Are there matresses to avoid when co-sleeping?

[lellian]

Simply put: if I don't buy us a King size mattress we will not continue co-sleeping. Right now, I sleep with DD, and DH sleeps in the guest room. I'm researching mattresses right now, but thought there were some no-nos about certain kinds when co-sleeping. Am I making that up?!?!

Thanks mamas!

[delly]

We're in the same boat. I know I want to avoid the offgassing, of course, but my husband is balking at going with the more expensive safe lines - he wants to go with something from Simmons Natural Care, he says we can get one for half the cost of an organic or pure latex or whatever. I just don't know enough about it to decide yet. Sure, they have latex, but they also have some kind of soy-based foam, and no mention of what if any chemicals.

[Big D]

Organic Grace carries a cotton and wool mattress and also has a build-your-own latex mattress option. Both are completely chemical-free and cost less than or the same as the regular, popular brands. Their website also has several articles about the chemicals used to make most mattress- scary!

Even if you don't go with organic, at least avoid the tempurpedic-type mattresses (100% latex is fine). I've read from multiple different sources that tempurpedic-type mattresses are the most toxic mattresses made and will off-gas long after the nasty smell wears off (which some say can take months!)

Also, make sure you get a firm mattress. But you probably already knew that.

[texmati]

I don't know.... I just wanted to volunteer that we get more space out of our king mattress by sleeping sideways instead of properly.

[Jen-o]

You are supposed to avoid pillow top mattresses as well - the flatter/ firmer the top the better. When DD was really small (3-6 months) We laid a thick flannel blanket on our mattress where she slept to keep the softer pillowy parts from smooshing up on her face.

[lellian]

Thanks mamas. I'm not sure how much longer we will be co-sleeping, but the information is good to know!