Kayla Itsines shares DIY hack to reuse baby mattress for your dog

Apr 08, 2024

By Ella Rayment-Ward| 19 hours ago

When it comes to pet expenses, every cent adds up. From food to toys it can be expensive looking after a pet, especially with the current cost of living crisis.

But Australian fitness guru Kayla Itsines has a clever DIY hack for parents looking to save some extra cash on pet beds.

The mother of two shared that she has used a kids mattress from Target instead of an actual pet bed for her dog to sleep on.

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The 32-year-old has daughter Arna Leia Pearce, three, and welcomed her second child Jax in January with her fiancé Jae Woodroffe.

Now the young mum is sharing how an old kids mattress you might have lying around the house could be repurposed for your fur babies.

Itsines posted a video to Instagram of her pup Demi fast asleep on the small mattress that she has covered with a fitted sheet.

"Life hack, no more dog beds. Buy a cheap kids cot mattress from Target, a mattress protector and two cot covers," she said.

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The fitness guru recommended to her 16 million followers to "use that instead" of a dog bed.

For parents with young kids, Itsines' tip could mean just reusing an old cot mattress that your children has grown out of to save money on your pet.

Otherwise a spring cot mattress at Kmart goes for $89. You can then buy a two pack of jersey fitted cot sheets for just $12.

This is considerably less when you look at high quality pet beds that can cost up to hundreds of dollars from pet chains like PetBarn or Pet Circle.

The most expensive bed you can buy online from Pet Circle costs a whopping $334.95.

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For pet parents looking to save money elsewhere on their pups, Dr Katrina Warren shares some of her top tips for spending less on your pets.

Dr Warren recommends saving the big bucks by making DIY toys for your pets instead of buying ones.

"Repurpose household items or use safe, low-cost materials to create engaging toys and puzzles," she says.

For DIY dog toy ideas, the vet says you can make a braided rope toy using shreds of old t-shirts or tea towels.

Another way to save big is to learn how to groom your own dog Dr Warren says. This could cut down costs considerably if you have a dog like a Cavoodle that requires regular grooming. 

"Consult with a professional dog groomer or veterinarian for guidance as grooming must be done correctly to avoid unnecessary pain or discomfort," she adds. 

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