is it ok to re-use these for a new baby - my friend left me her rarely used basket and matress but was told i should get a new mattress!!! problem is no-where sell matresses on their own - is it totally necessary?
The most important thing to remember is that babies, specially newborns, are very sensitive and whenever you give them "hand-me-downs" to make certain that the item is very clean.
In your case, it will be best to wash/spray the basket WITHOUT using any harsh cleaning agents (just lots of water is fine) and sun dry it thoroughly for a few days. Same goes for the mattress. If you want, you may use some bath cleansers for newborns (preferably the same brand your baby is using already) to clean better.