Do I really need a brand new mattress?

[LittleBoyJuly2020]

I've been given a Chicco Next2Me crib that's in excellent condition. Mattress used with waterproof sheets etc.
Friend told me not to bother with a new mattress and just buy a mattress topper instead to put on top of existing mattress.

I keep reading so many conflicting things on whether this is acceptable. I can't see the problem myself so what am I missing?

I will buy a new mattress if it's necessary but if a new mattress topper will suffice, I'd rather do that. Any suggestions?

Do you NEED a new mattress? I would say no, not if you know where the cot came from and that it's a non smoking, clean home. A mattress topper and new bedding would be fine.

If I was buying second hand from a stranger, I personally would want a new mattress just for hygiene reasons. It's not am absolute NEED, it's just something I would want.

Buy a new mattress. You should even buy new mattresses for subsequent siblings. SIDS research has shown that, for inexplicable reasons, babies sleeping on mattresses used for more than baby are at a higher risk of SIDS. The advice is there for a reason and for peace of mind, I would just buy a new mattress.

@Spoons1987 I'm pretty sure that advice about SIDS has been scientifically disproven now.

I've always bought one for each new baby in our family. When they're bigger, and move into toddler beds etc, then they get second hand mattresses, but for the crib/cot stage they each got new. Reused all the mattress toppers and sheets, but new mattress each. Wasn't worth the risk in my view. Relatively small cost, given I bought the cots/cribs secondhand, or was given them.

@sel2223 Lullaby Trust still advise a new mattress for each baby, but recognise this might not always be possible. I think if this is at all possible for OP then it would be wise to err on the side of caution?

I think the research is problematic because lower socioeconomic groups are more likely to use mattresses multiple times, but the higher rate of SIDS in those communities may be due to other factors (ie. smoking, lower birth weight babies and lower bf rates) rather than the mattresses. But with such a mystery as SIDS, I would personally go with whatever advice is given.

You're saving lots of money by being given the cot, buy a mattress.

I had no idea the SIDS link had been disproven. We have brought a new mattress for siblings, it just isn't worth it. As pp said you've saved money by not having to buy anything for baby to sleep in so why not buy a new mattress.

I would think a mattress topper is usually softer than a mattress so this wouldn't be a suitable sleep surface.

I was told it had been disproven by the midwife and, looking online, most articles suggesting you should buy a new mattress are 15-20 years old.
The current NHS information about SIDS makes no mention of mattresses at all and other websites suggest it as a precaution.
Many people would rather err on the side of caution but I was simply saying to the OP that it's not a must.

Obviously common sense has to come into play....do you know where it comes from? was there pets or smoking etc in the home? Is it stained? How old is the mattress and how long was it used for?
If you can afford it then buy a new mattress, if not, don't panic about it.

It's to do with mould/bacteria etc so a 3 year old mattress stored in a damp garage is more risky than a crib in spotless condition used recently for just a few months if that makes sense. If in any doubt at all, ask yourself if it's worth it.

Buy a new mattress. They’re not that expensive

I found that the mattress that comes with the chicco next to me was so insanely hard that DS couldn't sleep on it at all, and ended up buying another mattress anyway. It was perfectly safe for a newborn, but not rock solid. I vote for a new mattress!

So a mattress topper is not suitable to sleep on because it's too soft? Why do they sell them if that's the case? Not geing defensive but just curious, it's all very new to me and I didn't realise there were so many do's and don'ts x

Probably the same reason you can still buy cot bumpers, which have been the cause of death in several tragic cases :(

They still sell cot bumpers and they aren't safe either. For safe sleep guidance the lullaby trust are your best information source.
My cot is second hand and out mattress is new, babies should be on a firm flat surface to sleep.

sel I wouldn't pass on second hand knowledge from a midwife as being the same as something being "scientifically disproven". I'm not saying it hasn't been, but you don't have evidence for that it seems.
My dc are both a lot younger than 15 so it seems odd I read that a new mattress per baby was the safest way.

You dont need a new mattress and you should not use a topper
The SIDS scare was unproven, the antimony in the babies was from passive smoking

So a mattress topper is not suitable to sleep on because it's too soft? Why do they sell them if that's the case? Not geing defensive but just curious, it's all very new to me and I didn't realise there were so many do's and don'ts

It’s about reducing risk - an old mattress or mattress topper aren’t inherently dangerous, research has just shown it is safest to not use one. A bit like how walking somewhere would be safer than driving - driving isn’t dangerous as such, otherwise we wouldn’t do it, but walking definitely carries less risk. A new mattress shouldn’t cost the earth - so for the sake of minimising risk I would get a new one.

I'd buy one new for you but I didn't get new in the 10 months from DS using it and DD using it. It was kept in a professional storage and DD sleeps exclusively in my bed anyway!!

@Watertorture 'scientifically disproven' was the exact phrase my midwife used.
Yes, it's second hand information, but this is a chat forum where the sole purpose is to give advice based on our own experiences and what information we've been told. It's no different to quoting a website or something that happened to a friend or family member.
It doesn't seem odd to me that you read it within the last 15 years, all the info is still on the web, it didn't vanish, but when you look at the dates you'll find that these recommendations were from research carried out in the early 00's....as stated previously, many websites still recommend it as a 'precaution' for reasons already mentioned in this thread but there is no hard evidence linking it to SIDS.

I bought a new mattress for the beside me cot we bought second hand from a friend just for peace of mind for £17. Small price to pay for your baby and you and you won't need to worry xx

You can get a non-branded Next to me mattress off Amazon for around £30, which is what we did when we got our crib second hand from a friend. A decent mattress topper would probably not be too much cheaper, it's worth just replacing it and being done with it!

The below is a paragraph from the lullaby trust website on this page lullaby trust

“ Our advice for using second-hand mattresses
It can be common to use a second-hand mattress either from friends and family, or from your previous children. There is some research that found an increased chance of SIDS when using a second-hand mattress brought in from outside of the family home, although the link is not yet proven.
To help reduce this risk, if you are using a second-hand mattress make sure the mattress you choose was previously completely protected by a waterproof cover, with no rips or tears and is in good condition. The mattress should also still be firm and flat to keep your baby sleeping safely.“

I would use a 2nd hand mattress between siblings (and did for dd and ds). I wouldnt use a 2nd hand mattress from another family as there is an elevated risk of SIDS from doing so.

www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/mattresses-and-bedding/

NHS info:

If you're borrowing a crib or a cot, or using one that's been used by another of your children, you should ideally buy a new mattress.

If you can't do this, use the cot mattress you have, as long as it's firm (not soft), flat, fits the cot with no gaps, is clean, and waterproof