new baby, new mattress?? confused.

[TallRedhead]

Dc #2 due in 6 weeks. Thought I had it sorted and had most new birn kit ready from dd and all left to do was buy new mattress for cot and moses basket but just read an interesting article that it all came about from a documentary in the 90s about chemicals in the mattresses which are no longer used. Now I'm confused. Obviously the safety of baby #2 is much more important than money but don't want to have to buy if I dont need to! help!!

*born

Id buy new just because its not worth the risk, however small.

No using a used mattress statistically raises the risk of a baby dying from SIDS. This is a current guide line. I would buy a new one.

Also can you fit the cot in your room? If you can then you could skip the Moses basket and save money that way.

Also not sure how old your cot is, but I would look up the current guideline on the gaps between the bars of the cot. Some older cots the bars were too far apart, causing some baby's to get caught.

Doesn't matter there is still a risk from
Bacteria etc . It's not worth risking SIDs for a few pounds.
Expensive sprung mattresses are not necessary foam ones are fine and comfy as babies are so light.

I disagree. The problem comes when bacteria from vomit, urine etc come into contact with foam and begin to break it down, as it breaks down it releases harmful chemicals. These chemicals were altered in the early 90s so that the most potentially dangerous ones were no longer allowed to be used. (Before this the category of chemicals you could use in a baby mattress was in the same category as a sofa, whereas the ones for adult mattresses was far stricter in a "mattress/sleeping" category they reformed this)

However if the mattress has a plastic cover and is smooth and flat with no indentation the baby could roll into then it's fine. The guidelines state that handing mattresses on within a family is fine. If you have a mattress with all natural fibres e.g. Wool, cotton etc then it's even more fine. As long as the surface is firm, smooth and flat.

:) hope this helps

Thanks for all your comments.
Still confused!
Suppose if I can afford it better to be safe than sorry but do think we are scared into spending our money sometimes!!

Thanks bloob that was really helpful.

We've got an organic one about to be used for dc3. I thought it was probably fine but wasn't completely sure.