If planning on some 'co-sleeping' -- is a memory foam mattress a good thing, bad thing, neither?

Question

The only worry I had were about the chemicals emanating from a new mattress (putting off the purchase isn't an option), but now somebody's got me worried about memory foam and SIDS...

1 'Was about,' not 'were.' So tired...

2 Re. outdated/wrong co-sleeping stuff: yes, yes, I know...

3 Interestingly, you can buy memory foam CRIB mattresses.
http://www.amazon.com/L%252eA%252e-Memory-Foam-Crib-Mattress/dp/B000G7NJSC
Hmm.

Answer 1

memory foam mattress is a bad idea for co sleeping
instead of co sleeping just put a bassinet in your room, then start putting the baby in their own room in their own crib, try it once or twice one week then keep increasing how many days they sleep in their own room. get a baby monitor and put it close to the crib so you can here they baby if you are still worried about SIDS

if you start co sleeping the baby will get attached and become dependent on you to be there when they are sleeping and not just so they fall asleep but so they stay asleep

that's what i did with my daughter and she's one and sleeps in her won room all the time
she slept in my room in a bassinet till she was a month and then i started to put her in her own room until she was always in her room at night.aside from her one time in the middle of the night she would pretty much started sleeping through the night at 5/6 months somewhere around there

Answer 2

Wow I've never seen so many people with outdated info on SIDS and co-sleeping! Please do some research. Sleeping with your child actually DECREASES the rate of SIDS.

Here first yahoo search result for "co-sleeping and SIDS"
http://www.babyreference.com/sleepingandSIDS.htm

"SIDS Studies have proven that Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is greatly reduced for the breastfeeding, co-sleeping baby, when with non-smoking, sober parents in a standard adult bed with wedging dangers removed. The practice of room-sharing or breastfeeding alone cuts SIDS rates considerably. When combined with safe co-sleeping, the infant survival chances are even higher."

Please people - if you are a parent please take the time to know the facts and not just spout off what you *think* is the way to do things because that's the norm in your eyes or whatever. It's really irresponsible.

Anyway I have a tempurpedic - It's plenty firm enough for an infant. The baby will obviously be placed on his back, and a tempurpedic (and most memory foam) adjusts to your body weight. If you weight close to nothing (like a baby) then you're not going to sink in at all. It's actually rather firm. Hope this helps!

Answer 3

You need a good FIRM mattress with no extra blankets if you are going to co sleep. We just went shopping for mattresses yesterday as a matter of fact, and I find that the memory foam would be too soft for a baby to sleep on. Our 8 month old occasionaly sleeps with us so we had to go for a firmer mattress, I think you should too.
I don't know why people say sids is increased by cosleeping, its not. In fact cosleeping is proven to reduce sids as long as proper precautions with mattresses and blankets are taken.

Answer 4

Look people.....SIDS and suffocation/overlying/entanglement are DIFFERENT things.

SIDS is LESS likely in with a breastfeeding baby in a safe cosleeping environment than in a crib because the child is actually cued to breathe and his temperature is regulated by being near mom.

Personally, I would not consider a memory foam mattress a safe cosleeping environment. It is too soft and conforms to you. A baby who is not big enough/strong enough to roll yet could get in trouble on a memory foam mattress. Also, I think those things release a lot of chemical fumes early on? That probably wouldn't be good for baby either.

If you don't want to buy mom and dad a new mattress, you could buy a twin mattress to put in the nursery and sleep there with baby. You could buy a cosleeper that attaches to the side of your bed. You could wedge the crib between your bed and the wall with one side removed. Or you could purchase a "snuggle nest" to put in the middle of the bed for baby.

Answer 5

Dont let people scare you out of co-sleeping. But do it responsibly, do not sleep on a memory foam mattress-they are way to soft, you need a firm mattress. Consider sleeping without blankets and wear full pjs to keep you warm. Baby should not sleep in between you and your partner, the baby should sleep on your side. Consider putting your mattress on the floor. Do not smoke or drink.
Baby will sleep comfortably in the crook of your arm.

Answer 6

I would think a bad thing because the memory foam kind of form fits around you. This can increase the chance for SIDS ( which you do not need b/c co-sleeping increases it too). A firm mattress is the best for a baby. Anything that can block the airway (blankets, pillows, foam) is not good.

Answer 7

SIDS is NOT more likely if you co-sleep! There are studies showing that, in reality, sleeping next to mommy is the SAFEST way to sleep. Check out http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/t102200.asp
It has great information on co-sleeping safely and why soon, cribs will be obsolete in our society. In other countries, such as Japan, co-sleeping is the norm and SIDS rates are extremely low. Babies need the physical "checks" co-sleeping offers.
That said, I have a tempur-pedic mattress, and I love it because it is nice and firm for my baby to sleep with me. i have no idea about dangerous chemicals tho.

Answer 8

I dont like it I like a hard mattress my self I love the pillow though that rocks you can try it first I have the sea foam it was on clearnce from 1400 done to 700 I bought that one

Answer 9

I agree, buy a Arm's Reach cosleeper. It attaches to your side of the bed and is the same level as your mattress. It's like baby is sleeping with you, but it's SO much safer.

http://armsreach.com/original_cosleeper.php

Answer 10

bad thing just because its memory foam so if your baby was to roll on his/her tummy her face will conform to the mattress and cut of her o2. not only that they say co-sleeping is not that great of a idea but if you had to then they say for your bed no pillows (near the baby),no water bed,no blankets(near the baby),no stuffed animals(near the baby). if you were to go on babycenter or baby r us they have a special bed that will go in your bed that is used for co-sleeping.