Mattresses
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Sept 2009
I am about to buy a king-size mattress and am looking for some recommendations
for a mattress that doesn't sag too quickly. I have heard that European Sleep
Works has good mattresses, and am wondering if they are worth the hefty price,
and if you can just buy the mattress or need the whole system. Also curious
about the foam/memory mattresses. Do Pillow tops last? Any recs would be
appreciated. Thanks!
anon
We purchased a European Sleepworks king mattress in 2004 and
love it! It's firm, adjustable, and because of the two slat
system (one for each side), my husband and I never disturb each
other as we get in and out of our sides of the bed. It took a
week to get used to the bed but it's been great since then. We
are even considering buying one for our son. It's cheaper than
Duxiana but I feel just as good. We won't be turning back. As
for the pillows, we have never tried them but are considering
it as we are happy with the bed.
anon
In my experience with mattresses, you get what you paid for. We shelled out the extra
$$ for a McCroskey mattress (handmade in SF - yes a locally owned, family business).
It is the most comfortable bed I have ever slept on in my entire life. They come with a
10-year warranty and are expected to last 20+ years. They do recommend the box
spring, which we bought, so I can't tell you how they are without the box spring. We
were initially looking at the McCroskey for our daughter because they are supposedly
not full of nasty chemicals. While testing beds for her, I realized I wasn't going to
sleep
well until I had one for myself. Check them out at
http://www.mcroskey.com/index.shtml or better yet, go try one in person.
sleeping soundly
I have read a lot about the advantages to sleeping on a foam
mattress. The main reason I finally did buy one was to fit the
modern bed frame that I found. The king size mattress came to my
house via UPS and was easy to get up the stairs. It came rolled
up and expands after opening. I found the innerspace brand
mattress at www.sleepmodern.com
I have been very
happy with it. They have memory foam and non memory foam
mattresses. The memory foam is more expensive of course. They
have a 30 day money back guarantee which is nice, and the
mattress ships directly to your house. I would imagine non memory
foam would be just fine for the kids.
eric
Aug 2009
Have you bought a king-size mattress in the past 6 months that you
love?? We have a medium-firm mattress we bought 7 years ago and
never felt comfortable. After sleeping on firm hotel mattresses on
vacation, I think that's what we need. But still cushy, maybe with
a pillow-top? What brand? What store? Any good deals at Costco
that are GOOD mattresses? Consumer Reports is too vague. Help!
A-Tossin' And A-Turnin' All Night...
We recently bought a ''Tea Leaf Supreme'' king-sized mattress from Keetsa
and we love it. It's foam (supposedly fairly eco-friendly foam, though not
the very greenest option out there), so very firm yet soft. I don't toss
and turn on it like I did on our previous spring-coil mattress. Plus it
comes packed in a relatively small (but heavy) box and you get to watch it
expand after you unpack it!
Happy Sleeper
We have been shopping for a new mattress since March this year. My husband
is the type of person who researches and thinks about bigger purchases much
and often and for a long time. Before having made the final decision we
have probably been to six different mattress stores to ''test sleep''
(chains and individual stores). In the end we were torn between ''The
Natural Mattress store'' in San Rafael and Berkeley's ''European Sleep
Works''. Both offer high-end mattresses - this is high-end in quality as
well as in price;-).
However, after having come back to the Berkeley store a second and third
time, we were totally convinced and made a fabulous decision. The calm and
very knowledgeable Sara Ridgway @ European Sleep Works was extremely
helpful with finding out what mattress works best for us, our body shapes
and weight (did not find a consultation that came close to this anywhere
else!). My husband and I both like to sleep medium firm and we always loved
sleeping in hotels with high quality mattresses (the ones you never want to
get off).
We ended up buying a King Nordic 2 mattress (9'') with two layers of
high-grade German coil and natural latex foam, breathable wood-lined cotton
cover and a medium firmness that makes me believe I am in heaven! Let me
tell you: This mattress has changed our lives and is worth every single
penny ... go and check it out yourself. But be prepared that it's not one
of the most inexpensive ones.
In Heaven
April 2008
My husband and I are in the market for a new mattress. We need
something that is comfortable and supportive for our aging
bodies--we both wake up too many mornings with joints aching.
I'd also prefer something not laden with chemicals, as I tend to
be very sensitive to that stuff, plus we'd like something more
earth friendly. And to top it all off, we'd really like to keep
the cost reasonable so we don't lie in our new bed awake
wondering how to pay for it. Anyone out there found the perfect
mattress? Thanks!
