hit his first parenting stumbling block - he couldn't put together his son's cot.

The MASTER AND COMMANDER star spent almost a day trying to put up the tot's bed - bought from Swedish superstore IKEA - and eventually had to call in pals to help.

Russell admits, "The key thingy was impossible to use. I just got frustrated because I couldn't put the damn thing together."

A friend adds, "Russell is actually a pretty handy guy, but he reckons the instructions were all over the place."

Australian hardman Russell's wife DANIELLE gave birth to baby CHARLES SPENCER on Sunday night (21DEC03).