A crib mattress dog bed works perfectly indoors or outdoors! It provides support to sleep on, it’s waterproof, it’s nice and sturdy plus it isn’t plush or easy to rip or chew. A washable cover and a cozy spot for any furry friend.
Aww, look at Toby. Almost a year old and such a sweet little guy. Toby loves to sleep on soft things: pillows, blankets, towels, the clean clothes pile. You get the drift. If I was a dog, I would rather sleep on things like that too. He has a nice soft bed in his kennel that he sleeps on at night, but I decided to get something for him to use downstairs and outside. After all, I like to make things, even toys and a brand new dog bed for my pet.
How to Make a Crib Mattress Dog Bed
If you don't have a toddler mattress that your little one has outgrown, Facebook marketplace is a great place to find one for a deal. That's the nice thing about crib mattresses. They are waterproof so it is easier to find one in great condition vs. a regular mattress which would be Eww. I found mine at my neighbor's yard sale.
The best part? When your DIY dog bed gets dirty, just take the crib sheet off, toss it into the washing machine, and wash it!
Here is a quick tutorial for a homemade crib sheet if you don't already have some on hand. I made it out of fleece so that it would be soft and cozy. Crib sheets are so simple to make.
It really does make the perfect dog bed for your fur baby. Easy comfort for indoor or outdoor use.
To make a crib mattress dog bed cover you will need:
- 1 crib mattress
- 2 yards fabric (fleece, cotton canvas, flannel)
- 3 yards of 1" fold-over elastic
Cut a rectangle in the following dimensions: 45″ x 67″.
Then cut an 8″ square out of each corner.
Bring the corner sections together and sew in place. Repeat for the other 3 corners.
Fold over elastic is what makes this project quick. No hemming, casings, etc. Sandwich it over your fabric edges and begin to stitch.
STRETCH the elastic as you go, pulling hard. This will make it stretchy and bounce back when finished. Overlap the elastic when you get back to your starting point and backstitch to finish the seam.
His bed is a nice little space of his own---the best dog bed.
We love Toby. He's been a member of our family since he was a puppy and we don’t know what we would do without him! I even enjoy making things for him.
Can you wash a crib mattress dog bed?
Yes! Crib mattresses are waterproof so you can wipe them down to get rid of the dirt. The outer cover is also machine washable and much easier to wash than a traditional dog bed.
How durable is a crib mattress dog bed?
This is the most durable bed that Toby has had. That being said, a dog can chew up just about anything if he wants to. Even if that happens, you are still out less money than you would be for a fancier dog bed.
Can you use a crib mattress doggie bed outside?
Yes. The baby mattress itself holds up great to weather, but the sheet isn't waterproof and will need to be in a covered area to stay dry.
If you love your dog as much as we do then you may want to check out these posts:
Homemade Peanut Butter and Banana Ice Cream for Dogs
33 Things to Make For Your Dog Using Household Items from BarkPost
Sandra says
Wow. I am always on the lookout for super easy makes nd you just saved me a lot of time. Will post pic when finished. Thank you.
Brandy says
Awesome! 🙂
Barbara Chapman ~ French Ethereal says
Hi Brandy! I found your post linked over on Wonderful Wednesday, and had to stop by. Already pinned one photo because, well, your pup is very cute! 🙂 Actually, I really like this idea as I'm noodling making my dog a dog sheet for summer for his dog bed. When I get it posted, if you don't mind I'll link your post in to share with others. This is a great repurpose of an old crib mattress, too!
Have a lovely weekend,
Barb 🙂
Brandy says
Of course! I can't wait to see it! 🙂
Molly says
What a handsome doggo, reminds me of the one I had
Mollyx
Brandy says
Thank you! He's pretty great!
Sarah says
This looks great! I was wondering - because of the elastic is the dog able to pull it off from pawing with claws and such? Thanks for sharing this I think I'm gonna give it a try!
