Reusing crib mattress

keags5496

We have a really nice crib mattress that we used with DS. I thought I had read somewhere that reusing the mattress increased SIDS risk but I can't remember if that was reliable? Anyone know if reusing would be a no-no and why? TIA.

littlepig2

I've heard it's no no but I'm also not a doctor nor do I have any kids yet!

woody26

Really?? I never heard or thought of this...I'm going to ask my DD Dr.

azzyberry

I've never heard of that. My DD is currently using my DS's old crib mattress and I planned on passing it down to this LO as well. I don't see how it could be a SIDS risk.

neener*neener*

I have heard not to reuse them also but I'm not sure if that was between your own children or not reusing one from another home?!

Kedra231

They claim it's from the gases a mattress gives off, but most mattresses have off-gassed by the time your 2nd child uses them, & you can buy special "wrappings" if you're really concerned, but a lot of the sites I found were last updated in 2006 & many were from overseas, & they all mentioned how putting your baby on their back reduces it, and how there are more in the winter due to over-heating, covers, etc. (I'm guessing they're talking "re-breathing"), but they've long-term said that having a small fan on just to circulate the air can help.

I'd look up the American Pediatrics site, Mayo Clinic site, see what they say, & if you're still worried, look up the wrapping, but I was told the most important part was to make sure it was firm, that it fit the crib, that the fitted sheets fit snugly, that you don't have a lot of crap in the crib like stuffed animals/blankets, & that finally, yes, crib mattresses used for your first was ok for your 2nd.

Just save yourself some effort, & look up the year published & the location published before you freak yourself out reading it.  Some are college projects for crying out loud that just pulled the info off of a site, but haven't done any research on their own, or even quoted a wide range of sources.  

slwprincess

We are reusing ours for the 3 rd time. I put this one in the "overboard" category as far as parent paranoia. While I understand not buying a used crib mattress, I think reusing one from a previous child is perfectly fine.

Tally06

We will be buying a new mattress. In beginning to research this, I came across this website which sites many peer reviewed studies on the dangers of reusing a crib mattress. A new mattress is About $150. I would rather spend that then take the risk.
https://www.stopsidsnow.com/index.html
https://www.stopsidsnow.com/Research.html

ETA This website does appear to be connected with the sale of a product to wrap the mattresses so it's credibility might be questionable. I am going to further look into it but regardless will buy a new mattress.

"Crib death (SIDS) is caused by poisonous gases generated in the baby's sleeping environment. The gases concerned are phosphines, arsines, and stibines, which are all extremely toxic nerve gases.The danger of crib death increases as a mattress is re-used from one baby to the next."

"A large amount of research relating to the toxic gas theory has been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Every step in the fungal generation of toxic gases from infant bedding has been proved. Mattress-wrapping for crib death prevention is supported by wider research than supported the introduction of various items of traditional advice (including face-up sleeping)".

"Why does the risk of crib death rise from one baby in a family to the next?
Many parents re-use crib mattresses from one baby to the next. If a mattress contains phosphorus, arsenic or antimony and certain household fungi have become established in the mattress during previous use by another baby, generation of toxic gas commences sooner and in greater volume when the mattress is re-used for the next baby".

slwprincess

Tally06 said:

We will be buying a new mattress. In beginning to research this, I came across this website which sites many peer reviewed studies on the dangers of reusing a crib mattress. A new mattress is About $150. I would rather spend that then take the risk.
https://www.stopsidsnow.com/index.html
https://www.stopsidsnow.com/Research.html

"Crib death (SIDS) is caused by poisonous gases generated in the baby's sleeping environment. The gases concerned are phosphines, arsines, and stibines, which are all extremely toxic nerve gases.The danger of crib death increases as a mattress is re-used from one baby to the next."

"A large amount of research relating to the toxic gas theory has been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Every step in the fungal generation of toxic gases from infant bedding has been proved. Mattress-wrapping for crib death prevention is supported by wider research than supported the introduction of various items of traditional advice (including face-up sleeping)".

"Why does the risk of crib death rise from one baby in a family to the next?
Many parents re-use crib mattresses from one baby to the next. If a mattress contains phosphorus, arsenic or antimony and certain household fungi have become established in the mattress during previous use by another baby, generation of toxic gas commences sooner and in greater volume when the mattress is re-used for the next baby".

I have a few issues here.  First of all, I don't believe the scientific/medical community has definitively agreed on the cause of SIDS.  If they had, I believe we would see more specific guidelines on preventing it and the cases of SIDS would be dropping significantly.  The problem is that there is no definitive cause so the medical community has to advise to avoid several different items/behaviors (avoid extra crib bedding, stomach sleeping, use a FIRM mattress, etc.) to ATTEMPT to prevent it. But none of these are guaranteed to prevent it.  There are parents who have followed all the medical advice and still their babies have died of SIDS.  It really is one of the scariest parts of parenthood just because there are no real answers.  I guess I have to question any site that claims one particular cause over another.  Secondly, if off-gassing is really to blame (and again, I'm not at all convinced that it is) then why would a NEW mattress be better when those materials are clearly going to be earlier in the off-gassing process?  And lastly, in the last paragraph, I see a big IF there.  IF the mattress contains these materials or fungi.  Again, I feel like this one goes in the "overboard" category but hey, to each his own.

Tally06

I agree that the site needs to be looked into. I added that into my original comment. I want to look at the peer reviewed studies they base their conclusions on. I just haven't looked much into it yet. You can check out the studies by clicking on the Research tab on the side-bar.

samanthadarneille

We just bought our daughter her full size mattress and plan to re-use her crib mattress.

KTdidit

I will reuse DS's crib mattress for this baby, provided we get him a twin size before the baby comes. Flame me if you must, but this mattress was actually given to me by a woman I was working with when I had DS. She had it for her granddaughter for when she spent the night and didn't need it anymore. And no she wasn't some random coworker, we were pretty close. DS is fine, never had any problems.

I put this in the "paranoia overboard" category also.

Kedra231

kaholland4 said:

I will reuse DS's crib mattress for this baby, provided we get him a twin size before the baby comes. Flame me if you must, but this mattress was actually given to me by a woman I was working with when I had DS. She had it for her granddaughter for when she spent the night and didn't need it anymore. And no she wasn't some random coworker, we were pretty close. DS is fine, never had any problems.

I put this in the "paranoia overboard" category also.

Just going to say, we bought the kids two TWIN serta mattresses at Big Lots, each were under $100, but then we went to Fleet Farm to look around (if you have one of those nearby), & they had twin mattresses for a bit cheaper, &, they seemed to be a bit more comfortable than the ones we bought.  Just FYI, b/c we spent a lot of time checking furniture/bed stores, & for the quality, warranty, brand, & price, that was the best option esp. b/c we needed 2.  (I bought foam mattress toppers to soften their beds up just a bit & that's a cheap way to change them a bit, & expand the mattress life).

GirlyGirl319

We plan on buying DS a twin mattress soon and will be re using his crib mattress for this baby.

KimbaleeZay

We'll be reusing ours for #3.  #2 is currently using it now.  

mom2case

I bought a used crib with a used mattress for DD *gasp!* and she was fine. I bought a softer used mattress for her once she moved to the toddler bed. Her original mattress (which was a $40 Walmart mattress in the first place) will be used again for this baby. I get not wanting to use a 20 year old crib mattress, but the suggestion to not use a mattress for more than one child is nuts to me.