What should I do with these baby things?

[crokky]

I have a cot mattress that I have to get rid of because you're supposed to get a new one for a new baby. Should I put it in the tip? It seems a bit wasteful/not very green thing to do? It still looks in reasonable condition. I don't have a dog so can't use it as a dog bed!

I also have a Mamas and Papas MPX chassis that I don't want for a couple of reasons - firstly I now need a double buggy instead. It is not in fabulous condition, one or two of the wheels have been knocked and squeak etc so I do not feel that I should put it on eBay as it is not in good enough condition. Any ideas? Tip seems a bit wasteful again! I don't think I would use it in future because it is so big and heavy and I fold my buggy up to put in the car a lot.

Both items unsuitable for charity shop, so what should I do????

i'd ebay the chassis. you never know someone else might have one in worse condition than you, eg if you use them with a buggy board they can get pretty jiggered. you could even offer it on here.

think you'll have to chuck the mattress.

Its always worth putting things on freecycle as people re-use all sorts

I just took my dd's bed mattress to the tip and felt disgusted with myself as it had never even had an accident on it but nowhere will take them. I never thought about freecycle.

Can I hijack the thread and ask about car seats too? have my dd's car seat it's lovely and in prestine condition but I don't think you're supposed to sell them 2nd hand?

It is legal to sell the car seats and people do buy them on eBay. I would try and eBay it because someone is likely to buy it - you know you're not putting a child at risk. Whereas with a mattress, you might be putting a child at risk.

i'd buy second hand if I knew who it was from and knew i could 100% trust them that it had never been in an accident

I have no intention of getting a new mattress for the cot for my new baby! Do most people actually do this? Can anyone explain what the risk is?

I used the same mattress for dd1 and 2

I don't know the science etc, but I asked in the shop where I originally bought the cot and I was told (yesterday) that you do have to change the mattress.

Having said that, I know a woman who used a 40 year old mattress for all of her 4 children!

Plus my baby is likely to be a little premature so I want to be careful.

local animal rescue centre may want the mattress - worth asking

mattress great for landing on from bottom of slide, practicing roly polys, etc or as a bed on the floor for a visiting toddler - I now have two old ones and they are really useful !

I'd keep the mattress for when your baby is old enough to be out of the SIDS risk (so past 6-12 months), in case the new one got damaged or just too old itself after a while.

I am re-using the mattress we had for DS in one of the cots for the twins when the arrive in a month or so. I really cannot justify buying two new ones, and it has always had a waterproof protector on it, has only ever had DS sleeping in it. Should I really not re-use it even for my own children? I would never use a second hand one from someone else.

prob with 2nd hand mattress is weight from previous child may have made it uneven. For a new born this might mean they get trapped in small dent which could be v dangerous.

I ended up with a spare cotbed mattress once; I bought a packet of dylon in a funky colour, dyed a fitted cotbed sheet and my 2 little boys used it as a boat/flying carpet/somewhere to chill when watching TV/reading.

It doesn't matter if you use the same one between siblings, apparently.

How is it dangerous? a newborn can't move anyway.

refugee centres always need baby and child stuff.

ah ok. DD2 will be in new crib until at least 4-5 months before moving into big cot, so no such worries there.

gosh I just reused the mattress for the next child

"I don't know the science etc, but I asked in the shop where I originally bought the cot and I was told (yesterday) that you do have to change the mattress."
Err yes well they WOULD say that wouldn't they!!!!!! (as they were trying to sell you a new one)
As with the others I wouldn't bother, new born will probably be in moses or crib anyway until bigger

The advice from FSID is...
pdf link
Mattresses
? It is very important that your baby?s mattress is kept clean and dry.
? Ideally you should buy a new mattress for each new baby.
? If you are not able to do this, use the one you have, as long as it was made with a completely
waterproof cover and has no tears, cracks or holes. Clean and dry it thoroughly.
? Check that the mattress is in good condition; is firm, not soft; fits the cot without any gaps; and
doesn?t sag.
? ?Ventilated? mattresses with holes are not recommended as it is not possible to keep the inside
clean.

i HAVE A THING WHERE I STAY CALLED FREECYCLE ITS LIKE GIVING THINGS A NEW HOME WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO THE TIP

THE WEB ADDRESS WOULD BE freecycle(name of area u stay in).org

ie i stay in ayrshire so my webaddress is freecycleayr.org

There is a charity called Baby Gear that takes second hand baby equipment and reconditions it to sell to people on low incomes, worth checking if there's one in your area.