Do I really need a new cot mattress?

[soon2bmumof3]

For DC2? DS had brand new top of the range (over £100) Mothercare cot mattress 2 years ago and slept on it from 5months to 18months. Appreciate an 18month old is quite a bit heavier than 4mnth old but what is the actual risk? Do people really bother? An reluctant to shell out again when I have what I believe is a perfectly good mattress.

It used to be that it was fine if it had a waterproof washable cover. The idea being something like if bodily fluids (sick, wee etc) had been allowed to get into the body of the matress thet could react with chemical in the filling and cause vapours, being a SIDS risk.

Haven't had a very little one for a long time now though, so might all be considered bollocks

FWIW we co-slept with both of ours on our own matress whcih got peed and puked and breast milked on both times.

Thanks it does have a zip off top section that I've washed, I was thinking that about co-sleeping you wouldn't change your own mattress would you. So as long as its clean it should be alright.

Sure I've read it's ok for use siblings mattresses. Something to do with same germs if anything does stay type thing

I've always though new baby, new mattress. For the sake of the £60 a new one cost me in ikea I didn't want to take the risk. If, god forbid, anything happened I'd never forgive myself if I didn't think I'd done everything to prevent it. I've also replaced our crib mattress and carrycot mattress.

Have been wondering this myself

This is the FSID advice on mattresses.