Conference moira::parenting_v3

    We had the Baby Seally Posturpedic. I thought it felt great and expected
    it to last with multiple kid; already my son, a cousin and soon our
    second and it still feels great. 
    
    A disadvantage of foam is that if you are the type to save it for your
    grandchildren when (you finally have them and) they come visit, you
    might get more then you bargain for. The foam can harbor more
    spores/germs/etc then the interspring because of the nature of its
    composition. Be careful how you store it.
    
    As far as ease of making the crib - it's not easy with either because
    you want the mattress tight against the sides and then add bumper pads
    and it's no easy job anyways. I didn't have any trouble with the
    "weight" of the mattress; never noticed it really.
    
    Andrea
             

    I vote for spring also.  I think it makes for better support.  My
    first daughter used the one we have now (4 years ago) and now my
    little one uses it.  It looks and feels brand new.
    
    Denise

    Why a foam mattress should be the same price as an inner spring I
    cannot for the life of me work out.  When we bought ours 8 years ago,
    the foam was only 2/3 the price of the cheapest inner spring.
    
    Just like the inner spring mattresses, it is inside a plastic cover, so
    there is no opportunity for spores to get in the foam.  The foam today
    is as firm as it was 8 years ago.  I've known bed bugs infest
    ineersprung mattresses, but never foam.
    
    We recently bought a new foam mattress for our own bed, and when
    testing them out, for like mattresses, the only real difference was
    on the "heavy" spots, like hips, where foam provided more support,
    especially on the multi density foam mattresses.  On the other
    hand, for cheaper mattresses, for us the foam was more comfortable
    than the equivalent cheap spring.
    
    So, if I had to do it again, there's no question ... I'd buy one
    of the cheaper foam mattresses.
    
    Stuart
    
    

    Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, it lasted for 3 kids, for 2 years each
    and is still fine.

After much investigation, and a failure to find any substantial 
information, we opted for Simmons' top-of-the-line crib mattress.  We 
researched everything else and made informed decisions, but crib mattresses 
seem to be a subject where everyone has a different opinion and there 
aren't any real rules to go by in selecting one.  So, since the price 
difference wasn't too great, we just got the TOL hoping it would be OK.  
It's standard crib size (of course) but is quite thick, which we thought 
was an indication of its quality.

The mattress has worked out fine except for one thing.  It's not so heavy 
that changing sheets is a problem, and it's nice and firm, so when Michael 
weighs 35 pounds I don't think it'll sag.  However, finding sheets to fit 
it has been a problem.  For winter, Pat made crib sheets out of cotton 
flannel (the reason being that they cost about $2.50 each).  Of course, 
since she made them, she was able to fit them perfectly to the mattress.

Then warm weather came and Pat started shopping for summer sheets.  First 
she bought some "Wee Ones" by Oneita (??).  They're very tight, but will go 
over the mattress.  However, they're so tight that they're not holding up 
well; the seams at the corners are starting to go.  So a few weeks ago Pat 
bought up a whole supply of Carter's sheets.  She opened one, and washed it 
(warm wash, dryer on low), then put it on the crib.  It absolutely wouldn't 
fit.  She finally ripped the sheet trying to get it on, and returned all 
the others she had bought.

At this point, it appears Pat's going to be making summer sheets for 
Michael.  She made the flannel sheets before he came, so time wasn't a 
problem, but now she really doesn't have the time to sit down and make a 
bunch of crib sheets.  Since Simmons is a good name, and we bought the most 
expensive crib mattress they make, we are *NOT* happy with the fact that we 
can't buy crib sheets to fit it!

Steve

    
    	The only differences that a mattress manufacturer enlightened
    me of is the Breakdown period of materials. Foam will break down
    and lose its texture. Which brought me to, "well doesn't a spring
    lose it's spring??"   The answer was evasive at best. 
    Different grades of springs and how many ?? ie baby mattresses
    35 innerspring, 70 innerspring, 130 !??? the 35 felt better to me
    than the 70. Foam extra  firm, super firm etc...
    
    Average life depends on the manufacturer and materials and care.
    
    
    

    My son is using my mattress and it is 37 years old and in great
    condition. It is a spring mattress. I vote SPRING!!!
    
    Lynne

    
   


re .5

I also had problems with crib sheets not fitting properly.  The ones
that worked for me were Dundee brand.  They seem to be a bit wider
and deeper.

Mary

    re: .5
    
    I also was disappointed with the way that 100% cotton sheets fit (or
    didn't).  I finally bought knitted sheets from J C Penney and they work
    just great.  They stretch sufficiently to go over the mattress.
    
    I should add that we use a wool mattress pad, which is thick and adds
    inches to the overall size.  But it is warm and soft and our baby loves
    it.  Even if she doesn't we feel better!
    
