SIDS - conflicting advice online

[Angelina77]

Just after a bit of advice from anyone who's looked into SIDS and what you can do to reduce risk.

I've found various things online that say it is caused by mold growing in mattresses and blankets but the NHS site says the causes are unknown.

Although I've got a brand new cot, I've got a second hand travel system (up to 2 years old with 2 babies having used it previously) and I was planning to use the pram part for daytime sleeping, like a moses basket. My car seat is also second hand and he will probably spend a fair amount of time in it. My other worry is that I have a new foam mattress on my bed which is giving off an earthy smell which I'm paranoid is mildew forming inside (there are no visible marks on it but the smell is odd) and he'll be sleeping in the same room.

Am I being paranoid? Would you use the second hand pram mattress or should I buy a new one? Should I worry about the bed mattress or not? I'm 36 wks with my first so not much time left to get organised.

Sorry to hijack but does this mean people but new car seats for subsequent children? We have reused our first one with ds2, (no accidents, less than 5yr gap) and then shelled out £300+ on erf seats....

Susannah as long as it has not been in an accident and is withing the expiry date time frame, I'm sure it would be fine to use.

Angelina, you sound like a great mother by researching and trying to reduce the risks.

However, I was advised by my midwife to not use a travel cot for regular sleeping. We were going to use one downstairs.
Something to do with them not being firm enough.

We have now gone for the SnuzPod bedside crib so we can use that upstairs and the crib bit can detach from the frame and be used downstairs like a Moses basket.

clargo I did a fair bit if research about the cot/using a travel cot as a main cot, and couldn't find anything negative. The mattress is very firm, I was worried it would be too firm.

Hi OP. it's a flipping minefield and I suspect most of the time SIDS is one of those awful things that just happens.

Based on my research.... Smoking is number one hazard.

Hasn't heard about mould. But did read a lot about flame retardants in mattresses. Legally they are required so I got a lovely mattress made from Sheeps wool online. Apparently it's naturally flame retardant so no chemicals. I love it and its from a company called little green sheep.

I hadn't heard about car seats and the covers etc. will look into this.

There is the obvious overheating risk - but you don't want too cool either or baby won't sleep. I don't really understand the overheating risk as babies in hot countries don't seem to have a higher incidence of SIDS.

Finally I LOVE my angelcare monitor. Best investment ever. Had lots of "false alarms" with DC1 which turned out to be because she had an undiagnosed heart condition (fine now).