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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

mattress on the floor?

134 replies

buttertoff33 · 17/02/2019 11:49

Aibu to put the DCs' mattresses on the floor? They both have outgrown their smaller beds, esp DC1.

I cannot afford new beds right now so was thinking of putting the mattresses directly onto the floor. we have carpet, not wooden floors.

People sleep on floors in lots of countries and did so over thousands of years so I don't think I am being hugely unreasonable. DC aren't fuzzed either but a friend said the carpet floor and the proximity to it could trigger all kind of allergies.

Anyone done this? any negative side effects?

OP posts:
TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 17/02/2019 11:52

DS has a mattress on the floor. He's clumsy and injures himself on beds.

He's fine.

FissionChip5 · 17/02/2019 11:53

You have to make sure that the carpet is kept clean and dust free. Be sure to put the mattresses up again the wall once a week to air them and prevent mould growing inside it.

FissionChip5 · 17/02/2019 11:54

Against*

Fr3d · 17/02/2019 11:55

Did that for a good while when dc was young. I hadn't hoovered in ages once and lying on the mattress triggered dh's dust allergy. Had to Hoover more regularly then Grin

FlagranceDirect · 17/02/2019 11:55

My DD has SEN and we had a real problem getting her to stay in bed. She'd either constantly get out, or climb out - so eventually we put her mattress on the floor so that she could more easily find her way back in. Her mattress was on the floor for about 10 years until she was old enough to have learned to stay in a bed. I realise that SEN is not the problem that you have, but wanted to comment that we came across no practical or health problems at all from having a mattress on the floor.

Fr3d · 17/02/2019 11:56

I also found it a bit drafty at times in winter

HalfBloodPrincess · 17/02/2019 11:56

We did until recently. Apparently it’s a ‘thing’, advocated by montessori. I just did it so the toddler didn’t keep falling out of bed

Original poster
buttertoff33 · 17/02/2019 12:00

FlagranceDirect, incidentally DC1 had severe LD/ASD and has issues staying in bed. Though I don't see that the mattress on the floor could be useful in that context but one never knows.

OP posts:
theworldistoosmall · 17/02/2019 12:02

Throughout my teens I had my mattress on the floor. No issues. The mattress didn't go mouldy either.

I put my mattress on the floor last year and it's fine. No drafts or anything.

Bambamber · 17/02/2019 12:08

I would just make sure you air the mattress frequently

hazeyjane · 17/02/2019 12:08

I can't because of allergies and asthma.

I think the main downsides are bring closer to dusty floor, higher risk of bed bugs and risk of mould in mattress through sweat being absorbed and not being able to air properly.

I guess if you can be really scrupulous about hoovering, cleaning and airing mattress it should be ok.

PristineCondition · 17/02/2019 12:11

We did this for a year
Bunk beds broke we were on the housing list so didn’t buy new till we moved.
IYoungest is asthmatic so as mentioned i hovered constantly like a mad woman but it was fine.

Kokeshi123 · 17/02/2019 12:25

You should put the mattress upright against the wall during the daytime to ensure that everything stays fresh and aired. This is usual practice in cultures where mattresses go on the floor.

FlagranceDirect · 17/02/2019 12:30

Though I don't see that the mattress on the floor could be useful in that context but one never knows

It was just one of the things we tried, after having sides put on the bed, lowering it, putting her back in every 2 mins, none of which solved the problem. She then seemed less inclined to get out of it when she was already at floor level and not really 'in' anything.
And more inclined to get back onto the comfy part of the floor.
It's complicated with LD. A lot of guesswork was involved.

starzig · 17/02/2019 12:48

Is this serious?

Original poster
buttertoff33 · 17/02/2019 12:50

star what do you mean? Hmm

OP posts:
starzig · 17/02/2019 13:12

I mean the whole can't afford a bed. They are not exactly expensive.

cookiemon666 · 17/02/2019 13:17

I had my mattress on the floor for a few months as couldn't afford a new bed. Youngest daughter needs a bigger bed too but am waiting to be able to afford it

Bobbycat121 · 17/02/2019 13:18

its not something i would do

Haggisfish · 17/02/2019 13:20

They bloody are expensive! Especially if you don’t have much spare cash.

Waffles80 · 17/02/2019 13:20

star what planet do you actually live on? How is it possible for you to be so utterly clueless?

OP - mattresses are fine on the floor. Air them regularly.

Thesearmsofmine · 17/02/2019 13:21

I would do it fr a short tine(making sure that you lift it during the day) but would be on the hunt for free or cheap beds from Facebook/guntree or via a charity.

reallybadidea · 17/02/2019 13:22

It's fine. Not sure why you'd need to lift it to air either, you wouldn't do that with a divan.

Ijumpedtheshark · 17/02/2019 13:22

I’d do it. I co-sleep with my DS on a mattress on the floor and it works a treat!

VanillaSauce · 17/02/2019 13:24

We've got our mattress on pallets so we don't need to air or prop it up all the time.

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