    ...mary

    I am wondering...  I just bought a Sealy Postupedic (sp) mattress at
    Lechmere.  We bought Carters Knit sheets to use w/ it.  Before washing
    them (realizing after reading this note that thick mattresses won't use
    just regular sheets) to try them on first.  We ruined the elastic on 1
    corner just trying to get it around the mattress - so I'll have to try
    the Dundee.
    
    Does anyone w/ thick coil spring mattresses know if I can buy a
    mattress cover somewhere for it & what the brand name is that will fit?
    
    Help....
    
    Sonia
    Thanks in advance.
    

RE: mattress cover wanted

We've been using Sears mattress covers.  They fit our Simmons mattress 
(which is thick enough that we also ruined Carter sheets trying to get them 
on), but don't really hold up all that well.  Michael's 14 months old, and
Pat has already thrown away two of them that just fell apart.  If you find
one that fits, and doesn't self-destruct after a few washings, please post
it here.  Thanks! 

Steve

    Thanks a lot Steve!  My mother bought me some Dundee sheets and a
    mattress cover (name I can't remember - may have been Dundee as well)
    I'll try it out tonight and let you know.  It looked like a nice one.
    
    Thanks again,
    Sonia

    re: .11
    
    Don't know if this would be an acceptable solution for you, Steve,
    but...I use both a mattress cover and a crib size waterproof sheet
    on Jason's crib.  I've *never* found a mattress cover, crib or regular 
    bed, that can withstand repeated washings.  So, I rarely wash Jason's 
    mattress cover but do wash the waterproof sheet with every linen change 
    (about twice a week).  Saves the time and pain in the *ss of changing 
    the mattress cover, too!
    
    Carol

    
    I have a question....I have a waterproof mattress and the sheet I put
    on it was a tight fit but it did fit. Do people always put on more
    than just a sheet??? My sister sent me a quilted mattress cover which
    I'm sure will make things more comfortable, but since my sheets aren't
    waterproof (why have waterproof sheets with a waterproof mattress??)
    what good is a quilted mattress cover underneath it if it's just going
    to get wet when the sheet does?? I do have a puddle pad that I could
    put between quilted cover and sheet, but I plan on using that on my
    own bed until I stop breastfeeding...my mattress isn't waterproof.
    
    Patty

    re .14 (What do people use???) - a "rubber" sheet (puddle pad?) with
    flannel on BOTH sides (if it's only on one side, it'll curl and crack
    and be worthless after one wash/dry).  Get a bunch of them and get them
    big enough (mattress size; as Dave Barry says, if cribs didn't have
    sides, the baby'd be hundreds of miles away by dawn).
    
    Leslie

    I'm here to confirm that Dundee sheets do fit thicker mattresses!  I
    have a Seally Postupedic (sp).  However, I'm still looking for that
    reliable mattress cover.  Tried a Gerry - but that didn't fit.  Not
    sure if they are the same company as the Seally or not?  The mattress
    says Seally Gerry on it.
    
    Sonia

    Also confirming that the Dundee mattress cover also fits my Sealy
    Posturepedic (correct spelling).  The girl at Cribs & Things told me to
    wash it on cold & dry on low though - but it does physically fit at
    this time (before any washings).
    
    Sonia

    Have any of you tried Sears brand?  For some reason the sears brand is
    a little more generous in bedding.  I used their pads on the crib, and
    also picked up a quilted pad when AJ went into the Big boy bed and
    found the sides of the fitted pad to be so big they were almost sloppy!
    
    Another option is to find a surgical supply house, or if you have a
    friend who works in a hospital or clinic, to get a package of those
    "Blue pads", the disposable paper things with the blue plastic backing. 
    We still have an abundance of them from all of AJ's hospital stays, and
    they work well to absorb moisture, we put them under the sheet but on
    top of the quilted pad.  That still allows the softness of the mattress
    pad to be felt.
    
    Lyn
    

RE: 109.18

>    Have any of you tried Sears brand?

Pat bought Sears at first, till she ended up throwing away two of them when 
they fell apart in the laundry.  They fit the mattress great, but they just 
don't hold up well.  Someone in this note string commented that they *all* 
tend to fall apart if washed all the time, tho.  Pat has since started 
putting the rubber pad on top of the mattress pad, so the mattress pad 
doesn't require washing very often.  That seems to have solved the problem.

Steve

    I believe they should be washed on cold/delicate cycle & dried on
    delicate.  Is that how they were falling apart?  That was the
    recommendation I got w/ my Dundee cover which looks good so far -
    haven't washed it yet (still waiting for baby's arrival - in which case
    I'll wash it first).
    
    Sonia