It can feel like a chore to lift down Veronika’s heavy crib mattress on sheet day, but here’s a way to make lemonade out of lemons if you find yourself feeling the same. While that mattress is on the floor, it becomes the perfect toddler trampoline!

Veronika is learning how to jump (right now she goes up to her toes but hasn’t gotten any lift yet), and is so proud of her efforts. So I when I set down the mattress today, I encouraged her to step up on it and jump! Of course there’s the thrill of jumping on the bed, since normally that’s taboo. She was quite impish as she started prancing around.

Pretty soon, stuffed animals wanted to jump, too!

Of course she needed a pause for a puppy hug.

She loved “jumping” and then flopping down with a flourish.

If you’re at all worried about your toddler falling off the sides of the mattress, just surround it with a few pillows. When the sheets are clean, the mattress goes back in the crib and the fun ends until next time!