baby bed sans sheets: nook pebble mattress
It’s made for babies, but I kind of want the Nook Pebble Mattress, spotted at Design Mom. There were concerns in comments about how easy it would be to clean after a “diaper explosion,” but apparently the cover is removable for cleaning. But ZOMG it’s $550! Is that something you’d invest in? — Mary T.
Not a chance, even if it was affordable. First, I think you would need two mattresses if you don’t need sheets. Second, diaper explosions, flu or just drooly teething kid would make it necessary to remove the cover. Even it was like Boppy where you could buy other covers instead of a whole new mattresses, I wouldn’t want to haul the thing out of a crib in the middle of the night, take off the cover, put a new one on and then put it back in the crib. Sheets and mattress pads just seems a whole lot easier. So while cool, big NO for me. Fortunately, we’re past the crib stage.
It is interesting, and I like the look, but $550? And how “wipeable” is it? How often would you need to remove it for cleaning? Maybe the designers don’t understand, but babies leak fluids (and sometimes solids and semi-solids) all day and all night. We did buy an organic mattress for our daughter–babies spend an enormous amount of time in their ribs, they might as well be breathing purer air.
As parents of two young children, 3 and 5, the Pebble was designed from a parent point of view. Having used both cloth and disposable diapers (as well as potty training) we have experienced our share of leaks.
Where possible and appropriate we have opted for an organic component in the Pebble Mattress. Organic cotton, organic wool, natural latex and eucalyptus fibers are all included in our Made in the USA mattress. The problem we found with standard organic mattresses is any leak can result in a ruined mattress! Adding a mattress pad helps, but if there is a big leak the mess may still hit the mattress. If the mattress or mattress pad is waterproof it is no longer breathable and effectively you are putting your infant on a plastic surface. YUCK!
For the record — and for ease of use — we do recommend the use of sheets. Accidents of all types will be partially captured by the sheet and what does make its way through will be repelled by the extremely effective water, stain, and oil resistance built into the fibers of the cover. If anything should land on the mattress cover it can be easily wiped away. You really have to see it to believe it! Additionally, we have added anti-microbial protection (in case you miss a spot in the middle of the night) in the form of all natural Zinc. For those of you wondering, Zinc is naturally present in the bodies of infants to aid immune system, brain and cellular development. We use Zinc to protect the mattress from molds, yeasts, and all gram negative (i.e. e. coli and pseudomonas) and gram positive bacteria(i.e Staphylococcus and Streptocaccus). This is something that an organic mattress pad does not do. In fact organic cotton has the potential to become a breeding ground for molds, yeast and bacteria. In the morning, when less bleary eyed, the Pebble Mattress has a removable and washable wrap that can be washed if deemed necessary.
If you made it this far you have made it to the most important point. Since a pad is not necessary your infant gets fresh clean air all the time. This fresh clean air is delivered because you can breath through the certified non-toxic eucalyptus cover into the air layer found below. Making for a better nights sleep for all.
WOW,i want to have one for my child…..
Things i can buy for $550:
a less picky baby who is willing to sleep on a normal mattress
I am far enough removed from the crib stage that I have to admit, I did not realize the organic mattresses at the big box stores start around $300. Yikes. So while the price would still make me gulp, it sounds like between the zinc (I think that’s what is in Desitin?), the eucalyptus and the pebble design there is a lot more to the Pebble than other organic mattresses. Add in the sheet and I guess if we were in the market and were able to save on other nursery items, I’d consider it.