Mattresses
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Feb 2006
I am wondering if anyone knows where to get a healthy mattress
without a lot of chemicals in it, that is also not too
expensive and is comfortable.
wanting nice bed
Look at the archived discussions of this. I still stand by my
recommendation of McCroskey Airflex mattresses made in San
Francisco. Our first mattress lasted 18 years. As far as cheap,
they are not, but you get what you pay for, and you end up
spending that anyway replacing them more often if you buy a
cheaper one. Only pure egyptian cotton goes into an Airflex and
there is a 15 year warranty against sagging. Go test drive them
at their showroom at Market St. & Gough.
McCroskey is still going strong
We bought our daughter a chemical free mattress from Earthsake on 4th Street in
Berkeley. It's very comfortable and better quality that the ones we tired out a Ikea.
We
also lucked out and were able to buy it in sale.
Another option: Other people that I've talked to have bought futons.
Coleen
I bought an organic futon crib mattress for my baby at One
Thousand Cranes on 4th Street. My daughter loves it and we
figure we could use it as a play futon when she grows out of the
crib. It was reasonably priced as well compared to other organic
products.
Angela
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
Dec 2004
We are looking for a twin bed for our 2 1/2 year old daughter.
We want to be sure to find one that is comfortable, doesn't
off-gas, and is affordable! We had bought her an all cotton
futon about 8 months ago, but it isn't comfortable and she
doesn't sleep well and when I have to spend a few hours (or more)
in bed with her at night I'm in a lot of pain.
I looked at the previous postings but I'm hoping someone might
have something more to offer/suggest.
We have a european sleepworks bed for ourselves which I love, but
a twin mattress alone is $700 and an all latex twin from Mancini
is $600! It's just a bit too much for me.
Any tips on how I can get her a comfortable (fairly soft)
mattress that is safe to sleep on but won't break the bank?
--Sleepless in Berkeley
I am looking for natural bedding (mattress pad, fitted sheet,
etc.) for a standard size crib. If anyone has suggestions on
where to find good products at a reasonable price, I would
appreciate it.
Input on coil vs. foam mattress and where to purchase a
mattress is also welcome and appreciated.
Thanks!
Yael
Try Ikea - a friend of mine ran into the same problem and was
told Ikea manufacturers their mattresses to meet European
standards (ie no chemicals) I am not sure about their bedding
but you can do an on-line search for bedding and try e-bay, type
in organic bedding and see what comes up. I know they have
organic clothes on ebay so why not bedding. ALso, a used
mattress of one year or more has ''off-gassed'' most of their
chemicals making it safer for the little one.
For all natural baby bedding and mattresses (and lots of other great baby items) I
bought my son's mattress from Ecobaby.com. For an adult mattress you could try
the very expensive but fabulous www.royal-pedic.com. With Royal-pedic you can
get organic cotton, wool, latex or some combination of that and lots of custom
options. They are extremely well-made and pricey. Last I checked you had to go to a
furniture store Marin to find them but you can order from them directly or they'll tell
you who carries their mattresses locally.
Organic Mama
You can get a cotton futon mattress with innersprings that may be
more comfortable for you. We got one several years ago and it was
under $200 (queen size), but I can't remember where. Fortunately
there are a million futon shops around here, so you can call around.
I think any futon shop can provide a cotton crib futon. When I
checked last summer, most stores needed a week or so to order
one, but the futon shop on 4th St. (Thousand Cranes?) had some in
stock in various thicknesses.
Crib futons are treated with boric acid as a fire retardant. This
is not a chemical I would worry about, but you can get a
chemical-free futon with a doctor's prescription. A crib futon
should be around $60-100.
If you want to spend a good bit more, Earthsake on 4th St. has a
more elaborate selection of crib mattresses made of various
combinations of wool, cotton, and possibly latex, and I think
some have organic ingredients.
