Secondhand pram bassinet/carrycot question

[TowerBridge123]

Hello all!

First time poster and soon to be first time mum! I've been looking at getting a secondhand buggy and bassinet/carrycot online, but I'm not sure what the deal is with the mattress that goes in it....do I need to get a new mattress or is it ok to use the one that comes with it?

I understand that if you're getting a secondhand cot, you should get a new mattress (to make sure it's firm) but I don't know if the same applies to these. Any advice welcome as we naviagate all things prams!

I would get a new mattress. I did for my second child.

Yes you replace the mattress!

To be honest, I wouldn't, no, unless it was dirty in which case I'd be unlikely to buy it.

But then I only used mine for walks in the pram and I would always have a sheet under them anyway in case they were sick. Assuming it's not going to be one of their main sleeping places, it wouldn't bother me. The 'mattress' in mine is just a padded board really.

Yes, new mattress and sheets. Even if you use the same cot for 2 of your own children you're supposed to use a new mattress

Yes get a new one, it’s about the breakdown and emission of the chemicals like fire retardants that are in it. You also don’t know if the previous owners aired it.

Don’t do what I did and buy “all natural no chemical” mattresses, super expensive and they get mouldy - see previous threads on MN about it. The fire retardants are part of UK regs to protect you and your baby. I noticed the mattress (for bedside crib) getting mouldy after a bit.

Mamas and Papas will sell parts and spares on the phone, they are super helpful. Message them on Instagram with your name, email, address and phone number and they’ll get a sales rep to call you back to buy. The other manufacturers probably do the same. I bought an Ocarro for £300 with all the stuff and bought a new safety strap and bassinet mattress and cover.

We used the same carrycot for our babies as had been used for me a quarter of a century previously. It was no bother to find a new and modern mattress for it... Most of these things seem to be fairly standard sizes.

Yup we got a new one, even if you think it'll just be for transport you're not going to move a sleeping baby when it comes to it. Prams are often stored in garages etc so the mattress could be full of mould

Thanks for the helpful replies everyone! We'll look at getting a new mattress for the buggy carrycot in that case.

I shouldn't think that the baby would be sleeping for long periods in it - but I guess there's a chance that they might sleep when we are out and about, or if they fall asleep in it and we get home, we probably wouldn't want to wake them up to move them to their moses basket.

Ta muchly :)