Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to use siblings cot mattress for new baby?

25 replies

wonderingifiam2013 · 21/08/2013 10:43

I keep reading warning advice (mainly from baby companies that sell mattresses!) about how you shouldn't use an old mattress for a new baby.

We are moving toddler out of cot imminently so that when new baby arrives it can use said cot. Therefore the mattress is only 2 years old and in very good condition.

I will remove cover and wash it of course.

Is it as dangerous as they make out and should I really buy a new one? Or is it ok for siblings to use the same mattress?

This one cost around £80 so I'm just trying to save us some money but of course will buy a new one if you all agree the warnings are there for health reasons

Thanks in advance

OP posts:
Kyrptonite · 21/08/2013 10:44

We did it. The only reason I'm buying a new one this time is that we thought we were done so offloaded all of the baby stuff!

hettienne · 21/08/2013 10:47

I think the link between old mattresses and SIDS was pretty weak anyway. I've read advice that if the mattress was stored well, hasn't got damp or mouldy etc it's fine. Is it a wipe clean one?

jerryfudd · 21/08/2013 10:50

Having already forked out for two (twins) there was no way I buying a third 21 months later for next one

Ablababla · 21/08/2013 10:51

I spent £120 on an entirely organic cot mattress in a fit of pfb madness, so no way was I not reusing it! I think as long as you know the history and have stored it properly it will be fine. I did have a wobble and got a protective sheet for it as well because no part of mine was washable.

MrsLouisTheroux · 21/08/2013 10:54

If you buy a second hand matress you have no way of knowing how clean it is so best to buy new. My DC's cot and matress were used by other family members after my DC. If its not been left out in the back garden in between babies I think it's fine. Grin

ubik · 21/08/2013 10:58

All three of mine had the same mattress. Why on earth should you change it?

FrancesHouseman · 21/08/2013 10:59

I did it. I even used a moses basket mattress that was used by a friend's child before mine!

Ilanthe · 21/08/2013 11:02

I've just washed the cover on ours in preparation for DS2 moving into the cot. DS1 only moved out of the cot bed last week so it has never been in storage. It was a ridiculous amount of money and is spotless so I thought it was madness to bin it.

I have bought new sheets but that was because they were worn out from 3 years of washing at 60 degrees.

paperclipsarebetterthanstaples · 21/08/2013 11:05

I would use it. I used to think all babies should have brand New till DS was in nicu then in childrens hospital - the mattresses there were like old caravan cushions with a sheet on...

TarkaTheOtter · 21/08/2013 11:06

I'm in the exact same position so this thread is very reassuring. My dd has never wee'd, pooed or even puked (not a sicky baby) on hers so it seems ridiculous to throw it out but don't want to take any chances. It'll only be 2 years old.

BeingMoreDog · 21/08/2013 11:24

Same as abla, although we didn't bother with a protective cover. There's only 22 months between them, and it hadn't been stored anywhere damp or mouldy.

ElBombero · 21/08/2013 11:28

I'm also planning to reuse mine, it has never been stored in a damp loft etc so no mould issues, has a protective cover which i have washed down, DD moved out of it a month ago and new baby will be in it about 5-6weeks. If its siblings and you know history of the mattress I honestly can't see the issue

PoopMaster · 21/08/2013 11:32

We've re-used, I washed all the covers then put everything in the sun during the heat wave (sunlight is meant to act as anti-bacterial).

Everything has been stored inside and baby is BFed so will be getting antibodies for whatever is left I would've thought...I did lie to the lady at kiddicare though when she tried to flog us a new mattress told us we needed a new one.

GrandstandingBlueTit · 21/08/2013 11:35

I genuinely forgot about this when PSB came along.

She lived to tell the tale.

Trazzletoes · 21/08/2013 11:40

I got a new one. Of course not every baby who uses a second-hand mattress will die. Just like having a new mattress doesn't mean they will necessarily survive. I guess it just depends whether or not its a risk you are prepared to take.

I also assumed (perhaps naively) that the companies wouldn't be able to state that new mattresses reduce the risk of SIDS if it wasn't actually true to some extent. I don't know how great that extent is, and clearly there are more risk factors than that. You just need to weigh it all up for yourself.

chocolatemartini · 21/08/2013 11:41

We co sleep there is no way I am buying a new king size mattress for each new dc. We use a waterproof mattress protector and wash it and sheets on 60. No problems so far

LadyBryan · 21/08/2013 11:43

They are all guidelines. You choose which guidelines you wish to adhere to and which you don't.

RobotHamster · 21/08/2013 11:45

Well, we stored ours for 2 years, in the house, then when we went to check it it was mouldy. It was properly stored so god knows where it came from.

So its probably fine, but check it properly.

Sanctimummy · 21/08/2013 11:49

As long as it's in good condition, no dips in the middle and is still firm, obviously well stored and clean, tis fine.

chocolatemartini · 21/08/2013 11:49

By far the greatest risk factors are maternal smoking, lying baby on their stomach to sleep and not breastfeeding.

hettienne · 21/08/2013 11:51

I think the mattress thing is a bit like car seats - advice is to never buy a second hand car seat, because you don't know it's history. But everyone reuses car seats for subsequent siblings because you know if it's been in a crash, if it's been dropped, if it's been stored properly.

Same with mattresses - not ideal to buy a second hand one because you don't know the history. But if you know the mattress has been clean and dry in your house for two years, then probably fine.

The Lullaby Trust (FSID) say that one study found a link between second hand mattress and increased SIDS risk, but the link was much stronger if the mattress was from a different home. There was no increased risk if the mattress has a wipe-clean PVC cover. They don't know what might cause this link and "the study authors conclude that there is insufficient evidence available to judge whether this relation is cause and effect." So, their recommendation is: babies should sleep on a firm, flat mattress that is clean and in a good condition, ideally new. A mattress with a waterproof cover will help parents to keep it clean and dry.

The information is here on page 15 www.lullabytrust.org.uk/document.doc?id=300

ActualAl · 21/08/2013 11:52

I bought a new one for DD2 but only because it was a cotbed and DD1 had been in it for 3 years and I thought the mattress was a bit indented with her weight where she lay and I didn't want the baby falling into the squashed bit! If it hadn't been used for as long I probably wouldn't have bought one.

hettienne · 21/08/2013 11:54

My feeling on SIDS as well is that the numbers dropped massively in the last 20 years as we knew more about the risk factors, from 1500 a year to 300 - and it has stabilised at 300 a year. This suggests to me that these 300 are genuine SIDS cases, sudden, unexplained and probably not preventable.

MiaowTheCat · 21/08/2013 13:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsTerryPratchett · 21/08/2013 14:18

There are studies that show a correlation between used mattress for last sleep and SIDS. Worse in mattresses from another home but still significant in those from the same home.

It is a very small risk and we all do things that are not the guidelines so it is up to you.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread