Am I nuts for not replacing a crib mattress for second child?

[♥ms.pacman♥]

i only heard about this "new mattress for each baby" thing from DH who is the more paranoid one about everything. i think he read in baby bargains but i couldn't find it.

i did an internet search and apparently this was discussed before, six years ago:
http://www.windsorpeak.com/vbulletin...d.php?t=134970

also apparently in a UK study, reusing mattresses can increase risk of SIDS, due to bacteria that has been sitting around for a while
http://www.gurgle.com/articles/Home_...cond_hand.aspx

the whole outgassing of chemicals by new mattresses was apparently a myth, as SIDS studies showed there was no link between increased SIDS risk and chemicals in traditional (non-organic) mattresses (p. 100 on Baby Bargains)

anyway, i didn't that it was that big of a concern but considering a new mattress is only $80-100 i figured might as well get a new one when we have DC #2

[wellyes]

I think the warnings about not re-using crib mattresses are a very good warning for anyone who's looking to buy a used mattress of craigslist or at a used store. You just can't know the condition of a mattress by looking at it or even smelling it. But if you've had it all along - different story. Exact same thing with car seats.

the whole outgassing of chemicals by new mattresses was apparently a myth, as SIDS studies showed there was no link between increased SIDS risk and chemicals in traditional (non-organic) mattresses (p. 100 on Baby Bargains)

I'm not saying it causes SIDS, I'm just saying that anything that reeks of chemicals can't possibly be good. Particularly non-organic ones with flame retardant. Those things give ME a headache when I walk down that aisle at BRU, no way would I put a new baby's face right up to them. I'd also air out any carpet before putting it in a nursery.

[♥ms.pacman♥]

I'm not saying it causes SIDS, I'm just saying that anything that reeks of chemicals can't possibly be good. Particularly non-organic ones with flame retardant. Those things give ME a headache when I walk down that aisle at BRU, no way would I put a new baby's face right up to them. I'd also air out any carpet before putting it in a nursery.

oh i agree, when i bought DS's mattress (and all other nursery furniture) i was around 5-6 months preggers max so it all had a long time to air out..same thing with the Nap Nanny, i aired it out for days before using. i was just saying that in terms of SIDS, there is no increased risk using conventional (ie non-organic) new mattress, where there does seems to be an increased risk with using used ones.

i asked DH this morning where he read it about the using new mattress for each baby. i coudln't find it in Baby Bargains. in the beginning of Baby411 there is a top 10 list of things you need for baby and it says "new mattress" but i couldn't find anything else. he said he thinks he read it one of the books, but could be wrong. i wish i could find it.

[arivecchi]

I would have re-used our first Colgate Classica I if DS1 had not still been using it at the time. I would feel comfortable re-using a mattress in great condition that I purchased and that had been stored inside my house the entire time it was not in use. However, I would consider buying a new one if there was a large gap in time (maybe more than 4-5 years) or I was not entirely satisfied with the condition of the mattress for whatever reason.

[maylips]

I think the warnings about not re-using crib mattresses are a very good warning for anyone who's looking to buy a used mattress of craigslist or at a used store. You just can't know the condition of a mattress by looking at it or even smelling it. But if you've had it all along - different story. Exact same thing with car seats.

I totally agree with this. Kind of like how your bathroom toilet doesn't get cleaned every day but it somehow feels cleaner than the one at Wal-Mart that gets cleaned several times a day.

[Smillow]

I remember reading (but I don't remember where) that the issue with SIDS was only when the mattress was reused by non-siblings (or to be clearer, I suppose - a mattress from a different household)...

[bubbaray]

I didn't replace DD#1s for DD#2 (almost 3 years apart). I did "dawn" on me (because it was discussed here), but as we'd always used a waterproof mattress cover on it and it was always in the nursery, I really thought it was a non-issue.

[JBaxter]

nope. Jack is sleeping on Nathan's.

[boltfam]

I had never heard that before. What you don't learn on this board?! DS is only two and was not "hard" on his mattress, so I'm definately planning on using it for DC2.

[scrooks]

I've heard of replacing them for every kid but I'm not sure where...we did but ONLY because we bought a second crib. I would have no qualms about using either one of our mattresses for a third child.