Would you accept a used crib mattress?

eebaehr

I am on the fence here ladies, so give me your opinions..My SIL has a used crib mattress she REALLY wants us to use for this baby, and when she first mentioned it, I said wonderful we'll take it.  I am not the kind to turn down something just because it's used, but then I started thinking about it.  The mattress hasn't been used in 4 years, and I am not sure where it is currently being stored (I imagine a garage or her dank basement) and I'm just starting to think maybe we shouldn't take it.   I randomly googled if there was anything wrong with used crib mattresses, and a scary SIDS study done in New Zealand popped up.  I am torn because I know you can't trust everything you read online, but yikes!  The study seemed legit..She will be butt hurt if we tell her no, but I just don't think I want to take it.  They aren't crazy expensive or anything.

 

For those curious about the SIDS correlation with used mattresses found in the study, from what I could understand it concluded that a normal fungus found in homes, in high enough numbers, could stop a babies normal breathing pattern.  Hence the whole put them to sleep face up thing, so they arent inhaling the fungus, which camps out nicely in their mattress.  The connection being that a used mattress would already have a head start on this fungus from the first baby, and then it would be present in higher, dangerous levels for the next baby to use it.  Apparently New Zealand has used this information to reduce their SIDS victims..

SoCoGirl

If it makes you sleep better at night get a new mattress.  I am sure she will be fine with it if you tell her it came with the crib anyways

persephonerose

Somethings I do not mind second hand, but the crib, the car seat, and the mattress I would feel much better if I had new. Even without reading that scary report, having a used mattress just seems like a bad idea. I agree with PP I'm sure if you say the mattress was part of a deal with the crib your SIL wont think twice about it. 

FrickandFrack

persephonerose:

Somethings I do not mind second hand, but the crib, the car seat, and the mattress I would feel much better if I had new. Even without reading that scary report, having a used mattress just seems like a bad idea. I agree with PP I'm sure if you say the mattress was part of a deal with the crib your SIL wont think twice about it. 

I agree with this.

ChristinaDawn

Mattresses are one of those things that I will always buy new, especially for my baby just because I'm a germaphobe like that.  I'm good with many other second hand items, but as PP said, a crib and a mattress are items I's but new.  The carseat I would only take from friends or family and only if it had been used for a short time, in excellent condition and never in an accident.

mnieciecki

I've debated this myself, but I am opting for a new crib and mattress.  I rather know that my baby is sleeping on something new and clean without the worry of what came into contact with it previously.  You can't wash a mattress like you can clean 2nd hand clothes. 

Kadyra

A friend's sister gave us a bunch of stuff before DS was born, including a crib mattress. I looked up the brand online. It was an expensive mattress. Really quality. Nice and firm.  And it wasn't too old. So we used it. We will use it again with LO. 

I think mattresses are about $70 at BRU. I had no problem buying one. We just didn't.  

shutupanddance07

I think it depends on who it came from. My second child will use my first child's crib and mattress. If a close family member had one that was in good condition, I'd take it. My sister's bassinet is really nice but I'll probably get a new one. She didn't take care of it, and he'd spit up or spill his bottle in it and her solution was to flip the mattress over. It grew mold. My kid isn't sleeping in the bassinet that had a moldy mattress in it, even if I bought a new mattress. Gross, sis.