Baby mattresses

yumyums

Forgive me if this topic has been covered elsewhere...

My first child is due next month and I feel almost ready in terms of the practical side of things. We're lucky enough to have been given a second hand crib with a mattress that was only used a few times. I trust the person we got it from but I know current advice is to always buy a new mattress for each baby. From looking at it you can tell it's very clean and looks like it's hardly been used. It's a basic foam one, quite soft, with washable cover. We can afford to buy a new mattress but it feels like a waste to throw away a perfectly good one - what would you do?

If we do decide to buy a mattress it would have to be custom-made because of the dimensions of the crib. Have done some looking around and they're fairly inexpensive but there are just so many options (foam, latex, coir, organic...) ! What type of mattress did you have for your children?

pigpen

Buy a new one!

I just got mine back from my daughter.. it 'looked' fine but then she confessed she had bleached it to death to get rid of mould.. but the spores will still be there.. I had already bought a new one which was the only reason she confessed, I was actually really annoyed.

foam mattresses also get a hollowed bit where the head and body are laid which is one of the reasons they recommend a new one.

If anything awful happened would you ever forgive yourself knowing you had put them at this 'risk? .. however unrealistic it would be.

My new mattress was £16.99 .. kiddicare, with cashback ... is your child worth that much??

neneromanova

I never changed the mattress for my 2 DD's. It looked clean so I just hoovered it and jobs a goodun. I'll be getting a new one for this baby though as it's starting to show it's age (5+ years old)

If it looks clean enough, and you're happy to use it then I'd go with your own instincts.

go_cat

Personally I wouldn't risk it, especially if its been stored in the loft

I had a sprung mattress for our DS if that helps but it's very much each to their own

hawk30

I would buy a new one - you don't want to risk anything. And mattresses for babies are meant to be firm, not soft.

Foam mattresses are cheaper and will be fine for a crib. Spring mattresses are better if you have a cot bed as they last longer

fluffnutter

I'd buy a new one. I bought a coir spring mattress but then I have a cot, not a crib. How long do you think your baby will be using the crib?

yumyums

I think I would only use it for a few months before moving to a crib. The mattress was only used for a couple of weeks and is definitely in good condition but it is quite soft foam. I've had a feel of my friend's coir mattress and it is so much firmer and feels lovely! I have found a reasonably priced wool-wrapped coir mattress and have the option of bamboo / cotton cover. The choices are so confusing! Think I might go for bamboo if I decide to order...

Thanks for all the opinions. I'm trying not to get carried away with "new baby" spending, buying loads of unnecessary things so it's good to know that the general consensus is buying a new mattress would not be a waste.