David
June 2005
i was wondering if any of you have purchased an organic
mattress and/or have any recommendations for dealers or stores
in the bay area.
it is my understanding that i have a choice of:
1. natural latex mattresses (don't require fire retardants by
US law)
2. wool mattresses with organic cotton covers (don't require
fire retardants by US law)
3. all organic cotton mattresses (don't meet fire retardant law
and therefore require a doctor's perscription for purchase)
i am interested in hearing about any of your experiences
purchasing any of these three types of mattresses and,
especially, if any of you have chosen the all cotton type, how
your doctor reacted to your request for a perscription.
any advice is appreciated!
jennifer
I have been sleeping on a pure cotton mattress for 20 years and
never heard of needing a Dr.s prescription! No matter what type
of mattress you decide on, please, please, go visit the McCrosky
Airflex showroom in San Francisco at Market and Gough. They are
one of the very few independent mattress makers left in the
whole country, a family business, and have been making the same
kind of mattress using pure Egyptian staple cotton for 80 (? I
forget) years. Almost every other commercial mattress (Sealy,
Certa, Simmons, etc.) are made from petrochemicals in one giant
plant, then just have different pillow tops/fabrics that make
the mattress unique to that brand. That said, the McCroskey
carries a 15 yr warranty against sagging. I find them incredibly
comfortable, as you can choose the type of firmness in their
factory by lying on each bed. You can also exchange it in a
certain amount of time if you get it home and its too firm or
soft. The mattresses are a big secret among home designers, and
they have a 5-or-10 mattress purchase limit per person per year
as designers from all over the U.S. order them. Pro athletes
also like the Airflex, as they custom make various sizes and
firmnesses to accomodate big guys with arthritis. I am on my
second Airflex, and love it. They are sorta pricey, but if you
consider how much time you spend in bed, it's worth it! And you
only have to buy a new one every 15-20 years! If you plan to use
the mattress on a platform bed, it won't hold up as long as if
you buy one with box springs, but they make a mattress intended
for a platform bed, which is what we have. Good luck. I don't
have experience with latex mattresses, but I know that for
pillows, they break down rather quickly.
Love to get into my Airflex
We bought ours on-line without a Dr's note. I am pretty sure
that the mattress is a mix of organic cotton and wool. I know
the outside of the mattress is definitely cotton. And then we
got a wool cover to put on it (under the fitted sheet). There
are all sorts of places to buy on-line (you can price shop).
Just type ''organic crib mattress'' in Google. I don't recall
where we purchased ours now, but I know it was all pretty
simple, its a nice mattress, and it cost around $300-350.
Definitely less expensive than buying from some of the stores in
Berkeley. Seemed like a lot at the time, but we are so glad
today that we haven't exposed our son to that awful/dangerous
flame retardant coating!
Only organic for us!
June 2004
Where can I buy twin size mattresses that are made with natural materials?
Lee
Try Earthsake on 4th St. or European Sleepworks on Adeline
near Ashby (both in Berkeley). Expect to pay more than for
run-of-the-mill foam mattresses.
David
April 2004
Does anyone have a mattress (brand and model) that they really
like? We are looking for a king-sized quality mattress that
will support two bad backs and will last for many years. Our
prior European Sleepworks queen size mattress was fine for
about 4 years and then lost its shape and comfort which was very
disappointing given how much money we spent on it. What are the
pros and cons of foam v. springs? We are worried about spending
big bucks on a mattress and then finding out that it doesn't
work for us. I have reviewed the prior recommendations about
European Sleepworks and Tempurpedic but am interested in other
mattresses also.
Linda
I bought a Simmons pillow-top mattress at Evolution Furniture
(on University Avenue, below Sixth Street in Berkeley), and it
is heaven; I have been sleeping wonderfully since I got it a
few months ago. I have a frozen shoulder, and it has really
helped with the pain. They have several different models you
can try out, and excellent prices. I worked with Jenna, a very
nice lady.
gwyneth
I would recommend McRoskey Airflex Mattress Company in San
Francisco. We purchased a new kingsize mattress and boxspring
this summer from them and have been very pleased with them.
Check out their website at www.mcroskey.com
jholter
I have sciatcia and was told by a chiropractor that, no matter the
brand, the key is to get the highest number of springs you
possibly can. He also specifically mentioned Springwall and King
Koil as brands to get but I have had no luck finding either in the
Bay Area. If you do find a source for either of these, I'd love
to know about it.
