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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

New baby, new mattress?

20 replies

Pumpkin20 · 13/05/2009 11:02

The Mothercare catalogue advises that you should get a new cot mattress for a new baby. Is this a sales ploy or are there any genuine orthopaedic or hygiene reasons to get a new one?

DD will have slept on it for about 18 months and hasn't had any accidents on it. New baby will use it from newborn.

Many thanks

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

pop1973 · 13/05/2009 11:05

Well I am buying a new mattress for the newborn. I just think it is nicer for the newborn to have a new mattress in my opinion. I am not buying anything else new for the baby as I have kept everything else for it. But it is up to you entirely.

RFCMummy · 13/05/2009 20:10

I am expecting DC3 and not buying a new mattress but will be buying a waterproof mattress cover to go over the mattress that has been used by DD's 1 & 2

fucksticks · 13/05/2009 20:12

I asked my MW this and she said new mattress needed if current one was quite old, had been stored in loft or somewhere dusty or if it had been passed on from elsewhere.
Mattress used recently by new baby's sibling and kept well is fine.

mumnumberone · 14/05/2009 15:24

Sorry to worry you but there has been shown to be a link between cot death and used matresses. The risk is increased further if the matress comes from a different home.

If you search for "used matress cot death" on the net you can read the opinions/evidence for yourself and make your own judgement to the risks involved.

Laboratorymum · 28/05/2010 23:06

Don't get confused between 'links' and 'causes'. Science is a trick beast and you need to remember that ever researcher out there is trying to make their name (and fortune).

There was a proven 'link' between coffee and cancer. As it turns out this was purely due to the fact that people who drank high levels of coffee also tended to smoke (the combined coffee and cigarette break) and it was the smoking that 'caused' the higher incidence of cancer.

The NHS Direct website has summaries of the official results of the major studies, all of which were inconclusive. As yet, no government advice for reducing the risk of SIDS has ever included buying a new mattress.

Ths is not an opinion one way or the other, just some advice on how to rationalise the reams of out of date/incorrect/biased/sensationalist etc 'evidence' that can be found on the web.

Hope this helps.

japhrimel · 29/05/2010 00:09

I can see that a mattress from a different home could be a risk - for all you know they are smokers, have lots of visitors who are smokers or let pets lie on the mattress.

The MW advice above sounds like good common sense.

Hevster · 29/05/2010 06:50

personally we will be getting a new matress for DD2 as I like to eliminate all risks as much as I can, whether anything has been proven or not. If something happened to DD2 I wouldn't want to spend the rest of my life wandering if I could have prevented it by forking out £50 on a new matress. I may well be over the top but such is life, we are all different.

SqueezyB · 29/05/2010 09:38

DD's cot and mattress were passed on from her cousin, and DC2 will be using the same one. I wouldn't use one 2nd hand from someone I didn't know, and I wouldn't use one that was old or tatty etc, but one that is newish and in good condition should be fine.

I remember looking into all the stats on mattresses and cot death when DD was born and it was all very inconclusive - other factors such as smoking/temperature/prem baby etc are much more risky.

merlin8878 · 29/05/2010 10:07

I borrowed a moses basket and a crib with DD1 and bought new mattresses for them as the family and friends we borrowed them off smoked (just gave the basket and crib a good scrubbing and lots of airing time). Then when she was a bit bigger bought a new cot bed and mattress.

When DD2 arrived we got our own crib (second hand) and bought a new mattress for it, then when she was 6 months old moved her into the cot bed DD1 had been using (DD1 was 3 by this point).

TBH we didn't even think about buying a new mattress for the cot bed then as they're quite expensive (I prefer 'proper' mattresses in the cot bed rather than a foam one) and it had a zip off top cover and has a waterproof layer under that to protect the mattress, so it was still in really good condition.

Now I'm expecting DC3 and we've been wondering whether to get a new mattress for the cot bed (definitely need one for the crib if we decide to use it as I ripped it). DP says as its 'done the other 2, it will be ok for this one'. But after seeing the advice in an earlier post I will be insisting on a new one. It hasn't been used since last August when we moved house and since then its been kept in the loft. It looks ok, but there are a few marks on the underside which can only have happened since the move.

And it will put my mind more at ease if we buy a new one now.

LadyintheRadiator · 29/05/2010 16:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JenniferCanesten · 29/05/2010 19:08

Arggghhh, pfb stressout!!! Have been given a cotbed from family friend (who I don't know) which the baby won't use til he is about 1 so not going to worry about that other than putting a mattress protector on it.

But to start with he will be in a bedside crib I bought on ebay. The couple I bought it from were really nice sweet people, so am not TOO worried...but I would ideallylike to replace the mattress, except that it is an unusual size and I can't find a mattress the right size (45 x 88cm) in my budget. Do you think a mattress protector would be ok?

