New mattress for second baby?

[Optimistic2021]

Hi,

Just looking for opinions on whether you should buy a new mattress for a second baby or whether this is just if you are buying second hand?

My DD is 2.5 and due my second in the next few months. Do I need to buy a new next to me mattress as well as cot mattress or will the ones my daughter used/uses be ok? Both her cot/cot bed and next to me were bought new.

Thanks

Inspect both very thoroughly and decide.

Ultimately it's up to you but the advice is to buy new for each baby.

To reduce risk or sids it's recommended you get new mattresses for every baby regardless of who used them before x

I'm using the same bed but buying a new mattress. It's a SIDS risk to use an old mattress

We have bought new with a 3yo
remember not to ditch the board back of the next to me or the new mattress is more expensive!

I reused between dd and ds as the cot mattress was waterproof and the cover could be removed and washed. There is a lesser risk using a mattress between siblings than using a mattress from another household,

I bought a new mattress for a cot I bought second hand, but I wouldn't replace for a 2nd child, as long as no damage or major stains.

Really curious if anyone has scientific references for and against re-use. And also whether it might be a culture-specific kind of thing? I'm planning on re-using everything from 2 years ago, which I got second hand then. All looks totally fine on close inspection, and seems like such a waste not to. I'm very concerned about SIDS though so keen to learn more. Surely there's loads of places and situations where replacement is not an option... Is rate of SIDS higher there? Or is this a typical case of we're in a bit of a UK echo chamber and no one knows where the info came from, or why...? Same as with myths around feeding and sleeping etc.?

I was concerned but I ended up re-using the mattress for the next sibling

but I suppose if you have any doubt in your mind go for new if you can - there is no point in saving a few pound if it gives you peace of mind

The advice says definitely change if the mattress was used by another other baby/household that is not your own - this is based on research showing increased risk of SIDS, albeit not the strongest research.
If its your own child they still say may be best to change as research isn't clear. If you choose not to change you must ensure it's in really good condition, has been stored properly ie no possibility of damp or mould, firm and flat with so miss-shaped areas, no rips or tears

The lullabytrust advice:

MATTRESSES

Research has suggested an
increased chance of sudden
infant death syndrome
(SIDS) when using a second hand mattress brought
in from outside of the family home, although the link is not yet
proven. Generally, we would advise it is safest to have a new mattress
for each baby. However, we know this is not always possible.
To help reduce the risk, we’ve put a checklist together for you.

The second-hand mattress should:

• Have a well fitting 100% waterproof cover to protect from any accidents and spillages seeping into the core of the mattress.
• Have no rips or tears.
• Be in good condition and doesn’t look like it has water damage.
• Still be firm and flat and not sagging in places.
• Make sure the mattress fits the cot or Moses basket with no gaps so there is no risk of baby getting trapped.
• Make sure it has a fire-resistant label on it.

My babies were in a second-hand Moses basket for the first few months. I got a new mattress for my eldest and kept it for my second and third child too because DD1 had been in it for such a short time, and it was in great condition (removable, washable cover etc). My DC3 co-slept with me at night, so she was only really in the moses basket for daytime naps.

After the Moses basket, they went into a cot until they were about two, and I had the same mattress for all my DC too. I think the risk of cot death is less after four months.