(Lauren)
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
July 2003
I've had ongoing mild discomfort in my middle back (not upper,
not lower) and I'm wondering if it could be that our mattress is
too soft. It's only 7 years old, and I originally pushed for it
because it was so pleasantly soft and embracing. Anyone have
evidence or personal testimonials (please no hearsay or plain
opinion) as to whether a harder mattress would help me?
Old trick -- try cutting a piece of plywood or particleboard (at
least 1/2'' thick if it's particleboard) and sticking it between
the mattress and the box spring. This firms up your mattress but
is reversible if that's not really the problem. It also
typically sets you back less than $10, and if your spouse is
happy with the bed the way it is, you can plywood just your side.
Sara
Jan. 2003
We desperately need to replace our king-size mattress.
Actually, I am the one who thinks we need to replace it. My
husband has no problem with our mattress, but I wake up
with aching hips and back every morning. Our mattress
wasn't cheap (it's a top-of-the line Beautyrest) but is now
about 10 years old. I'm scared to death of investing in a
super-expensive new mattress and finding out it doesn't
make a bit of difference to my comfort. I read the rave
reviews of European Sleepworks on the website and am
wondering if anyone has anything to add about their recent
purchase of a high-quality mattress from European
Sleepworks or some other high-end mattress manufacturer.
I'd especially like to hear about how you decided which
mattress was right for you. Somehow buying a mattress is
even more daunting to me than buying a new car--at least
you can recoup most of your investment if you don't like the
car!
Maria
We purchased a bed from European Sleepworks about 2 1/2 years ago
and it changed our lives! I was waking up with a terrible
backache every day and was spending lots of time at the
chiropractor. My husband was the one that pushed me to go the
European Sleepworks as I was hesitant to spend that much money -
it was the best investment that we've made. I can't imagine ever
buying another bed that wasn't from European sleepworks.
Believe me, the investment is worth it!
kristi
Go buy this bed now! We got a European Sleepworks bed about 4
months ago after having little aches and pains each morning and
needing a larger bed since our toddler oftens leeps with us . We
tried these beds out on our way to Sleep Train to try ''regular''
beds and my daughter actually fell asleep while laying on one in
the showroom! The price seemed high so we went to Sleep Train
right away to see how they compared. After trying Every mattress
in the Sleep Train showroom, the only one that even came
anywhere close to feeling as good as the E.S. bed cost over
$5,000. We were told we could get a 40% discount but it still
would have cost more than the much more comfy bed at E.S. We
immediately went to E.S. and ordered the bed. It was about $2100
but oh, so worth it! It took a month to get but was worth the
wait. We opted not to get the pillow top but they have told us
they will loan us one to try out and see if we want to add it.
Haven't tried it yet. 2 neighbors have the bed with the pillow
top and love their beds too (bought within last 2 years). No
more aches or pains and sleeping away from home makes us long to
get home! Well worth the money!!!
nicole
My husband & I just bought Tempurpedic mattress at Evolution on
University & 5th. It was less expensive than some of the other
high-end mattresses (e.g. Duxiana) but we found them to be as if
not more comfortable. As far as your big purchase anxiety, they
have a money back warranty (90 days, I think) if you are not happy
with the purchase. We found the folks at Evolution to be very
helpful too.
Ilana
In regards to the question of replacing a king size mattress.
I was in the same dilemma a few months ago. Instead of
replacing the mattress, I invested in (about $200) a 2 inch
memory foam overlay. What a difference! No more aching
back or tossing and turning. It's generally the same stuff as
the expensive high tec sleep foam mattresses. It takes a
few weeks for the slight smell to disappear completely
(which it did) and for it to tamp down to it final height but it's
like having a new bed. I purchased my foam at the Foam
Creations Sleep Shop in Albany on Solano Ave. but any
good futon/foam store would probably carry it. You may have
to buy sheets a bit deeper than before but generally mine
still fit. It's a tradeoff but it definitely made a HUGE difference
and I'm not spending thousands on a new bed!
Good Luck!
Heather
I felt like the princess sleeping on the pea for many years until
we bought our mattress at McRoskey in San Francisco. McRoskey is
a family-owned company that has been making mattresses in San
Francisco for over 100 years.
