Second child do I need a new cot mattress??

HappySad

Mothercare brochure says that for your second and each child you need a brand new cot mattress. is this true?

Current mattress was used for 3 years by my son. It's a sprung mattress with wipeable cover on the other side.

The lastest mothercare ones have CoolMaxActive that keeps baby cool and help to prevent cotdeath... http://www.mothercare.com/gp/node/n/42826041/202-0441729-3681457?ie=UTF8&mcb=core
I'm adding the prevent cot death myself but the literture goes on about keeping baby free from dust allergies and cool (keeping cool = less chance of cot death)

Should I buy a new mattress for new baby? Are there any official advice on this? Not advice from a shop who would say that you need to buy it as they are just wanting you to spend spend spend...

That means that I need a new carry cot mattress and then also a new cot mattress...... I don't want to save money at the expense of the babies health. For example you don't use a second hand or greater than 5 year old car seat and you would otherwise by a brand new one..

plumpmouse

I always thought you should use a new one for each child.

On a personal note if I am lucky another to have another I would buy a new mattress

skylight

I have always bought new mattresses and car seats.

denton6

Hi i would buy a new mattress even if you went for a cheaper foam one this time it would last for the time you would need it.

HappySad

So why would you buy a new one then? Safety reasons?

I know for car seat you must not use second hand or greater than 5 years because of wear and tear and possible accidents.. is this the same for mattress. The current matttress looks fine to me. If for safety reason then I'll be running down to the shops now to buy a new mattress. also isthe CoolMaxActive system any good? or just a gimmick to get those like me?

inkie

Must admit that I didn't buy a new matress when I had my second child - whats the indication?

Just to add that i'm a MW and was not aware at the time of any indication for having a new matress (that's not to say there isn't any!) After all they have been in the same uterus - lol!

Spendless

Advice from FSID website

http://www.fsid.org.uk/faq-current-topics.html

inkie

Thanks for that Spendless.

Spendless

inkie wrote:

Must admit that I didn't buy a new matress when I had my second child - whats the indication?

Just to add that i'm a MW and was not aware at the time of any indication for having a new matress (that's not to say there isn't any!) After all they have been in the same uterus - lol!

IIRC there was a Roger Cook investigation programme (sometime mid 90s???) that looked into possible causes of cot-death. The programme came to conclusion that a chemical/material??? used in making mattresses could be to blame. The Government had already followed this line of enquiry but dismissed it. However the papers picked up on it and parents all started buying new mattresses. My memories are vague though. How long ago did you qualify as a MW its possible some of your colleagues may remember the story better than me.


ETA-http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml;jsessionid=LWWL31UQCGS3JQFIQMGCFGGAVCBQUIV0?html=/archive/1998/05/22/ncot22.html

babysaver

I bought new mattresses for 2nd baby - although both were born in the 90s so maybe I was influenced by Roger Cook :rolleyes:

Used the same cot, pram etc but bought new mattresses for safety reasons (but that might be out of date now!)

Mrs_B_12

I got new mattresses because of official advice, probably health visitor, but also personally I think it makes sense anyway. Babies spend an awful lot of time sleeping, puking, drooling and pooing in their beds, shedding skin too!