Brandy says
Hi Sarah! We haven't had issues with that. Maybe because he is sitting on the bed, putting his weight on it, so it stays on even if he is moving around. I'd give it a shot anyways! 🙂
Judy says
Hello Brandy - Hope your Thanksgiving Holiday was a great one. - I noticed you posted this 2 yrs ago and you have a lab. I was wondering how the mattress held up? I was thinking about one for my boxer, 80 lbs and was curious if the mattress would flatten due to the weight? I'm looking into getting a memory foam mattress. thank you
Brandy says
Hi Judy! We still have our mattress! He used it indoors for a couple of years, but we recently put it outside in his covered enclosure when we bought him a new bed to go in the house. Both the cover and the mattress are still in perfect condition. He is 65 lbs. so not much smaller than your pup so I think it would work out just fine! We used a cheap mattress that was second hand, a memory foam one would be much cozier, I'm sure!
Anne says
Adorable! did you make it waterproof? of did i miss that mention? i want to make one but not for my dog but my child... my husband needs one too. lol but i just got him a cover from http://www.protectabed.com/content/mattress_protectors.asp. do you think i can waterproof it? and still have it able to go in the wash?
Brandy says
Hi Anne! I did not waterproof ours. Since the crib mattress is waterproof already, I didn't worry about that and just made the fleece cover. I'm not sure how to go about waterproofing it, but that would be a great idea! 🙂
Pam Wolff says
I haven't made the sheet yet but we have a 4 inch king size bed cushion and we are going to cut it up and I plan to cover each bed with a shower curtain liner and then it can be covered with the sheet. I will be donating them to the kennel that boards our border collie. And yes she'll have one at home.?
Brandy says
What a wonderful idea!
Rachel says
Hi,
I just wanted to say how I loved this tutorial - so simple to follow, thanks.
In fact, I thought you might like to know that I liked it so much I included it in a recent post about the best DIY dog beds on my website here: http://smallfluffydogbreeds.com/diy-dog-bed-ideas/
Brandy says
Oh, thank you! And thank you for sharing it on your site! What a great post!
Maria J says
Great tip! Brandy, now I can make my dog mattress covers myself. My dog mattress has lot of dust on it and it is not easy to clean
Pea Green says
Hurrah! I use these for my furbabies and people think it is weird - and I think THEY are weird. My babies love them but I cheat and buy fitted sheets from the goodwill stores so that I can whip them off and wash as needed. My babies have their own sofa too. Basically, they sleep wherever they want. We rescued them both so we figure we have to make up for their previous rotten lives. Your boy is so gorgeous. Thank you for the great tutorial - I can't believe how uncomplicated you made it. I might get brave and try it. ^_^
Brandy says
Hi Pea! I know, right?! Such an easy solution. Our boy loves his bed and it's the only one he hasn't chewed. Your sweet pups are so lucky to have you! It is so heartbreaking so see animals suffering, thank you for adopting them!
the cape on the corner says
great idea, and i love the fabric you chose.
b
Susan says
Such a great idea, especially for our older beagle who battles incontinence. I can make extra covers for the times she has accidents. Thank you for sharing!!
Brandy says
You are so very welcome. Our lab absolutely loves his mattress. We keep it in the front room and it is his own little space to nap on during the day!
megan says
You can also buy reusable hospital "chucks" they hold 1800cc of fluid which is a lot. We put it in the puppy crates incase they have an accident. U can get them on amazon. Just slip it under the sheet so it won't move. Works wonderfully
Jan says
What type of fabric would you recommend?
Brandy says
Hi Jan! I used fleece since my dog is always finding soft blankets to try to lay on. He has a fleece blanket he loves and keeps in his crate with him at night. Flannel or a sturdy cotton would work too.
Holly says
Toby is so handsome! I have a little black lab who is about a year and a half and she loves laying on everything soft, too. She would love this!
Brandy says
Thank you, Holly! We just adore him. Such a wonderful breed 🙂
Brenda says
Great idea Brandy! I never even gave a crib mattress a thought. A little big for our dog, but I really love this idea because it is waterproof and smell proof. lol
Janine says
That is interesting and a very good idea to use the waterproof. I also used a crib mattress and made two 'beds' for our dog but I made them like a big pillow case and that way I can turn it over and use the other side and not fussing with elastic.
Brandy says
That's a GREAT idea! Completely encased and I be that was a simple project too!
Diane in Carmichael says
I like the pillowcase idea, I bought a comforter at a thrift store ($4) and, not being a skilled seamstress, the elastic concerns me.