Now I sleep soundly, wake up w/o aches and pains, and family &
friends who've stayed over comment on how wonderful the mattress
is. We did have to pay more for it, but it really turned out to
be worth it. These things last forever.
You can try out the different mattress and box spring
combinations and custom order sizes. As it turned out, after I
slept on the one we took home, I ended up deciding that I wanted
a firmer mattress instead, and there was no trouble exchanging it.
I can't praise them highly enough!
http://www.mcroskey.com/visit.html
Natasha
Just so you know, most major matress manufacturers give you 60-
90 days to decide if you like your mattress or not.
We just bought a Simmons Backcare. It was more than we wanted to
spend, but after shopping around nothing else felt as good.
Be sure to stick it out for a few weeks w/ your new mattress,
though. Like you, I was having hip problems. At first w/ the
new mattress it actually got worse, but after two weeks or so
the problem totally cleared up. Feels great now.
elisabeth
Buy the good stuff! Because of ongoing back pain, which seems to
be getting worse as I age, we splurged and bought a European
Sleep Works mattress last year. I can report that although I do
still sometimes wake up stiff, I get a vastly better night's
sleep than I did on our old, saggy mattress. I justified the
expense by reasoning that I shouldn't scrimp on anything I spend
half my life doing, such as sleeping.
You need a new mattress anyway, why not get the best? At least
go try them. Your aching back will thank you.
Mom with comfy bed
We recently purchased a king size bed from European Sleepworks
in May 2002. I really felt like we went out on a limb purchasing
an unconventional bed. I had a lot of misgivings about our
purchase, and am not sure I would buy another bed from them
again. The reasons are not so much based upon comfort as much as
their sales approach, the assistance after the sale was made and
some sales claims they made.
First, I am reasonably comfortable when I can get sleep. We have
a 3+ year old who doesn't sleep well, an 8 month old who nurses
every two hours and a 16lb cat(did I mention the husband that
snores?).
When we first brought the bed home, both my husband and I felt
as if our heads were lower than our bodies. As if we were
sleeping on a down slope. I called E.S. and requested some help.
They were very reluctant to give us a new tension setting for
our slats. After three phone calls, they gave me a new setting
over the phone. Turns out that the tension brackets on the slats
are very cumbersome to set yourself. There are no markings on
the slats to help your determine where to put the brackets for
the number setting they've given you. They tell you to use a
ruler to help you set the tensions based upon the middle of the
slat. Yeah right! The mattress is heavy. Someone has to lift it
while your under it fiddling with the ruler trying to reset the
tension brackets.
During one of the phone calls I commented on how slick the sales
process was, the closing etc. then no follow up with their
customers(for such a high end product) or if you have a question
or a problem there's only reluctance to help. The sales woman
said, ''we hate to get involved in people's sleep problems, it
gets so personal''! Boy, if only she knew what my sleep problems
were! I just wanted a new setting for my slats.
That said, I still don't know if our slats are TRULY set with
our body types in mind. E.S. insist that the bed is customized
to fit your body type by setting the tension, but they really
don't have a perfected system to tell you the how and why behind
it. They don't ask for your height or weight or how you normally
sleep(back or side?). And they certainly won't be helpful if you
request a new slat configuration. So when I lost the rest of my
pregnancy weight I didn't bother to call them for a new setting
I just squeezed under the bed and made my best guess!
It would have been nice if E.S. sent someone back to my house to
help me reset the tension. I mentioned that I live less than a
mile from their Berkeley office, it wouldn't have taken much
time/effort on their part(after I paid $2,000 for the bed!).
Secondly, they will tell you that movement(someone getting in or
out of bed) doesn't affect the mattress or the other person
sleeping in the bed. Not true. Third, they will tell you that
the mattress will not ''sink'' if a heavy person is sleeping next
to someone who is lighter. Not true.
I hope my comments have helped. Good luck!
Maya
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 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
name. 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!
