SIDS - do I need to by a new mattress for 2nd child?

[Gangle]

Bit confused over the advice. DS2 is 3 months and about to move him from his moses basket to a cot in our room. Was going to use same cot and mattress that we had for DS1 (2 years) which was new when we bought it. As it's been used for under 2 years it's in good condition and we've never had any spillages etc on the mattress. Can we use it for DS2 or should I buy an entirely new mattress?

Sorry, meant BUY!! Atrocious spelling mistake, I blame sleep deprivation.

I'm using the same one fro DS2, mind you, I did the same with the moses basket. Nearly 7 months. What did people do in days of yore?!

I bought a mattress cover from New zealand which is meant to eliminate the risk.

I also have sensors underneath so that if the baby stops breathing for 20 seconds it alarms as loud as a smoke alarm

www.babymattresscovers.com/

I think the advice is yes, ideally you would get a new one for the 2nd child. I did (24 month gap) because I couldn't live with the what ifs etc and also my DC1 had spillages of poo, wee, sick etc. The other thing to bear in mind re spillages is dribble - apparently bacteria are in there? Someone will know.

I think they say to get another one, but if you don't to make sure you give the washable cover a good wash. I would imagine that if the cover is not washable, it is a no no.

Having said all that, I know a doctor who put all 4 of her DCs on a cot mattress that she'd had as a child 35 years previously!!

I emailed the FSID about this- their response was that it IS OK to reuse a mattress- as long as it had a washable cover, had no tears and was completely flat and firm. Obviously only a new mattress can guarantee this, you make your judgement call if you use one you used for your first child. I decided that we would reuse ours as I knew she had never been sick on it, had a washable and wipeable cover, and seemed fairly flat used for only 18 months). DD2 only went into a cot at 5 months when the risk of SIDS has begun to drop a bit. I did buy a new moses basket mattress for her though. We also were low risk for all the other factors for SIDS and I slept in the room with her until 6 months.
HTH