Needs Good Sleep
I love my Tempurpedic mattress. We both love it. Its like the
perfect combination between firm and pillowy soft. And no more
aching joints! When you first get it, it takes a few days to
get used to, but then after that, it is bliss. Every night when
I go to bed I say a little prayer of thanks for my amazing
mattress. I've had it for a few years no and there is no
indentation, no worn in spots. Its just as comfy now as it was
3 years ago. I know people who have had them for longer and
they say the same thing.
anon
I love opportunities to talk about how getting my bed changed
my life. As someone with spinal fusions, I will always have
issues. But my bed was making me so stiff in the mornings that
I felt much older than I am. We got ours from European
Sleepworks in Berkeley. Very natural/organic. That wasn't so
important to me, what really helped for us was that they set
the two sides of the bed separately. I'm a side sleeper, my
husband a back sleeper. We weren't going to find a mattress
that we both liked. It wasn't nearly as expensive as some
other companies, but worth every penny!
happy with my bed
I love my mattress! It's a Simmons Beautyrest - it has a
pillowtop, so you don't ever flip it. We've had it for 7
years. This is the first mattress I've ever had that didn't
develop sagging or indentations or a ridge down the center,
even after 7 years. And we're not exactly tiny little people
either - close to 400 pounds on that mattress every night! I
didn't think I wanted a pillowtop when we bought it and for the
first 3 days it seemed too puffy, but it has turned out to be
great, still very comfortable.
sound sleeper
Well, I like my mattress - love is pretty strong.
It is a Lifekind organic mattress
I actually wrote a review of our LifeKind mattress on my blog
http://www.earthfriendlyshopping.com/?p=45
I wrote it a few months ago, but everything is still the save
Lee
Go to European Sleepworks in Berkeley and try out all their
beds. Even if you order a model and do not like it after trying
it out at home for a month, they will swap for another one.
(Our first one was too firm and we settled on the medium firm.)
Knowledgeable staff. For some years now we have been very
happy. I also like their wool pellet pillows that you can make
fatter or thinner at will. Their oxygen pillows were too firm
for my neck but they also come in different thicknesses.
Judy
Your title caught my eye. I really love my mattress! There is
no question in my mind that when it wears out, or if it is lost
in some way, I will immediately by the same again. A good
friend felt the same; when her 7-year relationship broke up and
he got the mattress, she marched out and got her own post
haste. It meets your no chemicals requirement, not sure if it
meets your affordable requirement, but we've had ours 7 or 8
years and still love it in a very active way. It is a European
Sleepworks mattress. It is the most comfortable thing I've ever
slept on, and when I'm travelling I miss it. One thing I love
about it is that I can comfortably lie on my back on it,
despite my generous derriere. Check them out!
anne
My husband and I cannot say enough about how much we LOVE our
European Sleepworks Mattress. It was expensive, but honestly
the best money spent. The differences between it and a
''standard'' mattress are pronounced. We are getting some
painting done, and had to sleep on our guest room mattress for
one night and could not believe the difference: we woke up sore
and not as well rested.
I ''heart'' my mattress
I do love my mattress- after years of suffering from an aching
back in the morning, now i wake up feeling great. It's from
European Sleep works in Berkeley-not the cheapest, but totally
worth it.
I use a foam mattress and love it. I bought it at the foam
shop on San Pablo below Dwight Way, I think it's called Famous
Foam Factory. I had used a Serta or Sealy mattress before
going to foam and was never comfortable. The foam mattress
really works for me.
Rebecca
yes - a 6 inch organic cotton futon with a 4 inch wool topper.
Firm base with a soft topper. Call the good folks at Soaring
Heart futon http://www.soaringheart.com/ and you will learn a
lot from helpful, low key, nonpushy folks.
Note, you'll need a Rx for a chemical free mattress.
sleeping mama
We love our mattress from European Sleepworks on Adeline @
Ashby. It has been worth every penny. We paid $1400 four
years ago for the queen mattress only, skipped the slat system
frame and got an inexpensive slat frame from a futon shop near
Solano and San Pablo. The mattress is still in great shape
(it's just dealt with my largish pregnant self and held up
well). It's heavy so a pain to move. I'm sensitive to
chemicals as well, yet for that it never caused a problem. We
have occasionally spent nights at some high-end hotels around
the country and our mattress is still better than any we've
slept on when traveling.
neega
YES - we love our mattress! About 6 or 7 years ago we bought a
Sleep Comfort mattress - the one advertised on TV by Lindsay
Wagner - the one with ''sleep numbers.'' It is essentially a
good air matress with two chambers - one for each side of the
bed. Each has its own control. We bought the cheapest version
- it doesn't display our ''sleep number'' - we just can feel if
it is right. My husband had back surgery as a teen and really
needs a comfortable mattress - this is it! In theory it will
never wear out because it is air! We did call them to get
another piece of foam which runs down the middle of the bed -
it made the mattress more stable. You can get one on-line I
think or at the store in the Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek.
Getting great sleep
Hi there,
I have slept on a water bed for 30 years and is the only kind
of mattress that works for my back and experience pain when I
sleep on anything else. They do take a little getting used to
in the beginning (especially the ''full wave ones), but are
sooooo worth it and they are considerably less expensive. They
make them so that you hardly feel the movement and even the
full wave ones can be made as firm or soft as you like and you
don't have to worry about the chemicals and such that
traditional mattresses are made of. How much more natural can
you get than to sleep on water?! (no you don't get seasick)
They support and conform to your body in any position and one
of the best parts (for me) is that they are heated! (also
adjustable). Imagine crawling into a cozy WARM bed and being
rocked to sleep every night knowing that wherever you move it
will be warm. My guests love it and I still giggle with delight
almost every night even after all these years. (I'm 60) I know
most people probably don't think of a water beds anymore, but the're
still out there. The only place I know of the the East Bay is
Odds & Ends Water Beds 12491 San Pable Ave. Richmond. 510 233
9097. Food for thought. Happy hunting.
Beccarae
I too love my mattress from European Sleepworks, however with one caveat. We
also bought their slat system, which I HATE. Each of the set of slats is in a
frame and down the middle of the bed where our frames meet there is a ridge.
