To worry about mould on a cardboard box?

[zennnd]

Not really an AIBU I just never know where to post questions to actually get responses! 😂

So I ordered a pram which arrived a week ago, didn't notice any mould on the boxes or anything (I don't think I did anyway?!). Took the pram out, popped it upstairs and left the cardboard box in the kitchen to get rid of it this week. Went to tip it today and noticed a watermark and a 20cm ish patch of black mould on the box!

I Googled how long it takes to grow and says black mold takes a while to become visible! But I'm sure I never noticed a watermark when I unpacked it which is making me think it happened in the kitchen (was thinking my toddler spilt her juice or something). But now I'm obviously worried it's been mouldy in the factory.

Looked inside the box before I tipped it and the inside of the cardboard didn't have any mould on. The pram also came wrapped in a big plastic bag. Pram has no signs of mold, literally just on the outside of the box.

1. Is it possible for cardboard to get wet and black mold to show all within 7 days.
2. If the mold was present before it arrived in my house and just was activated by the water or something, will the contents be okay if there was no mold in the box and it was wrapped securely in plastic?

Obviously feeling very hormonal and anxious about everything (pregnancy does this to me 😞) but don't know what to think really! Someone tell me if I'm being irrational or not please!

For context, inside and outside of box. I’m sure I would’ve noticed it on the box when it arrived if it was present… it wasn’t a rainy day and the box arrived on good condition i can recall?

YANBU because pregnancy hormones does this.

If the inside of the box is fine and the pram was wrapped in plastic it will be fine.

You would smell it on the pram if there was any mould there. Does the mark smell of mould or is it just a mark? If the pram was in a bag in the box and nothing on the inside of the box I'm sure it would be fine.

@EatSleepDreamRepeat thank you, it's bloody exhausting. I feel like if I wasn't pregnant it wouldn't have even crossed my mind yet the smallest thing sends me into overdrive nowadays 🥲x

@twomanyfrogsinabox no sign of mold anywhere on the pram, smells like a brand new pram, no musty smell or anything. Think I'm just being paranoid! X

Pregnancy anxiety is terrible, but it looks like something has been spilt on the outside (maybe juice as you said) rather than mould being present in the factory.

The inside of the box looks clean and free from mould. I would have thought that you would have noticed a musty/damp smell when unpacking the pram otherwise, especially if it was wrapped in plastic as this would hold the moisture.

It’s easy to get carried away with these thoughts, I remember being quite anxious for a lot of my pregnancies. 💐

was it wrapped in plastic? As it’s not inside the box it’s fine but if it was wrapped as well it might help calm your mind.

It is both normal and completely exhausting. Don't be too hard on yourself

Thank you @ThatDamnedDog I think I am just being paranoid overthinking it all, it really does look like something has been spilled on it, think I was just surprised it could appear so quick but it has been stored in the corner of the cold kitchen I suppose!

Yeah i have to agree, pregnancy anxiety is horrific, I am just so irrational about everything and the smallest thing sets me off and makes me stomach churn. Such a horrible feeling, thank you so much for reassuring me x

@User79853257976 yes it was wrapped in like a thick clear plastic bag and packaged with cardboard fillers and foam fillers, all of which were still completely dry! Which is a good sign I guess! X

@EatSleepDreamRepeat most definitely, thank you so much x

Absolutely fine then! I worry a lot but that would be enough for me to be happy with it.