Do I really need to get a new cot mattress?

[Bubbaloo]

Ds used his cot for just 18 months and the new baby is due in a couple of weeks.
It wasn't one of the dearer mattresses although it did come from M&P and it has a zipped outer cover with it.
Have heard it's actually best to get a new mattress for each baby,but wondered if it was really neccessary.Ds has never been sick in his cot etc...and the mattress is in very good condition-seems such a waste to get a new one when there apperas to be nothing wrong with this one.
Any advice/views would be much appreciated,please.

I didn't

But my babies ended up in my bed most of the time

I had one of those washable cover things too

Statistically, I read there is increased risk of cot death if you get a second hand mattress from someone else, but no increase if it is a mattress which you have used for your previous baby, ie. you can use it for more than one baby in the same family unit. HTH.

I used same matress for both of mine... are you sure they aren't just trying to get us to spend more money than we need to?

My second is due in Oct and will be using same mattress...i agree v. wasteful to get another especially when you have a washable cover.

You could always give it a good bashing and an air outside for an afternoon too.

Thanks-does seem a waste to buy new.

Think I'll take the cover off and wash it in the machine and leave the mattress to air.

use the smae mattress, you are being green!!

I was told the same as Mumpbump, ok for siblings.

without wanting to be contraversial!! using the same mattress for two siblings is fine SO LONG as its within its anticipated lifespan- ie, foam (whether aircool, rochingham etc) should be replaced after 2 years, a sprung will last 5 years and coir fibre ten years- hence foam useless for a cotbed! its all to do with support and correct spinal positioning apparently.

down to personal choice really, and whether you give in to FSID's scaremongering/reccomendations! If you are happy to re-use the mattress then go for it!

I'm like morningpaper.

The advice from the SIDS website is;

What kind of mattress should I use?

It is very important that your baby?s mattress is kept clean and dry. Ideally you should buy a new mattress for each new baby. If you are not able to do this, use the one you have as long as it was made with a completely waterproof cover (eg PVC) and has no tears, cracks or holes. Clean it thoroughly and dry it. Check that the mattress is in good condition; is firm, not soft; fits the cot without any gaps; and doesn?t sag. ?Ventilated? mattresses (with holes) are not recommended as it is not possible to keep the inside clean. Never sleep your baby on a pillow, cushion, bean bag or waterbed. Never sleep together with your baby on a sofa.

I have reused dd's mattress for ds as it had a removable cover which I washed and then I cleaned the mattress itself using dettol anti-bacterial spray. DD had used it for less than a year and a half so it was in good condition.

Well judging by Seona's qoute i should have bought a different one in the first place as my latex one had holes for airing. For DD2 I used the same one that DD1 had used for 3 and a bit years but as usual i put a waterproof cover on it. I'd have thought that would stop the mold spores getting through which is what id always understood the danger to be...

I thought that for siblings it was ok to use same mattress?