DIY Bassinet Mattress

Learn how to make a simple waterproof DIY bassinet mattress. Create a soft pad for your little one, providing comfort, while ensuring safety.

As I am settling down from all of my home nesting, to prepare for this baby, I am really captivated by all of the little baby items that lay around me. From little onesies to blankets, my heart is filled with so much joy and anticipation to meet our new little boy. However, nothing makes my heart happier than seeing all of the items I have personally created and sewn from him, one being this diy bassinet mattress and cover.

Finding this vintage baby bassinet off of Facebook Marketplace has really been a blessing. Initially, based off of the pictures, I purchased this bassinet with the intention of gifting it to my daughter for her dolls. When I picked up the bassinet, I quickly realized that this vintage bassinet was not made for dolls, but was used as an actual baby bassinet.

After securing the plywood bottom with support pieces, and dusting off the beautiful wooden frame, the bassinet was nearly ready to be used. I knew placing our newborn baby on a piece of plywood was less than ideal, and definitely not comfortable, so I wanted to create a homemade mattress and cover.

Whether you’re using a bassinet, crib, or basket, creating a diy bassinet mattress pad is super easy and customizable. Follow the steps below to create your very own waterproof diy mattress.

DIY Bassinet Mattress Tips

• Find a material that is waterproof. When (not if) your baby spits up, or pees out, you will want the inside padding of your mattress to be protected. If you don’t use a waterproof material, you will have to wash the mattress foam along with the cover. Washing the padding could create uneven patches, or even ruin the padding.
• Avoid placing pins on the inside of where your seam will be. Make sure you sew on the inside (or left side) of your pins. The pins will create tiny holes in your waterproof material, which will allow liquids or fluids to seep in.
• Stack the padding to your desired thickness. My initial plan was to double the padding to create a thicker mattress, however, one layer fit perfectly in the indentation of my bassinet. Stack as many layers as you want until you have reached your desired thickness, then follow the instructions as normal.

Materials and Tools

• Waterproof fabric (I purchased a white waterproof polyester from Walmart ($12 for 2 yards) from a “furniture cover material” roller behind the counter.)
• Padding (I purchased “Project Foam” from Walmart for $15.)
• Matching color thread
• Sewing Machine
• Scissors
• Tape Measure

How to Sew a DIY Bassinet Mattress

1. Measure the inside of your bassinet, crib, or basket, both length wise and width wise.
2. Cut out the foam pad to the measurements of your bassinet. Continuously place the pad into the bassinet, checking the size, and trimming the edges until it fits.
3. Place waterproof fabric over your bassinet pad. Cut the fabric around the pad, leaving a minimum of 1/2 inch on each side. (This will allow extra fabric to work with while pinning and sewing.)
4. Use the initial piece of fabric to cut out a second piece. (One will be for the front, the other for the back.)
5. Place the fabric (good side up) on a flat surface, then the padding, then the other piece of fabric (good side down).
6. Pin the fabric together on one side, making sure the good sides of fabric are touching each other on the inside. (This will ensure the good waterproof side will show when you flip the fabric inside out.)
7. Pin the fabric together at the top. Gently remove the padding.
8. Sew along the inside of the pins. (If you sew on the outside of the pins, you will have tiny holes in your fabric.)
9. Place the padding back inside the cover. Pin the remaining side tightly around the padding. (If your padding is thin, sew around the padding while it remains inside. If you have multiple layers of padding, remove them, then sew the remaining side.)
10. Cut off any excess fabric that will create bunching when turned inside out. Be careful not to cut too close to the seam.
11. Turn your fabric inside out. Place the padding inside the cover. Pin the bottom as tight to the pad as you can, while allowing you room to be able to sew on the inside of the pins.
12. Cut off any excess fabric, creating as nice and clean of a seam you can.

RELATED: DIY Bassinet Mattress Cover (COMING TOMORROW!)

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