Not only that, I can feel zero difference no matter the position of the slats.
I definitely fall into the Princess and the Pea category, but my
recommendation is to go with your own base for the bed and splurge on the
mattress.
Princess
June 2007
Hi,
Wanted to see if anyone knows the legalities pertaining to
this. It almost takes more energy to tell than it's worth,
but... I bought a mattress 4 years ago that has ''20-year-
warranty'' sewn into it with a little chiropractor symbol. The
dip became so bad my back is hurting in the morning. I've
tested it, slept on my mom's guest bed and had zero pain. When
I stuff a huge couch pillow under the mattress, pain goes away.
The mattress co's inspector came out, found there was a
problem, the co. sent me a form letter saying ''we heard there
could be a problem'', then assigned their local sales guy to me.
The problem is the original retail store went out of business 2
years ago. The sales guy said the factory couldn't deliver from
factory to my door, that it had to go through the retailer. In
my case, another local retailer would supposedly have to, out
of the goodness of their heart, agree to let me drop off and
pick up my mattress from their store. He said he called around
and nobody would do this. Surprise. Followed by, ''if your back
is hurting you probably didn't shop carefully and got the wrong
mattress'' and ''our backs change as we get older,'' both my
fault. I did shop well, he has no idea how old I am, and the
dip in the thing is causing the pain. I tried to deal with the
factory directly but they pushed me back off on the sales guy,
so I've stopped communicating.
I feel that the factory/employer of sales guys, is responsible,
the factory warranty should be good even if the retail store is
out of business, and that they can easily swing their truck by
my house on one of their frequent trips here. Or give me
16/20ths of today's cost of that mattress. Does anybody out
there know if my rationale is logical, what laws apply, and
what I can specifically say to them that they will listen to?
Secondarily, is it right to take the mattress away, rip it
apart and replace the insides, sew it back up, and give me the
same one back? Is that what they do? Any help is appreciated.
Sleepless in Albany
you need to take the company to small claims court.
I don't know if this will help you, but here's what I would do.
If you have a documented warranty and they will not honor it,
call 7 On Your Side (Channel 7, KGO) I had a problem with an
agency once and after going around in circles and getting
nowhere I called KGO one morning....by 4:00 that afternoon a
supervisor from the agency called me, apologized, and said the
problem would be taken care of within 2 days and would never
occur again. It's amazing how a little fear of bad PR can move
mountains.
I'm so old I remember good customer service
small claims court?
local news consumer affairs? (eg michael finney)
i haven't tried these things, but they're worth a shot.
anon
Feb 2007
Hi,
I have had the worst luck in trying to find a comfortable bed.
I know I need good support and I like a firm bed. I tend to
sleep mostly on my stomach and sometimes on my side. Right now
I have a very good quality (expensive) king bed that I have had
for 2 1/2 years and it is rare that I get a good nights
sleep...I toss and turn a lot and wake up with a sore lower
back and sore neck and shoulders.
I have been reading a lot of the the Tempur-pedic bed and was
wondering if anyone has tried that bed? Or, does anyone have
any suggestions?
Thanks
Karie
Hi there, I got a tempurpedic bed about 2 years ago. And I love it. I too am a
stomach sleeper and had been sleeping on an old mattress. One that was so bad
that during my pregnancies I had to switch to a futon. The tempurpedic is great
because it sort of molds to your body. So you get support thru your whole body.
People who love really soft m attresses might find it a bit firm at first.
the other thing is that it takes a few days to get used to when you first get it, so if
you decide to try it out, give it a week or so.
the other thing is that after two years of two people sleeping on the bed, there are
no indentations or any ''valleys''. It just puffs right back out.
I highly recommend it.
happy tummy sleeper
I sleep on my stomach, too. I bought a Select comfort bed, the
sleep number bed! I love it, I love it, I love it.
My mother-in-law has the bed you asked about, it's good for a
visit; but my sleep number bed is perfect! Both my husband and
I sleep wonderfully and still love it after 2 years.
Sleeping all night
Jan 2007
Seeking opinions on which mattress to purchase--the Mcroskey with the boxspring or
the Eurpean Sleepworks with the adjustable slats? Both seem great....but difficult
decision. Thanks for any input.
Denise
A few years I was also looking for a new mattress and I also called the McRoskey but
the prices seemed outrageous. I mean, come on, I was buying a bed, not a car. We
bought the ESW and WE LOVE IT. My husband has an arthritic hip and for the first time
in 10 years he slept all night. For the money, it is a great buy and you will not regret
it.
