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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to buy a mattress without testing it first

27 replies

wigglylines · 21/06/2014 22:30

from John Lewis?

The mattress shops round here are rubbish. (Still sore about the last one I got talked into buying. Felt great in the shop, 2 years later it's lumpy, you can feel the springs, it's awful, but no money to replace it just now :( )

DS has just got a bunk bed so needs a second mattress. It'll be only used occasionally for now (by visiting DCs and grown ups, e.g. MIL, who's in her 70s) and then will probably be DD's when she gets big enough for a bed.

WIBU to just order one off John Lewis? The nicest mattress I've ever had came from John Lewis, it was amazing :) Gutted I've not still got it. But, even so I chose it after lots of trying out different mattresses in JL beds department. It seems a bit wrong to buy one without trying it, what do you reckon oh wise mumsnet people?

OP posts:
Original poster
wigglylines · 21/06/2014 22:31

If I don't, not sure what my other options would be, any ideas or recommendations would be great too!

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ilovepowerhoop · 21/06/2014 22:32

I have never tried a mattress before buying it

Original poster
wigglylines · 21/06/2014 22:37

Really? I thought it was what you were meant to do? What if they're not the kind of mattress you like (too soft / firm / whatever).

Mind you, I guess it didn't work for us last time, as I said it felt just right when we bought it, but didn't last!

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ilovepowerhoop · 21/06/2014 22:44

our last one was bought as a groupon deal so no chance to try it. Others have been bought online so couldnt try them either. I go by the description as to whether they are firm/soft/medium, etc

Runesigil · 21/06/2014 22:45

Go to JL and try some, or if the store is too far away, ring them up and ask, or even email. Mattresses do vary a lot, explain to the staff exactly what it will be used for so they can find the best ones for your circumstances. A child's mattress is usually quite a bit softer than an adult's one.

For your lumpy bed, as an interim solution, what about a memory foam mattress topper next time Aldi or similar cheap shops have them on offer? Most new ones do smell of chemicals for few days after opening the packaging so make sure you have somewhere to put it before you need to use it.

2rebecca · 21/06/2014 22:50

I've always tried mattresses, but probably wouldn't if I lived a long way from a decent mattress shop. If it's for a spare bed it's not that important. I prefer traditional mattresses to pocket sprung ones that dip when you sit on them, where as most people seem to prefer pocket sprung and memory foam.

Original poster
wigglylines · 21/06/2014 22:53

If I could get to JL to try some, there would be no problem would there?! Grin

It would mean a 6 hour round trip by public transport with a 5 year old and a 1 year old. Not really keen on the idea!

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Original poster
wigglylines · 21/06/2014 22:54

I'm really not keen on memory foam, I don't get why everyone's so into it? Perhaps I'm missing something ...

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Original poster
wigglylines · 21/06/2014 22:55

It'd have to be better than the mattress we've got now though! I'll have a look at toppers, thanks for the idea.

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TwiggyHeart · 21/06/2014 22:55

Just brought a JL the basics pocket spring for my daughters bed, it's great, would recommend!

Original poster
wigglylines · 21/06/2014 22:56

2rebecca although it'd be used as a spare bed now, it will probably ultimately be DD's mattress which she will sleep on all the time, so I want it to be decent.

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MamaLazarou · 21/06/2014 23:00

YANBU, I bought a JL mattress online (pocket sprung, value range) and it is the comfiest mattress I have ever had. Great delivery service, too. Do it!

Original poster
wigglylines · 21/06/2014 23:01

TwiggyHeart do you mean this one?

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motleymop · 21/06/2014 23:02

I don't really think YABU! I reckon it's pretty hard to work out what it'll be like when you actually sleep in it just by lying on it for a minute or so while the shop assistant looks at you.

Original poster
wigglylines · 21/06/2014 23:03

Do you mean the same one too MamaLazarou?

I've noticed that a couple of the basic range (maybe all, I haven't looked) say they're only for occasional use, but in the review it seems people are buying them for DCs, do you knwo if people just ignoring (or not aware of) the "occasional use" thing or are they recommended for DCs?

Or is it actually decent quality and JL are being over-cautious?

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wafflyversatile · 21/06/2014 23:04

For occasional use I'm sure it will be fine.

Maybe check if MIL likes a firm or soft mattress. She's the one most likely to suffer from one night on the wrong sort. (because of age, not MILness!)

Original poster
wigglylines · 21/06/2014 23:06

I was looking at this onebut kind of put off by there only being 2 reviews.

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MamaLazarou · 21/06/2014 23:07

Yes, I have the double version of the one in your link. We sleep on it every night. It's fairly firm (I have arthritis and it's good for my joints).

Original poster
wigglylines · 21/06/2014 23:08

"Maybe check if MIL likes a firm or soft mattress. She's the one most likely to suffer from one night on the wrong sort"

Ooh yes, good idea.

It's not just for occasional use though, DD will sleep in it every night when she's old enough.

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Original poster
wigglylines · 21/06/2014 23:09

Runesigil said "A child's mattress is usually quite a bit softer than an adult's one." does anyone know why that is? Do children benefit from it being softer somehow?

Thanks for all your help people, really useful

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ilovepowerhoop · 21/06/2014 23:11

I thought children's mattresses were supposed to be firm. I normally go for a medium/firm one

MamaLazarou · 21/06/2014 23:13

Re: mattress toppers, I have one (bought it to cover a lumpy mattress while I was saving for the new one) and although it is wonderfully soft, it is far too hot to sleep on in Summer. Maybe that's just me: I like to be cool at night. If your MIL is elderly she may appreciate the snuggliness.

ilovepowerhoop · 21/06/2014 23:13

both dc's got medium/firm standard single sized mattresses and they were not tried in advance. Think we got them from Argos. They were not marketed as children's mattresses

Original poster
wigglylines · 21/06/2014 23:17

"it is far too hot to sleep on in Summer." ooh, no, not for me then. I hate feeling too hot in bed, I kick the covers off most nights.

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motleymop · 21/06/2014 23:18

Memory foam is the devil's work - I wouldn't advocate a foam topper. So so hot.