Let's talk matresses

[Magelet]

Yes, I know this has been discussed a million times, but I'd love some specific advice. Anyways, we've come to the conclusion that there is no friggin way in he** that we can afford a natural latex and wool mattress. No freakin way. Its a stretch to buy a standard queen or double mattress with springs instead of a futon, but after sleeping on this old futon for 6 months and waking up with bruised hips all the time, and the fact that I don't think you can co-sleep on a futon, I/we want a mattress.

So, do you love your mattress that you bought for max 800 dollars? (double or ideally queen)

Do you have an ikea mattress? they seem too good to be true. except that you can't flip many of them, that seems weird.

Any mattress shopping tips for a first time mattress buyer?

Any ways to minimize harm done by the toxins in a mattress?

What do I need to look for to make sure that we can safely co-sleep with our future newborns on this?

Thank you so much!

[His Own]

Here's a link to a place that sells a queen Talalay latex mattress for less than $500. I don't have one, but if I bought one, I'd buy from them as they are the cheapest by quite a bit on Talalay latex products.

http://www.foambymail.com/LatexMQueen.html

[MissMommyNiceNice]

Have you tried any of the bargain clubs? We bought our son a twin set for $185, and then found out our BJ's club had the green latex mattresses for $110. I would check around there, or Cosco or Sams, whatever you have near you.

[Magelet]

Thanks. I haven't tried any of the bargain clubs. As I think I said, I've never bought a mattress before, and honestly, if it doesn't have mattress or sleep in the name, I don't know where to look lol.

thank you. I'll look for some reviews of that foam by mail place, could be good, if the bargain clubs don't have it cheaper.

Any expeirience cosleeping on a latex mattress? is that safe? firmness wise?

[PapayaMom]

we bought latex mattresses from ikea this summer two twins for the girls and a queen for us. They are firmer than our old spring mattress and we have been happy with them. I know they are not organic but they have been nice to sleep on and I feel better on them than i would a traditional mattress.

[mumkimum]

We also have an ikea mattress - I've been totally happy with it.

The not-flipping it isn't that big a deal - you can rotate it, it has to do with the way they layer the foam inside. I haven't noticed anything about it wearing out worse in anyway from that (we've had it, um, 3 years not).

Best and easiest thing I've seen to minimize toxins is to air your new mattress out as long as possible before using it. IF you get foam, don't use a mattress pad that encases the mattress - it will make it way to hot, and it won't be able to air out properly. Use something you just lay on top that doesn't go over the sides.

[tracyhos]

Our kids have Naturepedic mattresses. http://naturepedic.com/

They are organic, none of the nasty chemical flame retardarts. I've been REALLY happy with them.

[cristeen]

Thank you for that link...

Baby and I have been sleeping on the futon ever since it got cold, and I can totally sympathize with the sore hips. I think I'm going to order one of those natural latex mattress toppers to go on top of the futon - the futon is in perfectly good shape, and we can't fit anything else in here, but I can't spend all winter sleeping on it. One night makes me feel like I'm 80.

If you want to try out some different mattresses, we've been to 3 different stores locally to try them out, just to get an idea of what we like. And we were both surprised - neither of us liked what we thought we would (ultra-soft). He wound up liking rather firm, and I like the medium (in the natural latex).

[cristeen]

Just giving this a bit of a bump. We went ahead and got a natural latex mattress topper from overstock.com for $140 to put on top of the futon. It has seriously improved my sleep, and no more sore hips!

Even the baby likes it better now. And we most definitely co-sleep on the futon. No reason not to.

[zoebird]

btw, ikea does have organic mattresses, and i do believe that they are in that price range.

and, they are quite nice; i've slept on them before at a B and B that i went to in Sweden.

[zoebird]

hey, didn't read the update. so glad the topper worked out for you. that is an awesome savings.

[lonegirl]

For those who have found cosleeping on a futon uncomfortable how thick is it? I love my futons. I can't sleep on a reg mattress now. WE bought a 10 layer futon mattress, that was designed to be a mattress only not a sofa, once my son grew out of his co-sleeper http://www.thefutonstore.net/buyonli...roducts_id=129