I can't speak to the McRoskey as far as comfort. I am sure it is great. The question is
really how much money do you want to spend?
sleeping great now
Hi,
We purchased a mattress and slat system from European
sleepworks this summer and we are very pleased with it.
We 'shopped' twice and spent over an hour each time. My husband
changed his mind about what firmness he liked in that time, so
I think two visits over as many weeks is important for this
investment. I have given up on American style spring
mattresses. We purchased an expensive one (plush top/ memory
foam) and within four years it was a mushy mess with a cave-in
center and I was having pressure point issues.So at this point
if the sleepworks one lasts 2 x as long it's worth 2x the
money. My husband and I had different problems and we're both
waking up much happier in the morning. No pressure point issues
and no more sore backs (well, I still get a little, but nothing
like before in degree or frequency and many days no issues). We
took their recommendations and now sleep with a pillow under
one arm and bet. the knees (something you can implement w/o the
mattress!) and we also got the oxygen pillow. I like the oxygen
pillow (it has to be sized to you) except the surface (not the
cushiony part) has begun to seem a little hard to me--this is
an issue particular to me and my tempurpedic pillow had started
to do this to me which is why I switched to the oxygen pillow).
So the pillow is fine for my neck, but not so great for my
ears/back of the head where I am like the princess and the pea.
On the mattress, I still collapse into it and think, 'this is
so nice' over 6 months later--and as you can tell, I'm fairly
picky. It's a highly personal decision, but I liked the
mattress and it was a relief to shop there versus other
mattress places.
Jessica
We purchased a Mcroskey California King Size mattress and box
spings approximately three years ago. They are great and
extremely comfortable. I don't think you can go wrong with
them.
jh
I can't speak to Sleepworks, but I can recommend Mcroskey,
highly. We've had one for 12 years, the boxspring/matress
combo. Wonderful/Amazing. We have two couples who went out and
got them after we did. The key is to test drive in their
showroom and get the firmness that is right for you. Plus, SF
made...awesome original building on Market...just can't beat it!
Dana
My wife and I are about to toss out our 4 year old McCroskey.
It's bumpy, lumpy, and sunken in the middle. You might have
better luck but it's just about the worst purchase we ever made.
Need a New Mattress
Dec 2006
We are preparing to upgrade to a king-size bed so that we can co-sleep with our toddler
and newborn-on-the-way. Can anyone recommend a mattress to us? We know that our
current queen mattress is a bit soft to be ideal for babies, but we purchased it before
we were parents, and didn't initially plan to co-
sleep. Aside from firmness, are there any other considerations to take into account?
What mattresses have people been happy with while co-sleeping? co-sleeper
After much research, we concluded that an organic mattress was most important. We
purchashed ours at Earthsake on 4th Street in Berkeley a few months ago. It is
the ''Extra firm'' type, and we added a wool cover. I think the softness/firmness
factor is perfect for co-sleeping. It greatly eases my mind that not only our
baby, but my husband and I as well, are sleeping on a chemical-free bed. Take a
look at the toxic ingredients found in non-organic mattresses. It is shocking to
me that so many educated people think nothing of inhaling toxins several hours a
day, yet are adamant about organic eating and living. Organic mattresses cost
approximately the same as the higher quality new chemical mattresses. I think,
all said and done, our mattress, boxspring, and organic bedding was in the $2500
range. Best of luck to you!
meg
We have been co-sleeping with our son (now 2 years 3 months old) since day 1 on
our simmons beauty rest with plush top (the mattress underneath is extrafirm).
Although it has a soft plush top, we put a waterproof mattress pad and a tight
sheet over it so it wasn't too soft for baby. Our baby was also swaddled in the
miracle blanket (miracleblanket.com) for the first four months and so there was
no danger of the baby turning over when he was too young. The individual springs
of the simmons beautyrest mattress made sure that when my husband or I moved, the
baby did not move with us or there was no 'dip' for the baby to roll into. Works
well for us
Andi
April 2006
I'm looking for a comfortable, probably firm, queen-size mattress that won't break
the bank. Can anyone recommend a mattress store and a mattress brand or model?
Also, how do you adequately test it before buying it?
I bought a mattress, etc. four months ago at European Sleepworks
in Berkeley. It is wonderful. To anyone able to afford -- or
sacrifice to afford -- in the $1,000+ range, I suggest buying the
mattress without the slats, etc., which would bring it down
somewhat in cost. I bought the whole package and as I waited the
month or so for it to arrive, I thought I'd lost my mind, but
gosh it is a dream to sleep on. I'd suffered for years on the
standard type of mattress.
Back to Bed
Jan 2005
Can anyone tell me the difference between a European
Sleepworks Bed versus a TempurPedic? Has anyone tried them
both? Have you also tried a McRoskey? If so, how do they
compare? Are there other beds in this price range we
should be considering? We are interested in buying a new
bed and wanted some feedback on the beds in this price
range. Thanks!
