Talk to me about futon mattresses

[BarefootScientist]

We are moving cross-country in a month and we are starting completely over as far as bedroom furniture is concerned. Right now we have a queen bed but we are getting rid of it before we move.

I am interested to hear your experience or knowledge with futon mattresses and other options for sleeping on the floor. I know nothing, so please enlighten me. We've slept on a regular mattress on the floor before, but I keep reading that it will not "breathe" and that I would need to have it up on something or move it every day. But what about the futon mattresses that roll up and stuff? Would I have to move them every day? Does anyone have recommendations on a brand? Has anyone slept on the floor like this long-term? With those roll-up style futon mattresses, do you put regular sheets on them? If I put two twins together, could I put a king-size sheet on them?

Here's what I'm thinking of doing: building a ~4 ft tall full-sized loft bed for DS with space underneath for him to have a little hideaway, and then sticking two twins or two fulls or a twin and a full futon mattress together on the floor for me and DH (and DS too when he comes to join us at night). Do you think that would work? Also, what kind of mattress would I get for the loft bed? Just a regular one?

I need links, brands, and specific tips! Thanks!

[rere]

As far as a mattress for the loft bed goes you need to keep in mind the height of the mattress when building the loft so there is plenty of "guard rail" to stop kids from falling out.My daughter has this loft bed from Ikea and the mattress that goes with it is just a piece of foam.(Here are some plans for making that bed.scroll down a bit)

I think the futon would need to breath too.But if you're handy a slatted platform would be pretty easy to make.

[talia rose]

I spent 15 years and two pregnancies on a futon and don't like them much. They compress and become very firm and they get moldy. i guess that depends on where you live but ours always molded within a year. also beware the flame retardants in them. Even though they are made of cotton it is very hard to find one that does not use chemical flame retardants.

[hibana]

Futons require a bit of lifestyle adaptation. You will want to drag your futons outside into the sun to air a couple of times a week to prevent mold and musty smells. Also you will need the right kind of pillow- regular bed pillows are often too soft to support your head & neck if there is no deep mattress for your body to sink into. Large Asian markets often carry futon-friendly pillows, which are smaller and designed to go mostly under your neck. A rolled up bath towel works pretty well for side sleeping. Also you have to be careful how you sleep- some positions that are okay on a regular bed will be uncomfortable on a futon (like twisting your torso or positioning your shoulders unevenly)

We have a (ridiculously expensive, all-organic latex & cotton, fairly made in Canada) queen-sized futon which came off Craigslist for about 10% of the original price and was only a couple of months old. I also found a twin one on Craigslist for dd that was brand new, still in plastic from J-life.

If you put the futon on tatami it will be more comfortable and breathe better than on carpet or wood. They make tatami mats that are the same size as regular mattresses, to use on platforms or in an existing bed frame.

I put regular sheets on ours and they work fine, but I think putting a king together from two twins would depend on the futons, ykwm? You might want a waterproof breathable mattress pad as well- the last thing you want to deal with is a damp futon.

I can't think of anything else right now.

[lonegirl]

I love our futons. We bought our first when ds was about 1 and it was placed beside our bed. I spent most nights with him on it. We now have a king sized one that is bed only. We have this frame and drawers in rustic natural http://www.thefutonstore.net/futons_toronto/mission.htm
And this mattress http://www.thefutonstore.net/buyonli...roducts_id=129

I find it so comfy and normal beds don't cut it for me now.

[BarefootScientist]

Originally Posted by rere

As far as a mattress for the loft bed goes you need to keep in mind the height of the mattress when building the loft so there is plenty of "guard rail" to stop kids from falling out.My daughter has this loft bed from Ikea and the mattress that goes with it is just a piece of foam.(Here are some plans for making that bed.scroll down a bit)

I think the futon would need to breath too.But if you're handy a slatted platform would be pretty easy to make.

Thanks a lot for those plans!

Do any of you who don't like futons (or anyone else, really) have ideas on how else we have a king-size sleeping space without buying a king-sized mattress? Any other options for sleeping on the floor?

[lonegirl]

Any reason you don't want to do the King mattress? The price where we bought ours is almost the same as 2 singles.

[BarefootScientist]

Well, it's just a pain to lug around. We'll probably be moving again and moving a king-size mattress is a PITA. Plus, with two smaller mattresses they are more versatile and can be repurposed later if we find we'd rather be using two twins, for more kids, or guests or whatever.

I guess I am just looking for a cheap, easy, yet comfortable sleeping situation.

[34me]

We slept on a futon for probably about 15 years and 3 pregnancies, on a frame. We live in a dry climate and never had a mold issue as others have. Ours was really thick and incredibly heavy.