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Original poster

All those with big age gaps what did you reuse?

17 replies

flowerfairy · 15/09/2010 14:09

Am expecting baby no2 in Feb after 7 yr gap. I still have everything from ds and cannot afford to buy lots of new things (nor do i really want to) when i have everything i need. Can anyone tell me did you reuse your mattress, pushchair, cloth nappies, etc? If so how did you make sure everything was clean. Am particularly keen to hear opinions on reusing mattress for cot. TIA

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familyfun · 15/09/2010 14:11

expecting dc2 in november with a 3 yr gap, not reusing the cot mattress or moses basket mattress but will reuse everything else that survived dd.

Hevster · 15/09/2010 14:13

I think the general rule on matresses (if you take personal preference out of it) is that you can reuse them but only if they have been stored in the house and not the loft or garage.
Personally I will reuse everything and am happy to have second hand anything I can wash but I prob would invest in a new matress

Jacksmybaby · 15/09/2010 14:20

I will have a nearly 4 year age gap so not that big but not sure how much difference it makes.

I am reusing pretty much everything including cot mattress. It is 4 years old, was bought new and has only been used by DS, for 2 years. It's been stored in spare room not attic, and house is non-smoking. It has a removable washable cover which I've washed.

Our pram covers have been dry cleaned (they were labelled dry clean only). And pretty much everything else (car seat covers, soft toys, muslins, playmats, clothes etc) has just been put through the washing machine.

Don't know about cloth nappies as we used disposables and will again this time.

I believe the official guidance on reusing matresses has changed recently and it's now thought to be ok (or at least not thought to have a SIDS link) - someone else may know more about this??

Original poster

flowerfairy · 15/09/2010 14:20

Have kept mattress under ds's bed. It has a washable removable cover on the top. What do you think?

OP posts:

TwasEverThus · 15/09/2010 14:29

I got a new carseat because they are alleged to degrade over time. Alleged ...

greenbeanie · 15/09/2010 14:55

We are getting a new cot+crib mattress. They are now 9 years old, used for 2 dc and I think the crib mattress was 2nd hand anyway! Also got a new car seat purely because it is an isofix one that just clips on a base which i think will be so much easier with 3 dc to get in and out of the car.

Otherwise everything else including cloth nappies, clothes, crib, cot, toys etc will be reused.

I've been told that over time reusable nappies can begin to smell of ammonia so advised to either give a hot wash (60 degrees) in biological powder or try a final rinse with a bit of white vinegar.

mejon · 15/09/2010 14:58

There'll be 4.5 years between DD and DC2 and I will be reusing everything I've kept: cot, mattress, car seat, pram/pushchair. I've kept the reusable nappies though I was a bit of a lightweight with those so may end up not using them that much this time either, but I will try. The mattress is a proper sprung one which was only ever used with a waterproof cover and several other spare sheets on top so it never got stained or wet. I'll be buying a moses basket as we've moved house and there's no room for the cot in our room and DD was a tiny dot so I'm hoping the next one will be too so will be in it for some time.

Unfortunately I didn't keep many of DD's small baby clothes as we weren't planning on having another but I've got lots of her older stuff (2years+) as she barely wore a lot of them and I've been too tight to get rid of them. Just hope the next one is a girl or doesn't mind a few girly things if it is a boy!

CrispyTheCrisp · 15/09/2010 15:00

I used a carrycot, cot and mattress from my nephew for both my DD's (6 year and 8 year age gap from him). I washed the cover and was all clean. Mind you, my DD's have both slept in the cot and mattress I had as a baby 37 years ago, but then maybe i am just rather a risky person.

BigGapMum · 15/09/2010 15:01

Never kept anything from DS1 to use with DS2 - but they are 22 years apart!

notagrannyyet · 15/09/2010 15:10

Well it's a few years ago now but I had an eight year gap between my eldest DC and the three youngest.

I reused the cot and bedding but bought a new mattress. I did replace the cot sheets after DC4 because they wore out.

I bought new terry nappies.

I used the same silver cross pram, but replaced the pushchair. Also later purchased a new twin pushchair.

I replaced the car seats for more modern ones. My original car seats were secondhand anyway.

I sold my first playpen. I tried to manage without for a while with the younger ones but in the end bought new.

I bought four highchairs in total. I'm sure the last one (from Ikea) is still in the loft.

I also reused most of the baby clothes each time. Some clothes were even shared with cousins.

DS5 rarely had (has!), anything new.

buttonmoon78 · 15/09/2010 15:19

I reused a matress after a 7 year gap. It was kept in the house and had a washable cover.

I did recently read that the plastic in car seats is thought to degrade over time and that manufacturers are recommending that they are not used for more than 5 years.

But then, I'm a cynic and am wondering whether it's just a ploy to get you to stump up more cash...

goodlifemummy · 15/09/2010 16:08

5.5yr age gap, sold EVERYTHING as weren't planning any more DC's after twins, and then had a condom malfunction! DC3 due 19th Dec! Had to buy quite a bit new, but stuck to sale stuff, but also got some bits from friends and family! D'oh

DomesticG0ddess · 15/09/2010 17:19

Congrats! After asking around lots I have decided to buy new mattress. DS is 4 in Dec. He slept in the cot from birth til 2.9 years, so the mattress has seen a lot of barfing/spilt milk I would think, not that I can remember how much he was sick. It is a spring mattress and has been stored in the house, but I have decided it's just not worth the worry - and I would worry. Cot sheets were v stained so they are now dusters and have bought some more from IKEA.

Everything else has been washed and will be re-used, except I couldn't find any old muslins, so bought more of those, and will buy new bottles/dummies if I need them as they were all pre the BPA-free ones and you are not supposed to keep them for that long after microwaving/dishwashing apparently.

LoulouCapone · 15/09/2010 19:58

We have an 8 yr gap between dd an ds. I reused crib and cot, both mattresses had been stored in the house. Steriliser, blankets, change table, first neutral clothes, Toys, everything really. All just washed at highest appropriate temp.

Only bought new carseats and pushchairs as I sold ours while they still held their value.

Dc3 due in April and will do the same again.

nymphadora · 15/09/2010 20:13

9 year gap. Dd2 wrecked most things so all we have are nappies & odd bits of clothes.

New mattress shouldn't cost that much compared to peace of mind

reallytired · 15/09/2010 20:19

I have a seven year age gap and we re used everything we had except our pram. I chucked because squirrels had pooed all over it.

My dd has had some new clothes and some from her cousins.

Children are in baby clothes for such a short time its silly not to reuse things if you can.

TheUnmentioned · 16/09/2010 08:39

3.9 year age gap here - is that a big gap?

We are re-using most things. Got a new car seat and pushchair though because our last was horrendous to get in and out of the car and this one is on an isofix base. Also its safer than the one we had for ds which I bought when I was youngish and naieve!

Got a new moses basket but onoly because our other one was being moved between houses and the car crashed and it got covered in shards of glass.

New mattress for cot.

Thats it I think though we may need a new bouncy chair because ds's one got broken. Also, for some reason cant find his play mat but hopefully itll turn up (dont know when Im hoping this will happen seeing as I am 40+5)

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