Julie
I LOVE my McCrosky mattress. I've had one for nearly 9 years and it is absolutely the best mattress I've ever slept on.
October 2004
I have heard horror stories from friends about the difficulties
they have had buying mattresses around here. Can someone
recommend a good place that has reasonable prices? Is there an
advantage to going to one of those big mattress warehouses? How
is IKEA?
Thanks!
anon.
I have 2 recommendations: we just bought our kids' bunkbeds at
Mancini Sleepworld in Pinole (there's also one in Berkeley, near
OSH), and the mattresses were on sale, name brand, and seem to be
of high quality. The whole purchasing experience was quick and
easy (and I did it alone with my 2 and 4 year olds in tow!).
Secondly, we purchased our own king size mattress and box spring
just over a year ago at Fenton MacLaren on College Ave. We were
just browsing around at the furniture one Sunday afternoon, and
wandered downstairs to discover beds & mattresses. The prices
were comparable or cheaper than those we'd researched elsewhere,
so we bought our set, and are now very happy with the quality of
sleep we're getting! (No more futons for us for a long time!)
Again, the staff there was very helpful and nice. Good luck!
Heidi
This is what I wrote in the recommendations about my mattress-
buying experience a couple of years ago:
''This is how I bought our mattress: I started with a $700 budget
for a queen-sized mattress, so Duxiana, European Sleepworks and
McRoskey were out of the question for us. I read about
mattresses at www.whatsthebest-mattress.com and learned that
manufacturers (not the independent high-ends mentioned above)
sell the same mattresses, but name them differently at each
store so that customers cannot compare prices from store to
store. I also learned what to look for in mattress construction.
I took my notes and went through the exhausting process of
visiting the major mattress stores (Mattress Discounters,
Sleeptrain, Mancini's, etc.) and tried out mattresses in our
price range. I found most stores were horrendous -- really high-
pressured, irritating sales tactics and absolutely unwilling to
give a straight answer. Salespeople will bad-mouth the brand
their store doesn't carry -- the only stores that didn't use
these tactics were Viking Trader on San Pablo (I didn't like any
of their mattresses) and Mancini's in Pinole. Also, Mancini's
has a chart comparing the mattresses [by the name each store
uses for the same mattress]. I ended up spending about $1,000 at
Mancini's -- and we're very happy. I couldn't find anything
under $900 that I liked. Maybe next time we'll be able to move
on up to European Sleepworks! Good luck!''
**The only things I can add to this are that I did look at Ikea
and didn't like any of their mattresses. Also, we've had our
mattress for about 3 years now and are still very happy with
it. What a difference a new mattress made in our lives! (When
you're rolling toward the valley in the center of your mattress,
you know it's TIME.)
Anon
I had a good experience with Mattress Discounters in
Emeryville. They have a large selection and are pretty helpful.
sleeping well
I bought my mattress, which I love, at the mattress store in Emeryville,
near the Home Depot. But I don't think where matters as much as this:
mattresses are marked up so much that retailers are willing to bargain.
No joke. I made them an offer and they accepted. It was like being at a
garage sale! (I'd read about this somewhere and thought, what the hell.)
Also, comparing brands from store to store is often not possible; retailers
change the names of the mattress just enough to make comparison
shopping difficult. Good luck!
Anon.
We bought ours at Macy's. After it arrived and we were able to sleep on it for a
month, we decided to return it and get a firmer mattress. That's the good thing
about Macy's. We are very pleased with the mattress we ultimately ended up with.
Yvonne
My husband and I bought a mattress at European Sleep Works
(Adeline near Ashby in Berkeley) and have been very happy with it
(as well as with the store and salespeople). The mattress is now
7 years old and I expect to go back there when we replace it.
They are definitely high end mattresses, priced comparably to
high-end mattresses from national brands (Sealy, Serta, etc.),
but I really think you get a better quality product. If you
aren't looking at the high end of the market, however, it's
probably not the right place for you.
Carrie
Feb 2005
Hooray!! We're finally getting ready to move (larger room/home) and need a recommendation on a good mattress. I don't know if it makes a difference that we want a California King. My husband and I have both had back/neck problems that we can attribute to our past & current mattresses. What I think we need is something firm, but not stiff, and feels soft. I know there is such a thing because we slept on it during our vacation at the Moana Surfrider in Waikiki (anyone know where to get one of those? Seems it's made for their parent company, but I'd like to test it out again at a store and not just purchase it online.) I guess I'm wondering if there's a consensus about what brand makes the best mattresses, as well as where to shop. Thanks for any input.
paula
We bought a European Sleepworks mattress 8 years ago and have been in heaven ever since. Since then, my parents, in-laws, 2 friends and brother have all purchased these mattresses. several of us have chronic back issues and we would all spend the money over and over again. They cost $2000-$2500, depending on what you buy. We compared these to other similar "boutique" mattresses in the Bay Area and we were appalled by what they want to charge for virtually the same product. You can rotate the pillow top, but you never have to flip the mattress. Also, the top of the cover zips off so you can wash it!! We have had to do that once or twice with a toddler who crawls into our bed in the middle of the ONE night we forgot to put the waterproof pad on :-)
Happy sleeping!
