Moses basket mattress - do I realy need a new one?

[thehouseofmirth]

Not sure I'm posting this in the right place but hope someone can please help me.

Have borrowed a moses basket from friend's Mum. Looks pristine and was used by friends's daughter about three times and for a longer period by the son of her Mum's friend.

I am borrowng it for my imminent arrival to have day time naps in.

The polyester mattress is perfectly firm and it has a remomovable washable cover.

I know current advice is always to get a new mattress for each child and I am happy to buy a new one if it is neccessary However, I am unable to find any info on exactly why you need a new mattress (although I understand one reason for this is because a pre used mattress may not be firm enough).

Does anyone know?

Is there any indentation in the mattress?

i would....

I think I read about an issue with toxic spores from milk vomit in used mattresses. I'm afraid I can't remember where I read it though, I'll see if I can find you anything.

I use a pillow in mine - much more comfortable.

Probably not the Right Thing To Do though

I didn't and dd was fine-like you said-they are only daytime naps, and so you have one eye on them all the time anyway (pfb pfb pfb!)

Mattress is firm no indentations and no stains...

DDF I would happily buy a new one if I could just find out exactly WHY it's necessary.

I wouldn't want to sleep on a well used second hand mattress, why should I want my little one to do so?

For my lo I bought the cheapest one available in mothercare. I bought new brushed cotton pillowcases which I used as sheets, the mattress fits perfectly inside. (I still use the pollow cases now!)

Well, I guess because they are used for such a short time. I don't have a problem sleeping on a well used hotel bed matresses and don't imagine DS2 will sleep for many more hours in the moses basket than I would on a average holiday (well a pre-child one anyway!)

I am happy to buy a new mattress if that is what is required but I just really want to know what the rationale is behind this advice as the only info I can find is on mattress company and mattress cleaning company websites...

TBH if the mattress looks fine I would be happy to use it

it depends on how it has been stored as matress can give off spores of some kind whih can affect breathing as far as I understood it all

I think the idea is that any bodily fluids from a previous user can rot, and give off spores, which can in theory cause cot death? Before DS was born I got a new cot mattress with a removable, impermeable cover, and then got a mattress protector for it, too. And he's never slept on it - he can't sleep alone so we co-sleep, so he's on our 4 year old mattress with us. Ho hum.

If it's a small, pillow-like mattress, can't it go in a washing machine on a gentle wash?

Qally, thank you. That's all I wanted to know! Have now bought a new mattress though if DS2 is anything like his big brother I imagine all his naps will be in the sling anyway... Planning to co-sleep with this one at night too and was also thinking the same thing about our mattress! Not about to replace £900-worth of orthopaedic mattress though.