New mattress needed for new baby??

[Mammajay]

I was given a second hand Moses basket with a mattress and covers. Given that sheets will go on the mattress, us it safe to the use the existing mattress. It is in excellent condition.

Yeah just give a good wipe down with disinfectant ( and rinse ) !!!

These days they say you should get a new mattress, don't they? I would, for my own piece of mind.

It's against SIDS guidelines to use a second hand mattress. Personally I'd buy a new one.

Will buy a new one thanks

SIDS guidelines is to buy a new mattress so that's what I'd do personally

”It can be common to use a second-hand mattress either from friends and family, or from your previous children. There is some research that found an increased chance of SIDS when using a second-hand mattress brought in from outside of the family home, although the link is not yet proven”

From The Lullaby Trusts advice on SIDS, personally I wouldn’t risk it, mattresses are quite cheap for Moses baskets.

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2380873.stm

If you Google second hand mattress for baby, you'll get lots of info about this. The risk of cot death vs a few pounds saved wasn't worth the risk for me with my dcs (and we were not exactly well off when they were born)

I didn't buy a new one. I knew the SIDs guidelines and did intend to buy one but didn't and it's been fine (but obviously that means nothing from a statistical pov). We don't co sleep, smoke, she has a dummy, slept in our room until 6 months yadda yadda yadda so we did everything else to reduce SIDs.

Does anyone know what it is about second hand mattresses which are a no no? Is it a hygiene thing or something else?

Does that apply to cot sheets too?

I think the risk is damp causing fungus growing inside etc. Sheets hot washed, dried and aired are fine. It's just the mattress you need new.

Does that mean that the risk is reduced if they're.not brought in from outside? I.e. is it safe to reuse if it was only used by older sibling?

I reused dd's for ds as it had a removable washable cover and the underneath mattress could be cleaned. I would be more wary about using a mattress that came from another family

Smurfy no

The link is all used mattresses. No matter who used them.

This is the full paragraph from lullabye trust:

It can be common to use a second-hand mattress either from friends and family, or from your previous children. There is some research that found an increased chance of SIDS when using a second-hand mattress brought in from outside of the family home, although the link is not yet proven.

To help reduce this risk, if you are using a second-hand mattress make sure the mattress you choose was previously completely protected by a waterproof cover, with no rips or tears and is in good condition. The mattress should also still be firm and flat to keep your baby sleeping safely.

I think they’re about £10 new from Amazon. Just buy a new one.

Unfortunately, there is also a link between SIDS and new mattresses supplied in the UK, although it's played down somewhat (not least by the mattress industry). UK mattresses have to comply with the world's strictest flammability laws which unfortunately means they're stuffed full of flame retardant chemicals, which are often toxic. Antimony is still used which with moisture and a fungus can produce deadly stibine gas. Also, other flame retardants such as organophosphates (banned from sheep dip because they're so toxic but now used in mattresses) can cause all kinds of problems, especially with babies/children who are still developing. I'd strongly recommend not buying a UK mattress - buy from the rest of the EU instead (check with companies first) who do not use flame retardants in their mattresses.

@FlameIngsofa that’s very interesting! Do you know where these can be bought online?

Try EU companies' websites, e.g. Germany and Sweden - both are strongly opposed to the use of flame retardants in mattresses; email and ask them to confirm. In the UK look for 'organic' producers. However, it's something of a risk with these because they may be cheating, either by using flame retardants but claiming they're not, or not using FRs but not testing to the right flammability requirements (and they won't tell you which it is). One company I know for sure does not use FRs in mattresses or sofas is Cottonsafe: www.cottonsafenaturalmattress.co.uk. I don't work for them but know the couple who run the business very well. Give them a ring and they'll answer all your questions about flame retardants.

Oh and if you want to learn more about this area check out the papers on the website of the Environment Audit Committee's inquiry into "Toxic chemicals in everyday life":www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/environmental-audit-committee/inquiries/parliament-2017/toxic-chemicals-in-everyday-life-17-19/publications/
Check out papers by Gareth Simkins, Terry Edge, Breast Cancer UK, Mark Dowen, Chem Trust, Green Science Policy Institute, EFIC . . . but be wary of those by the chemical industry or its supporters/paid stooges, e.g. FRETWORK, Richard Horrocks, H&C Whitehead (and more).