Reusing 1st child's crib mattress?

Bakeration · March 2011

DH insists that we will reuse DD's crib mattress for #2 but I had read that this has been linked to SIDS in Europe a couple years ago. Would love thoughts, feedback, etc. Thank you!

slgilbert · March 2011

Thats a new one. I will be reusing mine (and it's 7 years old). I think as long as it's clean and dust free- pillow and blanket-around-the-head-area free, you will be in the clear. My sister re used her crib mattresses for all 4 of her kids, and they are all very much alive and healthy.

But that's interesting....

justme04 · March 2011

I used a hand me down crib mattress from my cousin...who used it for all 3 of her kids.

We would have used the mattress for the new baby in June. But we decided to move DS into a toddler bed instead of straight into a twin bed. So we ended up buying a new mattress.

Edit- The truth is that no one knows what causes SIDS....much like cancer. So just about anything can be linked as a cause if you really feel like it.

changingnames · March 2011

If the mattress meets all the current requirements how would it be less safe for DC2 than it was for DC1? As soon as your DC1 slept on it the mattress was used yet not unsafe for the child using it- do you follow my logic here?

MrsCarroll.6-10-07 · March 2011

My mattress for DD#2 is from 2004 and I am using it. It was used with my niece, my cousin, my DD#1, and now DD#2. It has always been well cared for and I thought nothing of reusing it.

Schugar · March 2011

We bought a new one. The SIDS risk is supposed to be linked to bacteria and mold from spit up, etc. that works its way into the mattress over time. While it doesn't affect an older child with a more developed system, they say maybe babies are more sensitive. There are only 2 studies I can find on this, but they say that the risk is significant if you reuse a mattress from your own child, and even higher if you use a mattress from another family. I agree with PP that we don't really know what causes SIDS, we just know factors that are associated with a higher SIDS risk.

amahrey · March 2011

huh. i would (and am going to) resuse a mattress. if you're really worried, get one of those zip on covers that totally covers the whole mattress.

amahrey · March 2011

not that i'm going to spend the whole morning searching, but i just tried to find an actual study that showed this link and the only thing i found was the berkely parents page where your info was c&p from (a posters reply and their link to the study didn't work) and a website by a chiropractor who can "prescribe" a cure for sids and your child.

i'm all for being a little bit of a paranoid parent and trying to keep your kids safe, but i think i wouldn't worry about re-using a crib mattress. there is probably a greater chance of being hit by lightening or eaten by sharks than this being a true proven thing.

tamarnina · March 2011

I plan on reusing my son's mattress for the next one. I doubt any bacteria has survived for the past year when the mattress was unused. I also would want to look at the study in detail before determining whether to freak out about the mattress. Of course, I am also reusing the dropside crib, so just pile the used mattress up in my "bad mom" tally.

Phillychickadee · March 2011

We are totally reusing. DS is still in it actually, and it was given to us from SIL.

I don't have the SIDS worry at all. My worry was that if it was stored in an attic or basement it might have mold, bed begs or something like that. But since it was in use up until the point that we got it, I thought it was fine.

sarainkansascity · March 2011

1st of all, your DD is adorable! 2nd, I've never heard this SIDS reference either. We plan to reuse our crib mattress, and it was used for 2.5 years with our DD.

alyson686 · March 2011

changingnames:
If the mattress meets all the current requirements how would it be less safe for DC2 than it was for DC1? As soon as your DC1 slept on it the mattress was used yet not unsafe for the child using it- do you follow my logic here?

My thoughts exactly!