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I just bought a used cot and mattress. It all looks to be in excellent clean condition. No stains or anything on the mattress. What can I do to the mattress to make sure it has no mites or anything living in it. Will I just put it outside in direct sunlight for a few days or should I spray it with something before putting it outside or should I just go and buy a new cot mattress?
I would def be buying a new matteress. I think it is recommended for a new matteress for each baby (and if you donate beds to 2nd hand stores, they can't accept matteresses).
I am reusing the matteress that we bought for DD cause she was hardly ever in her cot, and we bought the matteress just before we had her (cot was 2nd hand though).
i personally would also buy a new mattress but there certainly isnt anything wrong with using a second hand one! there is some info on the sids and kids website you may be interested in!
My mattresses for the girls were both 2nd hand. They both had a plastic side on them I used & I used a water proof mattress protector as well.
I wouldn't be using a secondhand mattress either. You can get pretty cheap mattresses at Target and Kmart but in saying that, ours is a really good innerspring mattress and it was only $130 from a baby shop. It's for our Boori cot and I think it's Love n Care.
I would probably err on the side of caution and buy a new one. We bought a new mattress for this bub at Target for $50 on sale (I think they are about $60 full price), non inner spring though but it will do the job.
I did get DS's new mattress at Kmart. $50 for foam, $100 for innerspring. Full prices.
I agree about getting new one - especially if you are concerned abou tmites etc. I actually didn;t know you had to swap between 1st and 2nd babies but it's up to you. If it's well protected it should be okay but I woudl be buying new one.
I got a 2nd hand cot and mattress from friends, it was not used heaps as both their kids co-slept most of the time but I just gave it a good wipe over as it was practically brand new. I guess if you dont know how much it has been used etc then perhaps get a new one for peace of mind, but if its come from a clean home etc and you are comfortable then give it a vacumm and wipe over and go for it :)
Thanks everyone so much for your replies. After speaking to DH we have decided that it is best to buy a new mattress. So hopefully we will get one next weekend.