Remind what sort of things should I be looking for when I buy a cot matress.

[lucy5]

I am going to use dd's old cot but need to buy a matress. I went to toys r us today and they were rubbish, assistant completely useless. Anyway, somewhere in the back of my mind I remember certain materials are safer. I have a little cot 120 x 60cms and I couldn't find an exact fit in anything but polyester. The assistant tried to con me into one which was 57x117, im sure that cant't be right, big gaps etc.

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the mattress offered should be ok as any gaps should be less than 4cms. This is the info given on mothercare webiste:

What kinds of mattresses are available?

Pocket sprung mattress - individual steel springs sewn into small fabric pockets. Each spring is free to independently respond to the contours of the body, providing superior support for your babies head, neck and back.

Spring interior mattress - sturdy, coiled springs offering firm support.

Foam interior mattress - a core of foam encased in a wipeable, waterpoof non-PVC cover, providing good support and comfort.

What size mattress do I need?

Getting the right size and shape is essential as little limbs can easily get caught in gaps at the sides and ends. That?s why we always recommend that any gap should be no more than 4 cm. We have mattresses to perfectly fit all our current nursery furniture from a moses basket up to a single bed, as well as special sizes for items outside of our range. To measure the size of the mattress you need, measure the internal length and internal width of the furniture.

Mothercare had 4 in the size you are after.

p.s. I am reusing the mattress I had for dd (now 3) with ds (6 months) as it was still in good condition and had a removable, washable top cover.

I think there is some safety advice re a new mattress for each child.

This is what the SIDS website says about mattresses:

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.

p.s. I would reuse one of my own kids mattresses but wouldnt use one that had been used by someone elses child.

Thanks all! i am not reusing matress as I had dd 6 years ago and have lobbed it.