crib mattress pad?

Babymamawithdrama

Is it supposed to go under the sheet (to protect the mattress) or over the sheet (to protect the sheet) or both? I feel very dumb, but we never used it with my son and I am clueless. TIA

leneae10

I don't use one (his mattress is vinyl covered, so why?) I would guess it would go under the sheet just like an adult bed.  I'd be wary of adding too much thickness or bulk to the crib, though. 

Karen1998

I don't use one on the mattress because our mattress is vinyl covered so there's no point.  However, I do lasagna the sheets, so I layer this way - mattress, sheet, mattress pad, sheet, mattress pad, sheet.  Three sheets is the max I can fit on the mattress and in the crib.  While it does take a bit more time (maybe a minute?) to do initially, it's so much easier to change sheets when you have to thanks to puke, spit up, diaper blowouts, etc...

Babymamawithdrama

She is using the same vinyl mattress my son used and somehow in the 1.5 years he used it there are a bunch of cracks in the vinyl so I bought the pad with the thought to put it between the mattress and sheet, but now actually putting it on I was second guessing.... Karen I am definately doing what you are doing with the stacking when we have to lower the crib (it is such a PITA on the low setting)

Karen1998

Weird that it's cracking!  You can try calling the manufacturer to see if they have a fix.  I've also heard that there are mattress pads that zip on over the mattress, so it's basically a new cover.  That might be easier to put sheets over than the pads.  Plus, I had a hard time finding pads that cover the entire mattress.  That wasn't an issue when DS was younger, but now that he travels the crib nightly, it's more of an issue.

FmrAFBrat

I have a Carter's one...although the mattress is waterproof.  It is fitted and doesn't make it harder to change the sheets. Some of the other pads didn't look so easy.  I got one because I thought it would help keep LO from sweating as well as keep the mattress clean. 

Aubs0009

Karen1998:

I don't use one on the mattress because our mattress is vinyl covered so there's no point.  However, I do lasagna the sheets, so I layer this way - mattress, sheet, mattress pad, sheet, mattress pad, sheet.  Three sheets is the max I can fit on the mattress and in the crib.  While it does take a bit more time (maybe a minute?) to do initially, it's so much easier to change sheets when you have to thanks to puke, spit up, diaper blowouts, etc...

This exactly, it's the best time saver ever!

pottermommy

Ours is under the sheet.  I also put it on there to minimize sweating.