Anon
June 2004
hi, all. We need to buy a matress for our son's twin bed.
i've heard random things about off-gassing from new matresses.
european sleepworks advertises that their matresses are already
free of some chemical that will be phased out in the u.s. in
the next several years. i probably can't wait that long before
getting my son in a big-boy bed. should we buy a used matress
(so it's already off-gassed)? what chemicals should i be
asking about? the hygene issues of used matresses trouble me,
but should I get over that? the european sleepworks matresses
are incredibly expensive. is there a cheaper alternative? i'm
also interested in a thinner matress than the new, really fat
ones because it's going in a loft bed. surely someone on the
list serve has researched this!! also, advice about where to
buy is welcome. thanks,
anne
We had similar concerns and just bought our toddler an all
cotton futon (no foam). A twin sized futon will cost a little
over $100 and it is easy to find used frames. Inexpensive and
no concern with chemicals. The chemicals they put in foam and
other mattress products are not healthy and we too hated the
idea of her sleeping on it. BTW we have for ourselves a
European Sleepworks mattress -- which is unbelievably
comfortable and in our opinion (so far) worth every penny!
healthy sleeping
There may be other chemicals out there that are a problem but,
after going through this whole process a few months ago trying
to buy a bed for our daughter, I found that the chemicals to
avoid (or at least the ones getting th emost press right now)
are PBDEs. (I can't recall the entire name.) Basically they are
put in mattresses and anything with foam (including the foam on
your furniture, in the seats of your cars, under your carpeting,
etc...) as a flame retardent. tell The main problem is that
because the PBDEs are an additive, not integral to the foam
itself, as the foam disintegrates the PBDEs are released into
the environment. If you spend 8 plus hours sleeping on
them...well, probably not a great idea.
The good news is that as of 2002 IKEA completely phased out
PBDEs from their furniture and mattresses. So any mattress you
buy there now (and they are very reasonably priced) are PBDE
free.
If you want to make sure yourself - I found the IKEA customer
service people (on the phone) to be extremely helpful - they
looked up PBDEs and told me the entire schedule for the phase
out.
sleeping well on IKEA mattress
Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants are put in
some foam mattresses and will be phased out only in CA (so far).
you might try a cotton futon mattress. some even have springs.
there are many shops in Berkeley with good prices.
Anon.
Nov 2004
Does anyone have a recommedation for a chemical free,
natural mattress (king size). Is cotton best or a
combination of cotton/wool. A new mattress is warrented
for allergies and to be ''earth friendly.'' I hesitate to
buy off the internet without testing it out first. Are
there any stores anyone knows about around (Berkeley Area)
that sell directly to customers?
thanks.
Earthsake sells mattresses, but I don't like them. They
seemed fine in the store, but the one that was delivered
smelled bad, and they charged us a stocking fee when we
decided to return it. They are on Fourth Street in
Berkeley.
You might want to try A Happy Planet in San Francisco:
www.ahappyplanet.com 415/552-6265
Or Nirvana Safe Haven in Walnut Creek:
www.nontoxic.com. 800/968-9355
September 2002
I am extremely chemically sensitive and need to buy a chemical-
free mattress. There are a number of companies out there that
sell them, but I was hoping to get a recommendation (or advice
on companies to avoid) since it is such a big financial
investment. Has anyone researched or bought a chemcial-free
mattress?
Elizabeth
We've had our McRosky mattress for many years now and still really like it.
It doesn't sag, etc. but more importantly for your query, is made mostly of
cotton (and metal for the springs of course) and while there is some
polyester apparently in the batting, some of it is also cotton and the ticking
is 100% cotton, so you might want to check them out. The factory is local
and the showroom is in San Francisco, on Market St right where Valencia
St begins.
http://www.mcroskey.com/why_manufacture.html
The showroom is a kick because it's kind of old fashioned (at least it was)
and our mattress came with a 20 year guarantee (!)
Otherwise did you check Earthsake, down on 4th St?
Jocelyn
April 2003
We are considering buying a new mattress for our 6-month-old
son. However, my sister told me that there is concern that new
mattresses can give off fumes that may be harmful to infants.
Does anyone know about this? Is there a source for fume-free
mattresses? If we go ahead and buy a new mattress, would it
help to let it ''cure'' unwrapped & unused for a few weeks?
Thanks in advance!
