Toddler bed matress...

[Pattyla]

We're wanting to get a toddler bed and matress to side car to our bed for the new babe (Just not enough room for 4 of us in there).

I'm completely overwhelmed trying to figure out a safe choice that won't totally break the bank.

I think we'll get the bed form IKEA but the matress... I really don't want one with flame retardant but those are $$$$ I'm nervous about off gassing (all our beds were old when dd arrived so I didn't worry about it then, plus I have learned a lot since then.)

What are my options???? Is there any way to block the off gassing?

DH is really balking at the idea of buying an organic mattress for a bed that will only be used for a couple of years and I can't really blame him. We don't have the money for an organic twin bed right now though and we don't have the room to put one of the full sized beds we already own into our bedroom.

I was going to get a co-sleeper but I didn't realize it has a ridge between the bed and the co-sleeper. Using a crib side car-ed sounds cumbersome at best and we don't own one of those either.

Anyhow thanks for any ideas!!!

(FYI my dd was an abysmal sleeper and has multiple allergies so that works into my feelings on this subject. DD's health is finally under control and I'm sleeping way better at 7 months pg than I have slept in years.) I'm not sure I can survive doing that again with a new baby.

[caedmyn]

Could you get a used crib/toddler mattress? Or these are supposed to prevent off-gassing http://www.eves-best.com/mattress-wr...offgassing.htm

[quietserena]

I figured I'd point out that a toddler bed mattress is basically a crib mattress in case that helps with your search.

Ugh and the cosleeper mattress stinks! If outgassing is something you're looking to avoid, using the mattress that comes with arm's reach cosleeper is not the way to go. There is an alternative one out there somewhere made with organic cotton but I seem to recall it being quite pricey.

That said, my DD spends most of the time next to me on the bed though we are going to have a sidecarred crib very soon. Both the bed and the crib mattress have a mattress pad that I wash whenever I wash the sheets.

[anamama]

We bought an organic crib mattress for ds, and he has just moved into his big twin sized bed at 5yo! He was in a crib for a little while (when he wasn't in bed with us ), then we bought a toddler bed frame when dd was about to arrive, and put his mattress in that. So we got 5 years of use for him, and now dd is sleeping on it. I'd say it was a worthwhile investment.
And you could definitely sell a used organic mattress and recoup some of the money if you wanted to.