Do I need a new cot mattress?

[Skaramoosh]

I'm expecting my second child. We bought a brand new cot mattress for DD who is 14 months. She will move into a bed around Christmas time so the mattress in the cot will have been used for approx 19 months all in all by the time the new baby arrives. It is in great condition, has never got wet etc.
Can anyone explain why it is recommended to get a new mattress for each baby? If we need to buy a new one we certainly will but I am wondering if it is necessary in our situation?

I got told at antenatal classes it's because the mattress forms lumps and bumps under the previous child, so it isn't completely flat for the newborn, which can cause problems with their sleep position.

Might be wrong though!

I thought the reason it was advised to buy new was because depending upon how the previous mattress has been stored, mould spores could form which can affect baby's breathing and cause SIDS.

I bought a cot off ebay which came with a mattress and we ordered a new mattress, as we couldn't be certain how it had been stored. But if yours has been in the house rather than garage/loft I would have no qualms about using it for a second child.

I think there are two main reasons. Firstly if it has had an older baby sleeping in it then indentations may have formed which won't support your newborn properly, I think this is mostly a concern with the foam style mattresses. Secondly, if a mattress is regularly covered with milky baby sick and urine from leaky nappies, then stored for a few months in a loft or spare bedroom, then mould spores etc may have grown on it, which may not be visible.

I think in your case, if it's a good quality sprung mattress, and has had a waterproof cover protecting it, I'd maybe just get a new cover. I have a bigger gap between my DCs, so I did buy a new mattress.

We are intending to use the same one for dc2 as long as it hasn't been in the loft etc. I'm going to use the cot in our room as my clothes repository until dc2 shows up!

It is recommended that one uses a new mattress to reduce the chances of cot death. I'm planning to use my first DD mattress for my second child. It has water proof linning, antibacteria linning and a removable cover that can be washed.

Not antibacteria linning but a silver ions in COOLMAX freshFX that helps prevent bacterial and fungal growth.