Jan 2004
I know there are posts on buying Mattresses on the network, but
they are pretty outdated and dont have sufficient info on
mattress other than european sleepworks.
I am trying to find a mattress that can give good support and
be comfortable. I have a 3 yr old that sleeps with us and I am
currently expecting. Any advice is appreciated if someone can
reccomend the mattress they are happy with!!
We really like our organic mattress that we got at Earthsake on
Fourth Street. We've had ours about 2 years, and our son's is
over four years old. I think we got ''medium'' firmness (not
sure), and both are still very comfortable. We do not have bos-
springs. My son's is on a platform, and ours rests on wooden
slats. The store has an annual mattress sale, I think in the
summer.
R.K.
McRoskey Mattress Company in San Francisco is the best place to
go for comfortable mattresses.
sue
Dec 2004
We love having the space to stretch out in our king-sized bed---
but after only 1.5-2 yrs a bump in the middle has developed.
It's in the section between where my the bulk of my husband's
body and my body bulk lay. Now it's been a total of 3 years and
I don't think this mattress is holding up. We paid about $1100
for it. We do not have a boxspring as our bed is the platform
type that doesn't need one. The bed has a single head to toe
support bar running down the middle. Does anyone know if it's
the mattress quality or the lack of boxspring that causes this
lump in the middle? Or a combination of both? I really don't
want to go back to a queen. Should we get a new bed with a
boxspring? I was thinking that a king bed with 2 support bars
(cutting the length into thirds) may help because then the bars
would be under the areas where our bodies are most of the time.
Anyone know of such a bed design? They all seem to have just
one bar. Another thing: it's the new kind of mattress that
doesn't require flipping. However, one day we stood up the
mattress to do some work in the room and the next week or so it
didn't seem to have the bump, and this tells me that flipping it
around would probably do some good, although the bottom-side is
not designed to be slept on. Any ideas? Do we need to get a
custom-designed bed?
Love to Stretch Out
I think that my husband and I have the same crummy mattress as
you! I hate that lump in the bed and my husband is also
experiencing really bad back pain every night! UGH. We DO have
a box spring and I don't think it does on iota of good. I
really just think that the problem is that mattresses
that ''conform'' to your body don't have the ability to ''spring
back'' to life. Thus, the ''hill'' in the middle. I haven't
written to the company that makes the mattress, but I'm
definitely thinking about it. Other than that, we're planning
on buying a new mattress and I'm going for the old fashioned
kind of mattress. Good luck to you!
need a good night's sleep
No flip is a myth. If you don't flip your mattress, it will get
lumpy. If you have a pillowtop, the mattress co. will tell you
that it's just what happens with pillowtops.
Yeah, it's amazing that products this expensive are made this
poorly....
At this point, were I you, I'd start rotating and flipping the
mattress and see if it'll even out over the next 3 or 4 months.
Sara
Foam Mattresses
2001
We recently bought a foam mattress from Ikea for a toddler bed that expands to twin size as
your baby grows. I let it air out outside for a day and it has a cover and of course the sheets.
The last couple of weeks the comments regarding the foam and possibly inhaling chemicals is
beginning to scare me. Can anyone recommend a solution, maybe another mattress pad or a
feather bed over the foam? Or should we get rid of it? Thanks for any advice on this one...
Alexis
I think that plastic (polythene, not PVC) zippered mattress covers can protect
against the outgassing of both foam and conventional baby mattresses, the latter
being treated with flame retardant chemicals on which some fungi feed. The
Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients (Aug/Sept 2000) article entitled "Victory
over crib Death" by Dr. Lendon Smith made a compelling case for using Babesafe
mattress covers (email criblife@hotmail.com to obtain more info) and no moisture
resistant bedding otherwise
Nori
Toddler Bed Mattresses
Related page: Toddler Beds
Feb 2005
i'm planning on buying a twin bed for my son soon, even
though he won't be moving into it for a year or so, i am
planning on using it as a guest bed until then. but i have NO
idea what kind of mattress to get for a little guy. firm? soft?
box spring? no box spring? i'm guessing pillow top is
considered a bad thing, but does anyone have any advice
on the topic? thanks.
mary in alameda
[no replies recieved]
October 2001
We recently bought a foam mattress from Ikea for a toddler bed that expands to
twin size as
your baby grows. I let it air out outside for a day and it has a cover and of
course the sheets.
The last couple of weeks the comments regarding the foam and possibly inhaling
chemicals is
beginning to scare me. Can anyone recommend a solution, maybe another mattress
pad or a
feather bed over the foam? Or should we get rid of it? Thanks for any advice
on this one...
Alexis
I think that plastic (polythene, not PVC) zippered mattress covers can protect
against the outgassing of both foam and conventional baby mattresses, the
latter
being treated with flame retardant chemicals on which some fungi feed. The
Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients (Aug/Sept 2000) article entitled
"Victory
over crib Death" by Dr. Lendon Smith made a compelling case for using Babesafe
mattress covers (email criblife AT hotmail.com to obtain more info) and no
moisture
resistant bedding otherwise
Nori
2001
Do toddlers have special needs in a mattress?
