Used pushchairs and cot death

[Chasndave]

Hi all,

Simple question, but one I can't seem to get a straight answer to; Why do the risks around used mattresses and cot death not apply to used pushchairs also?

Thanks

C&D.

Because children sit up in pushchairs and are usually awake? I suppose if the belief is that mattresses/covers etc smother babies, then there's not a lot on a buggy/pushchair that could do that?

Surely newborns spend quite a bit of time sleeping in pushchairs? Isn't there evidence of a bacterial link to SIDS; hence the advice avoid used mattresses. If these bacteria can be present in matresses surely it follows that they can be present in the fabric of used pushchairs?

maybe there have been so few cases of babies dying while in a pushchair that no advice relating to used pushchairs has ever been needed. It is advised to use a new mattress for each child but an old one can be used as long as it is waterproof and in good condition. I reused dd's mattress for dds as it had a removable washable cover and was waterproof underneath so could be cleaned easily.

'ds' not dds btw

I think the rules about a new mattress apply to a pram carrycot as much as a moses basket or a cot.
I've always bought a new one anyway, can't decide if it apply's to sheets though, have washed them on a 60 but am still pondering.

i did some research on this before i had my twins to add to the snippets we get as mums. i read a book and some articles about cot death being realated to fireretardents in mattresses breaking down by fungus/mould to form harmfull gasses such as arsnic. it lays on the mattress and paralises the baby and therefore lungs stop working and they die. this is why we are advised for baby to sleep on their backs. the fungus/mould is common in the house and its growth is greater now than in the past due to washing powders and how warm our homes are. the study had alot of evidence and in austraila where the study was jointly performed they now advise mattress wrapping and they havent had a case of cotdeath on a wrapped mattress. babies with siblings who use a secondhand/handed down mattress were alot more likely to die than a first born (who is more likely to have a new mattress). because my twins were 3rd and 4th babies they were statistically more likely to be affected and also being a twin encreases the risks so i have tried to be informed and careful. i think they are trying to get funding about the twin risk being related to babies sharing cots.

this is from my research and what i have established from that. the sids foundation and the govenment havent got a definite answer and will not commit to anything or accept responsibility (who regulates the fire retardent? coverup???) anne diamonds baby died of sids and atonomy (one of the chemicals) was found in her mattress and of many of the mattresses from babies who died of sids. thats scary enough for me. i wasnt going to take any risks if i could help it.

i have two breathing monitors at night but my two do sleep in the buggy for daytime naps. they are not flat so if there were any harmful gasses released they wouldnt be laying in them. i bought special mattresses from babymattressesonline who also make odd sizes to order, they were cheaper than mothercare as well. in my mountain buggy carrycot i bought a new mattress.

there was a baby in a buggy in my local shopping mall who died last year from sids.

i think you are ok with secondhand sheets etc

I've found this from NZ, 100% success rate in reducing cot death.
www.amazon.co.uk/BabeSafe-Safety-Mattress-Cover-Size/dp/B0019M9K2C

It is a balance of risk. Should we have a new carseat for every baby?

How much of this is scaremongering by manufactors keen to get parents to spend money on things they do not need.

The only person who I have met in RL who has experienced a cot death did everything right. Her poor little boy was destined for a better place. It is tragic, but I am sure she could have done nothing different.

Is that whole fire-retardents+mold=arsenic hypothesis actually proven? I thought the whole point of using the label SIDS is that it's unexplained death. Are there even any statistical studies that show that babies on somewhat used (not talking ancient here, just previously used) mattresses are at greater risk of SIDS?

Intersting!

soooo the reason your concerned chasndave I understand completely.

the reasons I understand is that:

1. matteresses need to be completely flat for a newborn. If a previous baby has slept in it, it will be out of shape, therefore baby may, I say may, role into the 'dips' and suffocate - long shot maybe.

1. the pushchair as people have said is not for baby to sleep in for long preiods of time and normally you are not sleeping at the same time while pushing the pushchair (though I do get your point about carry cots etc...) yes then this would apply a new carry cot matteress is needed.

1. Bacteria harvests in the matteress.

Right then so the pushchair argument:

1. the pushchair may contain bacteria and not been cleaned properly, and I wouldnt by second hand pram for a newborn baby if I didnt know who it came from..I would use my old pram though for my new baby.

same applies to carseats..you only need a new one if its been in an accident - therfore shouldnt buy a secong hand one as you cant gaurentee its safety.

1. The pram could have come from a smoker, same as the cot materess..then yes it shouldnt be used at all and I would never use anything from a smoke filled household.

There is no law stating you shouldnt use a second hand item...cause if this was to happen all the skint moms n dads out there would be in the sh*it.

all the fabric/padding bits of my M&P pliko, MPX and car seat come off and go in the washing machine. They were second hand but I felt that they were well washed

I am going to buy new matresses for baby currently gestating now. I sort of thought they would be ok as they didn't really get any bodily fluids on them from DD.

Didn't realise this at all.

Even if it is speculative, they only cost a few pounds.

Thanks for raising this.

when we go to center parcs i take my mattresses with us as and when we went abroad i took my own travel cots rather than use their cots. i dread to think how many babies have slept on thiers and where they are stored and how old they are.
peanutbutterkid yes there are studies that statistically babies on used mattresses are more likely to die of sids. but also that babies on their front are more likely to die than ones who lie on their backs. the babies on their backs campaign reduced the cases of sids significantly. they have good evidence for the atonomy theory, and i am a scientist, this is not my field however but it is the strongest case i could find. can you imagine if the government accepted it, there would be lawsuits etc.

for a £20 mattress i am not prepared to take the risk with my babies.

BUT remember, the percentage of babies who die of sids is small.

No link between used mattresses and cot death, said American SIDS Network in 1998.
I found some more recent individual research studies that said different. I think the whole thing might be still very much up on the air.