Secondhand Crib Mattress Linked to SIDS Risk

**rhiana** · 11-01-2002, 12:04 PM

This is a pretty scarey one. I know it's just in the preliminary stages of research but it's good to know it's even a possible risk, especially for all of us frugal people that might consider using a secondhand mattress.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Scottish researchers have found that babies who sleep on secondhand crib mattresses seem to be at higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
However, it is not clear if the mattress itself is the cause of the association. Some unrelated factor may be responsible for the link, according to the report published in the November 2nd issue of the British Medical Journal.
Sudden infant death syndrome is the leading cause of death for babies between 1 month and 1 year old, and the risk is greatest between 2 and 4 months of age. It is diagnosed when the cause of death remains unexplained and all other possibilities have been eliminated--such as infection, asphyxia, dehydration or child abuse.
In 1997, the same group of researchers from the Scottish Cot Death Trust at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow reported an association between SIDS deaths and the use of secondhand mattresses. Now, in an effort to confirm their findings, lead author Dr. David Tappin and colleagues conducted another study.
Tappin's team compared 131 children who died of SIDS between 1996 and 2000 with 278 healthy infants, and found that babies who died of SIDS were roughly three times as likely as other children to have regularly slept on a mattress that was previously used by another child.
"The association was significantly stronger if the mattress was from another home than if it was from the same home," the researchers report.
"As our findings are statistically robust over a range of statistical approaches, we conclude that there is a valid statistical association between sudden infant death syndrome and use of an infant mattress previously used by another child, particularly if from another home," the authors write.
However, the evidence is insufficient to determine if the mattress was actually the cause of the higher risk, they conclude.
Commenting on the study, Dr. Ed A. Mitchell of the University of Auckland in New Zealand points out that one possible explanation is that potentially toxic bacteria might grow in the mattress after it becomes repeatedly soaked with milk, urine or saliva. Such bacteria might contribute to illness or death of the second infant.
Nonetheless, Mitchell cautions that more research needs to be conducted to see if such a theory has any validity.
"In the meantime," Mitchell writes, "the advice to parents should remain as internationally agreed: place your baby to sleep on his or her back (and) create a smoke-free environment for your baby during pregnancy and after birth."

SOURCE: British Medical Journal 2002;325:981-982,1007-1009.

**captclearance** · 11-01-2002, 04:58 PM

Even in the constuction of the crib itself you can have deadly hazards !!! Check to see what the new standards for cribs are...many of these older cribs were made before the tougher standers..... be very careful !!!

http://www.usababy.com/buyingguide/tips/cribs.html

**rhiana** · 11-01-2002, 05:04 PM

Thanks for the additonal info captclearance.
Rhiana

**heaven** · 11-01-2002, 05:07 PM

well i knew the size of the slats. do you think maybe the rate increases because poorer and undereducated mothers are more likely to have a second hand crib and more likely to put the baby on their stomaches. Just one of my rambling thoughts sorry. (not that i am saying there is anything wrong with a second hand crib mind you.

**nealy** · 11-01-2002, 05:30 PM

I agree with you heaven. I think it would have to do more with the economical status of the child. I do buy things second hand, I buy all of our clothing at thrift stores so I am not saying anything is wrong with buying used but I think the link would have to do more with the parents i.e. second hand smoke, bottle feeding, sleeping prone, and statisitically financially challenged people are less educated than others. We are currently financially challenged and think we are pretty current on things, and I know some wealthy people that don't know much at all. I think statistics are easily manipulated and I really think there are more important things we can do to reduce SIDS that worry about old mattresses. It is an interesting hypothesis but not one that I am buying.

Nealy

**heaven** · 11-01-2002, 07:13 PM

thanks some times i think i think too much. I really thing it has alot to do with the way the baby is layed down and not the mattress the child is sleeping on. *undereducated people would naturally do as their parents did which more than likely was to put on stomach.*

**mommy2three** · 11-01-2002, 08:38 PM

we use a second hand crib and mattress. the crib is the one hubby slept in when he was a baby, and his brother, and 2 of his cousins, and our two kids. the mattress was given to me before we had dd. they are fine....the mattress is firm too. we never laid either of the kids on their tummy, even in the bassinet (which was also hubby's when he was little). they aren't exposed to second hand smoke either......we don't smoke. i am just saying i really don't believe a second hand mattress can cause sids. just my opinion.

**rhiana** · 11-04-2002, 12:40 PM

I agree with you guys, it's probably a pretty far-fetched idea. I just think it's a good idea to read these ideas people come up with. It's good to discuss them too.
Rhiana