Re-using cot mattress for sibling ....

[Millie1]

DS1 has just moved from cot to single bed and DS2 is in travel cot awaiting new mattress for cot (on order) so as he can move into it. I really want to wait for the new mattress cos of past publicity re SIDS and amonia from urine in cot mattresses. DS1 has had more leaky nappies than I could count so the mattress isn't exactly smelling of roses.

Meantime, DS2 is sleeping really badly in the travel cot, waking every 1-2 hrs at night, I'm exhausted and torn. Part of me says stick him in the new cot with old mattress for however long it takes new mattress to come in; another part knows I could never forgive myself if anything happened (call me paranoid mother!). BTW, was told new mattress would be here yesterday or next Tuesday; now I'm being told same shop have only received their order of 1 March so it could be weeks.

What have you done?

Millie, would it be possible for you to cancel your order and either buy one from Mothercare or somewhere like that or even another mail order company. I ordered one from Kiddicare and it arrived a couple of days later. Really sympathise about broken sleep but I don't know about reusing the mattress. I'm sure someone will though.

Millie - the evidence on SIDS and re-used mattresses is generally to do with matresses bought 2nd hand (I found an article on it for someone else I´ll find it in a minute). DS is going to have dd´s cot mattress as soon as I get a proper bed for her.

If you´re worried about ammonia in the mattress (never heard of that myself), why not buy a thick rubber sheet instead?

Can´t find my link, but there are more opinions here

Thanks both of you. Resorted to putting him back in his too-small carrycot tonight (following a long bout of crying) and there hasn't been a peep since he went in there ... so I think I'm right about him finding travel cot uncomfortable.

I am thinking about cancelling the mattress on order ... only thing is we live in a country area, small shop etc etc. I'll call them again on Monday and see if they can give me a guaranteed delivery date.

Finger's crossed for some sleep tonight - for the last 3 nights I've been up at 1.5 hrly intervals and am bloomin' knackered!!

My ds2 used same mattress as ds1. When ds1 was a baby (1998) the advice was new mattress for each child. By the time I was pregnant with ds2 (2001), they said that you didn't have to buy a new one as long as old one wasn't too saggy. Has the advice changed again? TBH I don't think it will hurt your ds2 to use the old mattress. My ds2 is now 2.5 and seems to have survived the experience - he's still sleeping on the old mattress, as I haven't put him into a bed yet. It was only a cheap Mothercare mattress, the plastic covered foam sort.