Second hand equipment

[RR1992]

Hi,

FTM here in her second trimester. I am planning on mostly using second hand equipment as my older has sister has saved loads of stuff from her last DC (aged 8) and happy to save the money. We’re planning on borrowing a next to me crib, cot, clothes, Moses basket etc. I had read online, including the Lullaby Trust website that all mattresses and bedding should be replaced. When I mentioned this to both my mum and sister they said I was being silly and they’d never heard of this and if the mattress was good quality how could it contribute to SIDs etc and bedding is fine if not stained and put through the wash. I feel a bit torn now as can equally see their point, but also feel like why would the trust make these statements if they were true?

Just after a bit of advice really and input from other mums and mums to be be.

Thanks I’m advance

I’m having my second and have got a second hand next 2 me but with a new mattress. When he moves into his big cotbed (prob around 3 months) he’ll be having his brother’s old mattress, but new sheets (mainly because of dribble stains!). My husband is a doctor and is far more chilled about the SIDS risk than me, but I’d rather err on the side of caution at the beginning at least. Congratulations on your little one!

Honestly, I got a new mattress for the next to me for each of my kids. Once I'd read that the lullaby trust recommends this I couldn't not do it, if there ever was a problem and I hadn't followed the recommendation I don't think I'd ever forgive myself. I'm not sure why this is recommended but I find alot of parenting advise the same, once you know how it 'should' be done, it's difficult to go against the advise x

We've got a second hand cot and moses basket and have bought new mattresses as that's what was recommended.

In all likelihood it would be fine to use the old mattress, but I’d get a new mattress because that’s the advice from the lullaby trust and if something were to happen I wouldn’t want to be left thinking I could have done something differently

Thanks all for taking the time to reply. Getting new mattresses is my gut feel too, I know if sometime happened I’d never be able to forgive myself or wonder if I had just got a new mattress etc.

Do you think the same rule applies to things they don’t actually sleep on - e.g baby nests? My sister has given me a coconababy and surely that’s just a small mattress? Maybe it’s different as it’s just for putting them down, not sleeping.

The Lullaby trust are obviously better sources than people who don't understand SIDS. It's really important to follow that advice even if it costs more

i got a new Moses basket for each of mine but not cot mattress. I used the ones the cot came with when it was given to us. Not that they slept in it, both preferred my bed and that mattress is ancient
I used second hand bedding.

Sleep nests are absolutely not recommended, new or otherwise. Please research with sites such as this
thesleepdept.com/everything-you-ever-needed-to-know-about-safe-sleep-practices-unsafe-sleep-products/

I would assume the reason for the advice is that you might not know the provenance of a second hand mattress, did it come from a house with smokers, pets, damp, been stored in an attic or garage etc
You know your sister and her housekeeping so I would make a common sense decision on that basis (if the stuff was bought new by her in the first place of course)

New mattress for each child and no to second hand car seats unless you are 100% certain of history.

No to sleep nests at all.

Is it not fine to use the same mattress for siblings? I'm sure I read that somewhere reputable.

Mattresses can lose firmness over time so if say two older kids slept on them they can be too soft/saggy meaning baby’s spine and therefore airway is not well supported. I changed the next to me/cot mattress for my second baby as per the advice. It’s not that big an expense, just buy new ones (make sure they fit properly) and don’t tell your sister!

Unfortunately SIDS doesn't care if a mattress was used by a sibling or not. Wear and tear, germs etc don't stop being a threat because you know who slept on it before

I thought baby nests were fine for putting baby down in - e.g taking a shower, unloading the dishwasher etc, even short supervised naps - but they aren’t safe for actual sleeping? That’s what all my research said. The baby will sleep in the next to me crib, the nest was for something easily portable to move around the house.