Our son is ready to escape the confines of his crib, so my husband and I have
been searching for a toddler bed. (We like the idea that toddler beds are the
right scale for our son's size.) Ikea sells a few styles that can be extended as the
child grows, ultimately to the length of a standard twin. There is an obvious
convenience factor here, but the system requires a simple, though thick, foam
mattress. When our son is older, we can sub in a standard mattress for better
support, but our crib mattress will not fit in the meantime.
Our son is old enough that SIDS is no longer a concern, but, considering his
small size, does he need the support of a firm mattress? (The money savings is
not worth future orthopedic care.) Someone out there must have purchased one
of these beds -- did your child find it comfortable? Thanks in advance.
Loralee
We are now entering this situation with our 22 month old boy. We hope
to use his crib mattress on a IKEA type toddler bed, or at the very
least put his mattress on the floor. I wanted to mention what I've
read about using foam mattress(or any foam product for that matter):
foam off-gasses formaldahyde. I read this when I was pregnant, and we
specifically chose a baby crib mattress that had little to no foam in
it.
Can anyone else comment on the safety of foam - especially in
mattresses. I do know that mattress(any type) should be "aired" out
before use b/c of the off-gassing it produces. MM
Inflatable Mattresses
2000
Every summer as we visit my mother and stay in her home, our three kids and
their cousin struggle with more or less comfortable sleeping arrangements.
In previous years one kid had to sleep on a futon mattress right on the
(carpeted) floor. In order to improve matters a bit, my mother has been
considering other options, such as those thick inflatable mattresses that you
see in some catalogs. I would very much appreciate some feedback from others
who have given the inflatable mattresses a try either as hosts (ie: are they
easy to inflate/deflate/store) or as houseguests (were they comfortable
enough for one night? for several nights in a row?) . Thanks!
Laura
I find the inflatable mattresses much more comfortable than a futon.
They're not hard to put up and take down, though it helps to have an
electric pump (many brands sell pumps that are made to work specifically
with the mattress). They are not large--maybe half the size of a standard
pillow when fully deflated. The big downside is that they can get holes in
them. Our 12 year old daughter jumped on our last one and burst a side
seam (completely unable to be repaired). So it sort of depends on the
activity level of the kids, and location in which the mattress will be used.
Good luck! Dawn
we slept on one recently when visiting my father. it was very easy to
inflate and deflate with the electric pump (came with it). all three of us
(2 adults and one 22 month old) slept on it comforatably. at first it wasn't
comfortable, but then we added more air and it was fine. i forgot the brand.
it runs around $150.00 i think and is carried at bed, bath & beyond and sold
in the hearth and home catalog.
Susan
We got a queen size one from REI ($25 or so) almost two years ago for guests
and it has been great. I don't think you need to get the really expensive
ones. Do invest in an electric pump, though -- much easier than the foot
pump.
Curryville
I slept on one for a week while staying at my mother in law's house. I
didn't tell her this, but I didn't find it very comfortable at all. I would
say it's OK for one night but that would be about it. If you move or roll
the thing sort of slips on the floor. It also "squeaks" when you get up (my
baby quickly figured out I was on the floor next to his crib which greatly
lessened his interest in staying asleep.) They are definitely easy to
inflate and deflate, however, and do not take up much storage space. And, I
should add, I have a reputation for being somewhat of a princess.
Fran
We'd like to put an extra bed in our son's room for
house guests, but don't have much extra space to play
around with. I've looked at futons, but the frames are
all so big that I'm beginning to think we should try to
find a comfortable fold-away cot or even an air mattress
that can be stored out of place when not in use. How have
others solved this problem? Is there such a thing as a
comfortable cot or air mattress? If so, where would I go
to find one? Any other ideas? Thanks.
Holly
air matteress--I highly recommend the AERO BED air mattresses!
I think you can get them at Sears but I imagine they are at
lots of other places too.
Ferdief
King-sized Mattress for Family Bed
Sept. 2000
I know this is a little off-topic but it does relate to parenting, so I'm
going to give it a try. We just had a little girl three months ago and she
sleeps in our queen-sized bed with us. Unfortunately it's a little crowded
in there what with all the rustling around we do when nursing, the care we
have to take with the sheets & blankets, etc. We're looking to buy a
king-sized bed so that we all can stretch out a little bit but are a bit
daunted by the huge and confusing selection of brands and types. Can anyone
offer any advice as to a good, reasonably priced king-sized bed? And where
to get it?
We're on a modest budget but are interested in good quality. We can
probably afford something around $1000-1200. If anyone knows of any such
mattress, please let me know!
Thanks much!
Valerie
King-size bed. We also outgrew our family bed, and finally went to king-size
last January. We ended up buying our bed at Mancini's Sleepworld in Pinole,
and I highly recommend them. They deliver free, give you a frame, take away
the old mattress, if needed (we just asked them to put it in another room),
and offer a "comfort guarantee", which means if you don't like the mattress
you bought, they will exchange it at no charge within a certain period of
time. We bought a Serta mattress called the Worthington Plush, and we love
it. We got it on sale, so I think it was about $900. If I had known what a
difference a bigger bed would make, I would not have waited so long! Good
luck.
