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Pregnancy

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Original poster

would you buy a secondhand travel system? or use a secondhand cot matress?

42 replies

takeawaylover · 26/03/2011 17:32

i know the cot matress has always been kept inside the house, never in the loft or garage or shed.
it is a mamas and papas for what its worth, wheevr that means anything i don't know

not sure what the guidelines are atm

but a bit under whever to use it or get a brand new one.

i've also seen what looks like a good buy on a travel system on ebay for about 30pounds.

what do you think?

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0891 · 26/03/2011 17:38

travel system yes, cot mattress no.

MrsBloomingTroll · 26/03/2011 17:41

Travel system, yes. If you are in or around London, get it cleaned by buggypitstop.co.uk (I'm not on commission!).

You can buy cheap cot mattresses from IKEA, probably not worth the risk of using a second-hand one.

Original poster

takeawaylover · 26/03/2011 17:43

oh i didn't know ikea sold them, it's a cotbed size one i'd be after

i will look

OP posts:

0891 · 26/03/2011 18:04

this company are very cheap and make the mattress to your exact measurement. I got mine from here and it's very good quality.

silverangel · 26/03/2011 18:12

Mattress is an absolute no, second hand mattresses have been linked to cot death.

I'm going to get a second hand travel system - twins on the way so need to save money wherever possible!

Leilababyno1 · 26/03/2011 18:38

Sprung Cotbed mattress half price in the sale at £40 including delivery!

www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productdisplayA_3489_10751_-1_57684_102380_10001_14729

I've just ordered one, it has great reviews too!

Thandeka · 26/03/2011 18:44

I'd go against the grain and say yes to both dependent on the quality of the mattress. I read this: www.sidsandkids.org/wp-content/uploads/Second-Hand-Mattress-Use.pdf which helped me make up my mind based on the evidence.

The second hand mattress I had wasn't foam- was waterproof, was under 2 years old and had been stored in the house with a not very sickly baby. It had removable covers that we washed thoroughly. Was for a co-sleeping cot so was with DD all the time to check her breathing anyhow. I decided I was happy with the risk and it has been fine.

bessie26 · 26/03/2011 19:01

I wouldn't have the mattress (I've just bought new mattresses for the Moses basket for #2 & they were only ever used by #1)

It depends what exactly you mean by "travel system" the buggy/pram bit I'd have no problem with, but I wouldn't have the car seat bits of it.

Original poster

takeawaylover · 26/03/2011 19:41

yes it does include car seat here

this is the matress

i think i'll avoid risking it with the matress

OP posts:

taytotayto · 26/03/2011 19:48

hi everyone
can i intrude this post please
our dd was born 21 months ago and i bought a second hand cot on ebay thinking it was a cot but when we got home it ws a cot bed. we wanted the cot for our bedroom as dd has her own cot bed in her own room. anyhow she only used the mattress for about 2 months then went into her own bedroom. we stored the mattress in the loft with a washable cover on it then rapped in plastic. we are now expecting another baby in 4 weeks and i need to know if i can use the mattress in the loft or should i buy another one. thanks and sorry for intruding x

SecretNutellaFix · 26/03/2011 19:50

I would say new mattress and new car seat are absolute musts haves.

Pram/ pushchair? could get away with a second hand one, but I am extrememly fussy

nicolamumof3 · 26/03/2011 20:07

taytotayto in answer to yours we are reusing mattress from ds3 for dc4 due this summer, i stupidly got rid of very expensive sprung mattress between ds2 and 3 when really i shouldn't have worried had washable covers and was also used with a mattress protector. Will be thoroughly cleaned before use and has also been well wrapped in storage.

JimmyChoo17 · 26/03/2011 20:38

Would say no to 2nd hand car seat as you don't know if it has ever been in an accident I also wouldn't have a second hand mattress as everywhere I have read evens says get a new mattress if thinking of using your first Born's

Prams and everything else I wouldn't be worried about buying 2nd hand.