Patrick
There has been some concern that the chemicals that off-gas from
mattresses can do harm to the people, adults as well as children,
who sleep on them. My perspective was that there was so much I
couldn't control about the amount of chemicals that my baby was
going to be exposed to throughout her life - this was one thing
I did have control over. There are many different organic
mattresses on the market made with chemical-free wool or cotton,
or a combination of the two. You will have to decide if the added
cost is worth it to you, versus investing your money in some other
aspect of your baby's well-being. Ecobaby sells several models of
organic crib mattress and futons (www.ecobaby.com). The Earthsake
store on 4th street in Berkeley has organic adult mattresses; you
might call to see if they carry crib size too.
steadman
A good friend just sent me this link regarding cribdeath and new
mattresses. The study was conducted in New Zealand.
http://www.healthychild.com/cribdeathcause.htm
Wrapping my mattress
Go with an organic mattress! No fumes, no poisons to the ground
that grew it, no chemicals used and dumped in the process of
making it - safe and wonderful for your baby. A great source is
Lifekind Products, www.lifekind.com
This was a big issue for me when my son was born. I was quite
concerned about outgassing (from mattresses certainly but also
from the crib itself, a new dresser, the rug ...). I read a
book called ''The Natural Nursery'' which made new, vinyl covered
mattresses sound quite dangerous, especially now that babies are
sleeping on their stomachs and have their faces right up against
the mattress. I looked around for a toxin-free solution, but I
wasn't able to locate an affordable ''green'' mattress that I felt
comfortable with -- I found ones without the vinyl covering or
foam inside, but I was concerned about my son peeing in bed and
soaking the mattress. The ''non-toxic'' mattresses I found also
cost 3x the price of a regular mattress at Babies-R-Us. My
husband and I ended up buying a regular foam-free crib mattress
and letting it out-gas for a couple months (unwrapped) before we
used it. I feel like we may have compromised too quickly,
though, and in hindsight I wish that we had investigated getting
a used mattress from a friend.
Kathryn
Kathryn wrote: ''especially now that babies are
sleeping on their stomachs and have their faces right up against
the mattress'' And I became extremely alarmed. Babies are NOT supposed to be
put on their stomachs and should ALWAYS be put on their backs. The SIDS
organizations have been trying to get the word out through advertisements, etc.
for parents to be sure to put their babies to sleep on their backs! Please
don't put your baby to sleep on his/her stomach - this has been found to be one
of the leading causes of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome!
Anon
Hi everybody - I wanted to thank the anonymous person who
corrected my recent post, and I wanted to apologize to the
network for not proofreading more carefully. When I wrote my
response, I had meant to convey that I believe it is unhealthy
for babies to sleep on brand-new mattresses and (in my opinion)
it is probably especially unhealthy if they are on their
stomachs on new mattresses. I don't know where my brain was
when I totally jumbled that thought and implied that kids are
supposed to be on their stomachs to sleep. Again, THANK YOU
anonymous person for not letting my mistake go unnoticed! I
really value this network and feel terrible that I accidentally
contributed incorrect information.
Kathryn
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
Mattress for a Bad Back
August 2000
Can anyone recommend a brand of mattress for someone with a bad back in the
market for a king size bed?
I don't know if you have the funds to do it, but if you've never tried a
Dux bed, you should! They are very expensive, but incredibly well-made
Swedish beds. They are warranted for TWENTY YEARS. People leave them to
their kids in their wills! You can buy them only at the Duxiana stores (I
know there is one in SF). Because we have recently come into a small
amount of "discretionary income", we went last week to check out the
current prices. A king size 7007 (their top of the line model) is around
$7,000, depending on whether you want California King (a little cheaper) or
Eastern King (a little more expensive). They have two less expensive lines
as well, but we felt that the difference bewteen a regular mattress and the
cheaper Dux beds was not sufficient to warrant the extra expense. But the
expensive one definitely *is* worth the extra money! We decided that if we
were going to do it, we'd just go whole hog and do it. Here's their
website for more info http//www.duxbed.com/
I definitely would recommend that you go check them out!
