To think it's a bit yuck that a cot mattress has been used for lots of other babies?

[Tigerstar123]

Hi all,

We are due to go on holiday abroad with a well know (very good profit making) tour operator with our 5 month old baby.

I was thinking about things I need to take and of course, I need cot sheets! I emailed customer services asking if they could assist with cot dimensions and whether the mattress is changed between stays.

They replied saying they can't assist with the dimensions of the cot and that they don't change the mattresses.

Re not changing the mattress, to me that feels a bit yuck and worries me about the risk of SIDS. I can't help feeling really uncomfortable about this and that anything could have been on the mattress / mattress could be damaged etc. I want to buy and take my own, but they won't help with dimensions!

AIBU to be concerned about the mattress and to also think that the customer service dept really haven't done anything to assist?!

[Imknackeredzzz]

Yes you are being unreasonable - and slightly ridiculous

[Tigerstar123]

Ifailed-it's OK, I'm taking my own wallpaper and carpets...!

[Tigerstar123]

Is it really that ridiculous to worry about a baby??

[gamerchick]

You want them to provide a new mattress after every stay? I'm assuming you used the hospital cots when your baby was born.

You need to unclench a bit man, take your own sheets if you're bothered. Just a normal single sheet will do to fit everything.

[SpoonfulOfJam]

How does a used mattress increase risk of SIDS? Genuinely dont know the answer.

[iklboo]

The holiday companies don't usually own the hotels / rooms. They 'buy' them from the owners & sell them on to customers at hugely inflated rates. That would include any cots etc which is why mattresses aren't replaced after each use. Over the course of a year even £30 per cot, per room, per hotel, per resort, per country would add up to £££.

I do understand your worries but it is a tiny bit unreasonable to expect them to change the mattress every time. The waste would be an enormous burden as well.

[ExitPursuedByBear]

£2K isn't that much for a holiday abroad.

[Serialweightwatcher]

Take a waterproof single bed sheet and a normal bed sheet and buy those like suspender things for ironing boards so you can tighten sheets underneath maybe?

[imwithspud]

I think you're being a tad unreasonable. A holiday park cannot be expected to change the mattress of every cot after each use, that's bonkers. Where would you draw the line? Do all mattresses on the complex need replacing after each use too? Or maybe just the ones that children have slept on?

It's never bothered me provided the mattress isn't damaged or obviously old/in need of replacement in which case I would speak to someone at reception and get a replacement.

Take your own sheets, if they're a little big just tuck them in more at the sides, and buy a mattress protector if it really bothers you that much.

[Oysterbabe]

It's bound to be wipe clean or come with a waterproof cover. It would be so incredibly wasteful for the hotel to bin thousands of perfectly good mattresses each year. Take your own waterproof cover if you're concerned or take a travel cot.

[achildsjoy]

Just take a travel cot or pram carrycot if your that bothered, they even do pop up travel cots now.

[Enoughisenough9]

How do you think everyone else manages OP?!

[Tigerstar123]

Spoonful-current advise at ante natal and from lullaby trust etc refer to it. If you are interested (and not just being sarcastic) you could google it.

[ShotgunNotDoingThePans]

I think you've asked this question on the wrong board. It's a long time since I had a small baby, but the advice I remember is to buy a new matress for each baby to reduce the chances of SIDS. Quite reasonable to query how this relates to going on holiday.
But I'm pretty sure you'd get the short shrift you have here if you were to ask them about it. Might be interesting to try though.
Probs best to take your own travel cot alrhough they do your back in and mine always woke up as soon as I put them down.

[SoupDragon]

Is it really that ridiculous to worry about a baby??

No one thinks it is ridiculous to worry about a baby, they think it is ridiculous to worry about the cot mattress.

As someone else said, take a waterproof sheet to cover the mattress.

[SoupDragon]

You don't need to take cot bedding, surely? Every single place I've stayed with a baby has provided bedding.

[ShotgunNotDoingThePans]

Op is worrying about the baby in the used cot mattress.

[SpoonfulOfJam]

Not being sarcastic. I'm process of reading up. Found a Scottish study which found a Correlation, and the guideline is being mentioned, but I've not yet found why. Read about toxic gases but I think that's in new mattresses.

[Tigerstar123]

Iklboo - thanks for the explanation re the rooms. Makes sense I suppose

Thanks again to all posters who have assisted me

[Eeeek686]

op you are totally not being ridiculous to query this.... I recall a thread not too long ago where a poster was flamed (or at least lightly toasted) for considering buying a good quality, clean secondhand mattress for her child - even though said mattress was going to have a waterproof cover and it turned out her 'baby' was 11yrs old the thread was filled with pearl-clutching horrified cries of 'what price for your precious baby' and the Op was virtually accused of neglect..... such is mumsnet!

It is sliiiightly ridiculous though to think a holiday company would buy (& therefore bin) a mattress for each occupier though - won't somebody think of the landfill???

[ShatnersBassoon]

I know I'm going to sound like a complete dick for saying this, but £2k doesn't say 'no expense spared luxury holiday' to me.

The cot will probably have a wipeable cover, and you'll put your own sheet over it. It will be fine.

Remember that many parents would put the baby in the hotel bed with them. They can't be changing every mattress, every week, in every room a baby will be in, just in case.

[dippydeedoo]

This is going to be one of those threads that turns into a historical thing about all the weird stuff we do when our precious babies are new.
I don't think youre being unreasonable I do think you are being deluded and in the nicest possible way worrying over nothing.
your minds at rest now- don't buy a mattress/travel cot or anything if you feel the absolute need take a sheet with you then your baby will sleep on their own clean bedding and it will smell of you and it will be ok.
enjoy your holiday x

[MrsMulder]

Get one of these op www.tesco.com/direct/koo-di-pop-up-bubble-travel-cot-purple-polka/211-4747.prd?skuId=211-4747&pageLevel=sku&sc_cmp=ppc_sh--sh--tesco-_-211-4747&gclid=CIiC2O2Z0M0CFRDhGwodlukG_Q&gclsrc=aw.ds we used it a lot and it's handy for naps in relatives houses.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es]

They would be potentially chucking away 50 mattresses a year for every cot!

It's ok to worry, but it really isn't ok to expect a new mattress between every set of guests.