Burleola
I'd look at "Mattress Discounters" out on Hesperian Blvd in San Leandro (not
far up the street from Target). We have bought 5 sets from them. It is NOT
a deluxe shopping environment, but who cares? Many of the sets are
mismatched or have tiny flaws in them. Here's what we do We go in and lay
down on a variety of different mattresses. How else can one decide which one
is best? There is nothing wrong with any of the products beyond those I've
mentioned. The prices are less because the store does very little
advertising and is not a major retailer. I've sent several friends there and
all have reported satisfaction. I doubt that you would need to spend $1000
for a bed.
Good Luck.
Sharon
July 2004
Hi. My parents recently gave us a bed for our son. It is great
and has extra storage but it is odd shaped. The dimensions are
32 x 74. We are trying not to spend a lot of money on a new
mattress. I was debating a foam mattress since it more likely
that can be made to a custom size for less money. Does anyone
know of a good place to buy custom mattresses and/or a foam shop?
Thank you!
lisa
All our mattresses are foam with egg crate toppers, and we're very happy with
the combo. We all have bad backs too, so comfort really matters to us.
There's a great foam store on San Pablo, and I'm sure they can custom cut
something for you. Famous Foam Factory, 1411 San Pablo Avenue Berkeley ,
CA 94702 (510) 526-2645
Hi,
In response to your request for a recommendation on a where to
find a odd sized mattress;
I recently purchased a custom mattress online for about half
the cost I was able to find here in the east bay (half the
cost, including being shipped from phoenix, az).
At first, I was bit reserved about purchasing a mattress
online, but I had such a difficult time locating a custom
mattress manufacturer here that didn't want to charge an arm
and a leg that I decided to check online.
The mattress maker I found had so many supurlative reviews from
previous customers, that after talking with them over the phone
about my specifications, I had such a good instinct about
purchasing from them that I decided to place an order.
All in all, I ended up extremely happy with he quality of the
mattress, and the service, and the cost. I would definitely
purchase another mattress from them, and feel good about
recommending them to anyone. The mattress I decided to purchase
was a latex mattress (recommended by my chiropractor), and the
company I bought it from is called Mattresses.Net and they're
found online at www.Mattresses.Net
--happy to be of any assistance!
-m
[Note: This mattress is also reviewed under other topics on this page - use your
web browser's Find function.]
Sept 2005
I am in the market for a new mattress and box spring. I have
lower back problems (chronic). My husband has some arthritis in
one shoulder that makes side sleeping uncomfortable, yet he is
naturally a side sleeper. Lately, we are both stiff and sore
when we get out of bed due to what I think may be an overly
firm mattress.
We are interested in Tempur Pedic beds. If you have one, did
you have specific sleep problems? Did the Tempur Pedic solve
the problems? Are any of the copycat memory foam mattresses
viable alternatives? Lastly, where did you buy yours and do you
recommend that place?
I did look at the archives but many of the suggestions focus on
$200 mattress toppers. I really want a whole new bed. Thanks
stiff and sore
Try European Sleepworks. They're in Berkeley and make the best
matresses I have ever experienced. They're custom made using
non-toxic materials. You can customize the matress to you - the
people in the store are beyond helpful and you can just go in and
flop around on different options. They are Pricey ($2000-$3000) -
but in my opinion well worth it. Really, just an experience
unlike any other bed. The price is also a little better when you
consider that they last for an incredibly long time - much longer
than a standard matress (we've been told we can plan on using
them for 20+ years.) We bought these matresses for all the beds
in our house, including the guest room and for our teenage
daughters just because we think they are so fantastic that it was
worth the investemnt. Go into the store - 2966 Adeline in
Berkeley, they are extremely helpful and informative there, or
check out the website at:
http://www.sleepworks.com/
Happy Sleeper
I have chronic back and shoulder problems, and invested in a new
Temper-Pedic mattress about 6 years ago. It was definitely
worth the money. My back and shoulder pain improved
dramatically, and I still wake up without pain after sleeping
(which had been a problem for years) six years later. Although
initially expensive, they last a long time, and are a wonderful
product.
Anon
We've had a Tempur Pedic Mattress for about 6 years now, and
really love it. We bought the whole system with a boxspring, but
if you have a platform bed frame, that's not necessary. We
purchased directly from Tempur Pedic, either online or via phone,
I can't recall. I was pregnant at the time, and would have been
miserable without my beloved bed. Our primary reason for the
purchase, besides the divine comfort, was because my husband is a
tossing, turning, thrashing, sleeper, and I am not. He would
continuously wake me up with all his movement. I barely can tell
when he moves, except when he robs me of covers. We really
notice the difference when we travel. We did purchase pillows
and slept with them for a while before getting the bed. Good
luck with your decision.
sleeping like a baby
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