cots and leaky nappies

[SalBySea]

are waterproof mattress protectors necessary for cots? if so, do I need to put one on from newborn or later?

I am asking as I have one on my bed at the mo (in case of waters breaking as nearly full term) and even though it is buffered by a few layers, it still makes sleeping really sweaty and my flat is boiling as it is so dont wanna use one in the cot if not necessary. then again, I dont want a cot that stinks of old wee either!

I've only just put one on DS's cot and he's 17 months. The only reason I did was that he had a nasty bout of D&V and woke up one morning covered in vomit. Didn't get to the mattress but thought I'd be prepared for next time!

Anyway, I don't think that a newborn would need it. When DS's nappy leaked, it would only make a wet patch on his sleepsuit. He was in sleeping bags from a fairly early age so on the rare occasions the wee made it through the sleepsuit, we just washed the sleeping bag.

He slept on a folded muslin for a good few months too as he was quite a sicky baby but again, the amount of sick he produced was quite small and never made it as far as the mattress