JimmyChoo17 · 26/03/2011 20:40

Saying t at I'd happily buy that set for 30 pounds and just buy new car seat, for the other items £30 is a bargain!

natwebb79 · 26/03/2011 20:48

We are planning on using a cot that my brother-in-law's baby had at the grandparents' house and had hardly been used (mattress and all). What are the scientific reasons for a used mattress to cause cot death? It sounds a bit mad to me! Having spoken to my mum back in the day noone could afford to keep buying new mattresses etc. and so cot mattresses were reused for subsequent babies with no ill effect? Is it really a scientific study or our neurotic modern times?

nicolamumof3 · 26/03/2011 21:04

read the sids link above natwebb, i've been reassured by lots of evidence that it is fine to reuse. So im happy. the mattress we have is not foam is fully sprung and never ever been used without a fully waterproof cover on so nothing could her permeated the mattress itself.

happycamel · 26/03/2011 21:04

I think the problem with reusing mattresses is if they have become mouldy and therefore generate spores. There's no way you'd know. It would have to be a lot of mould and on the surface before you could detect mould because it's a micro-organism.

There was some concern about antimony and toxic gases being released from cot mattresses but that has been disproven.

It's just a case of managing risk, if your baby is sensitive to mould and it makes it wheeze then that, potentially combined with other risk factors, could make the difference. SIDS is incredibly rare but IMO it's an unnecessary risk to use an old mattress. They really aren't that expensive in the scheme of running a household or buying what you need for a baby.

I wouldn't reuse a cot mattress, even if it had been stored in my house (especially the loft). We bought mattress foam from J Elliot in Kent for £15 and sewed a waterproof mattress protector round it. Total cost was £30. There are lots of places you can by upholstery foam. We made sure it had been stored somewhere clean and dry and it wasn't stained and smelt ok.

Wigeon · 26/03/2011 21:08

Natweb - no, it's not just general neurosis. See this study for example. The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths recommends a ideally a new mattress for a new baby. See also here. And some research evidence here.

From what I've been able to find out, there is no clear cause of cot death and a lack of evidence about many of the factors thought to possibly contribute to it. So it's down to your risk appetite as a parent. Cot death = extremely rare. Links to an old mattress = possible but not certain. However, impact of extremely rare event = devastating. So personally, for the cost of a new mattress (I think the one we used for DD's cot was £40 from John Lewis, and her Moses mattress was £16), I would rather buy a new mattress. And I am generally a very very un-neurotic mother. I am also swayed by the fact my cousin died suddenly in her sleep of the adult version of cot death (aged only 29) and I would never forgive myself if something happened to DD.

But for some people I completely appreciate that the fact that cot death is so rare, and the links to mattresses are not proven beyond doubt, is reason enough to use a (clean) second hand mattress.

NonnoMum · 26/03/2011 21:14

Oooh - lovely pram system thing. You'll be lucky for that to end on 30 pound though...

At that rate, it would be worth buying it all (and then getting in NEW car seat bit).

Isn't the main thing about cot deaths to never ever smoke anywhere near a newborn?? (scuse me if I'm wrong...)

ArthurPewty · 26/03/2011 21:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

natwebb79 · 26/03/2011 21:17

Thanks for feedback, very interesting reading.

stegasaurus · 26/03/2011 21:26

0891 - Thanks for posting that link. I knew there was a website somewhere that would sort me out with a mattress for my non-standard size moses basket but couldn't remember what the site was or find it by googling.

LoopyLoopsChupaChups · 26/03/2011 22:15

I'd be happy with both tbh, as long as I knew the carseat hadn't been involved in an accident.

Loopymumsy · 27/03/2011 08:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

carriedababi · 27/03/2011 11:50

just had a thought, we have aload of dds old baby clothes in the loft.

we are planning in ttc soon around june.

would i be able to use dds old clothes if it was a girl?
could they be containinmated with mould spores from being stored up in the loft ?

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