WWYD?

InTheZenGarden · 29/05/2010 19:11

I need to look into this, as DS is due in September, and I wanted to re-use DD's cot mattress, which she used for 20 months or so. I thought I read on here a while ago that FSID now said that you could re-use a mattress, as long as you were happy with where it came from and got it steam cleaned?

JenniferCanesten · 29/05/2010 20:53

babymattressesonline.co.uk/

After resuming my search for funny-sized crib mattress, with not much luck due to budget, mainly, came across this website and thought maybe useful for others too? They will custom-make a natural mattress for under £40.00.

Lucky little pfb...

Kiwiinkits · 31/05/2010 04:56

Requiring a new mattress for every baby is complete and utter hysteria, in my opinion. Millions of babies all around the world are born into mud huts and shanties and slums. They sleep on sheets and old blankets, curled up with their siblings and their parents. And they are TOTALLY FINE. Our mothers put us in second hand cribs and baskets. And we were TOTALLY FINE.
I can't believe how paranoid (and gullible) our consumer generation is about miniscule risks, we really need to get a grip. So flame me.

Kiwiinkits · 31/05/2010 05:05

I've been reading too much "Am I being Unreasonable" and I realise I came across a bit strong in my post (above). Sorry if I've caused offence to anyone?

Truth is, I'm not telling people in real life that I'm using a second hand bassinet and cot for our baby. I'm keeping it hush-hush because I know I'll be frowned-upon. Just like I hide the fact that I have a small glass of wine and a few bits of sushi every now and then!

mtor · 31/05/2010 05:25

Kiwiinkits I think that you have a great attitude. The problem is that once you have been warned about something it is difficult not to take preventative action in case (if) the worst happens in addition to grief you would also feel guilt. I can understand this and try to take a measured approach. Recently however I gave away my moses basket and felt guilty that I hadn't bought them a new mattress to go inside it (I nearly did buy a new one). Instead gave them the information and left it to them to make a choice. Had to give myself a good talking to about being sily though.

Thandeka · 31/05/2010 07:33

The reason they say new matress is because SIDS incidence is much higher in second babies than first so someone jumped to the conclusion it must be cot matresses. I looked loads into the evidence and is very inconclusive so in end I kept my second hand but practically new super swanky cot matress from eBay for my pfb, but did buy new Moses basket matress as old one should probably be replaced. Dd is in side cot next to me so that reduces SIDS risk as my breathing makes her breathe better. Biggest SIDS risk is smoking anyhow- remove that from equation and other risks minimal in comparison. But totally get that fear about what would happen if your child died of SIDS and you hadn't brought anew matress you would always blame yourself.

megdizzy · 01/07/2019 13:24

New baby New Mattress ?

You should NOT use a mattress for a second or third child if :-

You do not know its history how it was looked after and how it has been maintained and cleaned
If the Mattress does not have washable covers and the core is not protected.
If the mattress has the slightest dip or dent, - not supportive.
If the mattress is yours and you stored it in the loft and did you seal it in a plastic bag and it is not thoroughly washable, and does not have protection to the core.

You can use a mattress for another child if :-

You know its history and how well it was looked after
The mattress has a protector (preferably wipe clean and or washable) that will prevent body fluids getting to the core (foam or springs) and the protector sits under the cover and over the foam.
The covers have been washed regularly at 60°c the temperature requite to kill dust mites.

4 ) The mattress has no visible dents or dips has been well maintained and turned frequently

The mattress has been stored clean and sealed in plastic. All covers or toppers protective core cover machine washable at 60°c . A fixed waterproof protective base cover can be cleaned with an anti-bacterial cleaner like Milton.

The world is changing we are thinking about the environment and questioning committing all these mattresses to landfill. Foam takes thousands of years to bio degrade.
Consider buying a very good top quality mattress made with pocket springs covered by very high density foam with waterproof protection and breathable washable covers or toppers could out see the life of your cot where you pass the cot on to a friend or use it for your grandchildren.

Angelinthenightx · 01/07/2019 13:44

I would buy new, cot can be re-used just wouldnt chance a matress ,thats just my view im a worrier x

LouH1981 · 01/07/2019 14:01

Hi, I think, (if I remember reading this correctly) that it’s the growth of bacteria from an old mattress that can be dangerous. And I think possible connected to cot death (without putting the frighteners up anyone). To be on the safe side, I’m buying new moses basket mattresses and cot mattress mainly because the mb ones have been in our damp and dusty loft and my son still uses his cot bed mattress in his little toddler bed. I’m a worry wart so can be over precautios though but I’m sure that’s what I read xx

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