Crib Mattress Dispose or Reuse?

I bought an organic mattress for my son so I did not have to worry about chemicals. 4 years later it is still very firm...and my brother and SIL are taking it for their new baby.

If you want to get rid of it, call a local animal shelter or kennel to donate. Larger /older dogs love crib mattresses for dog beds :-) I donate old lumpy pillows to the dogs too.

If the mattress has gone through ten kids, maybe it's"time" but if it appears to be clean, firm and in good condition, I'd re-use it.
If you want to get rid of it, there are LOTS of grandmas/grandpas looking for cribs & mattresses.

I've never heard any of that. We reused the crib mattress with our second child with no concern whatsoever. Maybe that's why she grew an extra arm, lol! :) Seriously, she's completely fine healthwise.

I never heard that!
My children are about 20 months apart and I used the mattress for both - my daughter, the youngest, is now 2 and half and still using it in her toddler bed.

I have never heard that.
How long do you keep using your own mattress?
I would use that as a guide.
Ours have always lasted 8 to 10 years.

"Old wives tale".

I had 8 kids and all 8 of them slept on the same crib mattress. My wife has a crib and mattress that she and her siblings slept on when they were babies. My 8 kids also slept on that mattress. When they were about a month or two old, they graduated to the other crib and mattress.

Use the mattress over and over again. The mattress will do more damage in the land fill and it won't harm your kids.

Good luck to you and yours.

I'm sure the manufacturers of crib mattresses came up with that one. I got my crib and mattress from my brother who had used it for his three kids, then I used it for both of mine. I would think a crib mattress would last much longer than a regular mattress because there is not a lot of weight on it. If it still appears to be in reasonable shape I would freecycle it. I'm sure someone can use it.

I have never heard that. My third child is now using the crib mattress. It seems perfectly fine.

I think it all depends on how long you keep them in the crib. My oldest was a year when he stopped using his so it was fine with my youngest. But if he would have been in it for 2 years like a lot of babies out there then it probably does get broken down because there is a lot more weight on them.

Not sure about the first one. But the mattress does break down after awhile.

We got my son a new one, and now use his old one to jump on! We laid it out on the living room floor and he has a blast jumping and playing on it. Then at night we just put it away.

I've never head of that. Many families reuse a mattress.

Sounds like another media hype to instill fear and sell more mattresses to me.

I've never heard that one. My children used the same crib and crib mattress when they were babies, and there was no harm done.

We did, for several kids. But they didn't use them past 18 months, once a child is a pre-schooler they weigh too much and break it down. All my grand kids were in toddler beds around 15 months and full time by 18 months.

They are supposed to be water resistant so that means they can be sanitized easily.

I think it's fine to reuse a crib mattress.

Four kids, same mattress.

I used my crib mattress for all 3 of my kids. Then passed it on. Mattresses are all manufactured the same way, the difference between a crib mattress and a regular mattress ... the covering and the size. THAT'S IT.

A regular mattress can last 10-15 years (or longer) ... so can a crib mattress.

I've never heard of that...but the chemical thing makes no sense. I think new mattresses would have many more chemicals since they haven't aired out. I use mine for 3kids...sold it all after #3 and along came #4....

I have heard this and will always use a new mattress. It wasn't because of chemicals though; it was because of milk or baby's fluids soaking through and possibly becoming toxic for the next child. I actually read this in a parenting book, like what to expect or baby bargains. I can't remember which. I'd leave it on the curb or donate to animals. Best wishes ...

ETA: looks like I may have read in what to expect. Here's a link from consumer reports regarding how to select a crib mattress:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/crib-mattresses/buying...

Bottom line ... If you know how it was stored and cared for, it's likely ok. Otherwise, buy a new one.

I've never heard anything about chemicals and firmness breaking down. I used the same mattress for both of my children - three years apart. We even had an extra crib at my Mom's for when we visited - I don't even know how old that mattress was but it was very firm. Then when my kids were out of the crib, we used it on the floor to sleep since there weren't enough beds.

If it really bothers you tho, just pitch it and get a new one. They're not too expensive.

Good luck!

I've used the same crib & mattress for all 3 of my kids. Haven't had a single problem or issue.

I have noto heard that you can not reuse them. I could see it if there were a lot of years between the siblings. I know my son only used his for about a year. I do not thing he broke it down at all.

To your other question. Dog beds for larger dogs or two little ones. A reading nook for an older child.