Dawn
My parents have Tempur-pedic bed. It isn't boxsping/mattress, but made
from some
space-age foam. It is very comfy to me when I lie on it. My mom got it
because
my father has bad everthing (back, hips, etc.) and they love it. It is
mid-range in
terms of cost. I don't know where to tell you to find it, but they have a
web site
(www.tempurpedic com).
Hilary
If you can afford it, get a mattress at European Sleepworks on Adeline. We
LOVE this mattress. When I go to sleep with a backache, I wake up pain
free.
To clarify on the cost of mattresses at European Sleepworks -- I believe the
mattress alone is around $1,000 or $1,100 for a King size.
"Inbal and Kathy"
Try European Sleep Works on Adeline in Berkeley. These matrresses
are heavenly!! We just got an eastern king. You can adjust each side
differently, so your partner can have what they want as well. Prices range
from $1700 to 2500 for either Ca or eastern king (we found this about twice
the rate of a good quailty American bed, which is not nearly as good for
your back). There is another brand, duks or something like that, that is
also supposed to be very good, but I have heard thay are about twice this
price.
-Lisa
I want to second (or third) the European Sleep Works endorsements. I bought
my bed there while I was pregnant, and I slept comfortably throughout my
entire pregnancy.
Dashka
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
Cleaning Urine from a Mattress
Feb 2003
I hope someone can help with this one. One of our cats
peed on the bed, soaking all the linens right down to the
mattress. The linens were easy to deal with, but what do I
do about the down comforter and the mattress (The comforter
was the harder hit of the two)? Can I take the comforter
to a dry cleaner? And what can I do to get the smell of
urine out of the mattress, short of turning it over?
Thanks in advance,
Nina
We had a problem with our cat peeing in the house which
resulted in the dog peeing to cover up the cat pee. It was
a nightmare. I used every single product but nothing got
the smell completely out. We couldn't smell it but the
pets could. I finally found the MOST AMAZING urine/feces
odor removal product. The website is www.justrite.com. I
started using this and both the cat and dog stopped
peeing. I've used this on clothes, carpet, upholstery,
hardwood floors, etc. It has worked every single time. If
the cat or dog have an occasional accident I clean it up
and immediately stray it with this stuff. I spray even
things that can go in the wash.
This is also a family run business. A guy named Bill came
up with this and basically works out of his home. He is
usually the one that answers the phone and takes your
order. He is also VERY helpful if you have questions on
how to use his products.
Diana
2000
My child is doing so well with the potty that i forgot to put a diaper on
during nap. Since the mattress was soaked with urine, i wiped and blotted
as much as i could. I was wondering if there were any cleaning strategies
for such cases, if "things" grow inside the mattress or what people do in
such cases.
Thank you for any help and suggestions
In our case, we use a water-proof mattress pad (costs
$9.99 at Anna's Linen), so we don't have to worry about
our 2-year-old wetting her bed when she is not in diapers.
We thought this is better than to risk damaging the
mattress.
Lin
Use borax (brand name Boraxo or 20 Mule Team) to get the
urine smell/stains out. You wet the spot, then rub in a
little dry borax powder and let it dry. (A hair dryer
speeds things along.) Then you just brush or shake out
the borax. Works like a charm.
V
When my toddler's diaper leaked on the mattress, I put
Nature's Miracle Stain & Odor Remover on the mattress,
and I haven't noticed an odor. You can get it at
pet-supply stores.
Hannah
10/99
I am looking for something that can be used to clean urine and the smell
from mattresses. I'm thinking of using Pine-sol or the like, but am afraid
to wet the mattress even more. Does anyone have any suggestions or
experience with this that might be of help? Thanks.
Diana
I didn't use this on a mattress, but in my car, and I was getting out vomit,
not pee, but I still think that you may want to try Mother's Little Miracle
(I believe that's the name). I got a bottle at Rockridge Kids, and it did
wonders for my stinky problem, and it's advertised to be able to handle just
about everything a kid can dish out. I also used Febreeze in the car for
the same problem, and it also worked pretty well. You can pick up both of
these things for under $10, and give it a whirl. Of course, if it doesn't
work these items are useful for other things. Oh, and you probably want to
get a plastic sheet for the bed!
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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