Reusing a mattress?

[freddie]

As I understand it, the official advice is to buy a new mattress for every baby. Does anyone know why?? Is it due to the risk of it sagging etc? I am due baby number 3, I bought new mattresses for previous 2, but just wondering whether I need to again... It gets expensive! The mattress I have currently is an organic Little Green Sheep one, all natural materials and nice and firm. No sagging or dips. It has been used in my side car cot for my now 2 year old. It hasn't had heavy use as he normally sleeps on my mattress rather than on the cot mattress. Does this actually need to be replaced do you think??

 

[trudie100]

I didn't know about having to replace the matress either until a friend told me

Apparently it's because it reduces the risk of cot death and once I read that I just brought a new one and suffered it ha - I also had a really good one and had to pay another £90 but apparently the rule is new baby, new matress

I also read it's something to do with bacteria that can build up in old matress even if it's your own one that's been well looked after - apparently it's there but you can't see it x

 

[SparkleUK]

The lady in mother are told me it was because of dust mites and bacteria.
I'm gonna be honest, I'm reusing my little girls!!!
We co slept and still do so it's barely used, I gave it a good clean, Hoover and it's never been stored in a loft or garage.

 

[STB Mummyof3]

I've heard it should be a new one every baby, also not sure why but heard it increases the risk of cot death.

Xx

 

[joo]

I have bought new Moses basket mattress and new crib mattress, but when he goes in the cot, probably 6months old minimum, I will probably reuse the one we bought with it, my daughter is still using it at the moment on her cot bed.

 

[Cazran25]

I've got a new one for the Moses basket but was planning on using the same one DD had for 2 years, had no idea that this wasn't "safe"....
It's always had a cover on it which I'm planning on buying new as she has it on her new bed now.
Feeling a bit paranoid now 😐

 

[Rhiannon137]

I've never heard this advice and am not planning to follow it. My son is still in his crib, but I expect he will start climbing out at any point and it will move into baby sister's room. The mattress has been used pretty much every day for two years but has a removable, washable waterproof cover; has always been used with an extra cover over that; and shows no signs of sagging, compression or loose fit in the crib. I would be more concerned if the mattress had been in storage for some time - especially in a garage, shed or basement that might favor mold growth.

I wonder if this recommendation was initiated by the same baby retailers that publish lists of "must have" items that include completely unnecessary things.

 

[Sophiejash]

I'm planning on reusing the cot mattress my daughter used until about 3 weeks ago (moved her into a new bed, wanted to get her settled into a bed with no sides before the little one came along) She's now 2 and 2 months and has been sleeping on the mattress since 4 months old. It has a zip-off mattress protector, I've always used a waterproof mattress protector on top of that and the fitted sheet. We can't spend another £100 on a new mattress, it's just seems silly when the one we have I'm sure is perfectly fine 😃 X

 

[Nibblenic]

Is it not because the chemicals they use to make the mattress fire ******ant break down with bodily fluids and create toxins which are then breathed in/absorbed?

Same with adult mattresses, which is why it is recommended to replace roughly every 8 years, but obviously adults can process these chemicals more easily

 

[caz_hills]

I read this too and I said to my husband that we need to get new mattresses for the Moses basket, crib and cot. He said it wasn't necessary and I said I was worried about cot death.

I think I will get new ones as otherwise I will always worry but haven't really understood why in detail.

I don't want to take any risks x

 

[lilmisscaviar]

I've honestly never heard this before. Now I understand why so many people sell used cribs without mattresses and why nobody wanted ours when I was trying to get rid of it. My DD was only a year old when I had my DS so we had to buy a new mattress for him anyways since DD was still in a crib. Now my DD is using her crib mattress for her cot. We had to buy DS a new one already since he flattened the mattress we had in his crib by jumping on it. We were planning on buying the baby a new mattress anyways, but thank you so much for posting this. If we have any more children, now I know.

 

[lynnikins]

its due to the breakdown of the fire stuff in the mattress making potential issues and increasing risk of cot death,

saying that though ive not replaced with every child and all mine are alive lol the mattress I have is high quality anyway and has always has protective covers on it and gets aired regulalrly