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A guide to organic and natural mattresses
  • Reviews

How to Choose an Organic Mattress (+ My Top Mattress Reviews)

Katie WellsJul 12, 2018Updated: Aug 26, 2019
Reading Time: 14 min

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Wellness Mama » Blog » Reviews » How to Choose an Organic Mattress (+ My Top Mattress Reviews)
Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
  • The Problems With Regular Mattresses+−
    • Flame Retardants & Other Harmful Chemicals
    • EMF Exposure
    • Millions of Mites, Oh My!
  • How to Find an Organic Mattress+−
    • Organic Certifications in Mattresses
  • Factors to Consider When Choosing an Organic Mattress+−
    • Safety
    • Comfort
    • Price
  • Organic Mattress Reviews & My Picks+−
    • My Green Mattress Review & Rating
    • Obasan Mattress Review & Rating
    • Naturepedic Mattress Review & Rating
    • Happsy Mattress Review & Rating
    • Essentia Mattress Review & Rating
    • Eight Sleep Mattress Review & Rating
    • White Lotus Mattress Review & Rating
    • Birch by Helix Mattress Review & Rating
    • PlushBeds Mattress Review & Rating
    • Organix by Intellibed Mattress Review & Rating
    • Pillow
    • Final Thoughts

I’ve often read the statistic that we spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping (or over 2,500 hours per year) but I have to laugh because those hours are obviously not during the time of life with new babies or potty-training toddlers.

Of course, those statistics are meant to highlight the importance of sleep environment since such a substantial part of our life is spent in our beds. I think sleep environment is even more important when we aren’t able to get enough of the best kind of sleep since we have to make the best use of the sleep time we do get. Read on to learn the biggest factors to consider when choosing a high-quality organic mattress including price, chemicals used, EMF exposure, and flame retardants.

The Problems With Regular Mattresses

I’ve written before about how to optimize your bedroom environment for the best sleep and even mentioned the importance of an organic mattress, but it took us years to finally decide on our own mattress and actually get it.

What seems like an inert and harmless thing, a soft pillowtop mattress, is often a source of exposure to flame retardants, EMFs amplified by innersprings, and millions of mites.

Flame Retardants & Other Harmful Chemicals

Mattresses can be a major source of chemical exposure. Mattress companies are not required to disclose all of the chemicals they use and have to withstand an open flame from a blowtorch for over a minute. To accomplish this, many companies (over 90% in a recent survey) douse mattresses in flame-retardant chemicals like polybrominated diphenyl ether, better known as PBDE. These chemicals are highly toxic and do not have to be disclosed!

PCBEs are banned in Canada, Europe, and even parts of the US. They can accumulate in the body through skin and inhalation exposure and are associated with hormone, brain, and reproductive damage, especially in children.

Mattresses can also contain harmful compounds like:

  • Formaldehyde – Commonly used in mattresses, especially as an adhesive in mattresses made from polyurethane foam (a toxic petroleum-based material).
  • VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) – Can cause lung and skin irritation and are often found in the glue in many mattresses.
  • Decabromodiphenyl Oxide and other Brominated Flame Retardants – These are linked to hair and memory loss and are listed as possible carcinogens.

Chemical flame retardants aren’t the only problem with conventional mattresses, however.

EMF Exposure

Coil spring mattresses have the added danger of being high in electromagnetic frequencies. Sound crazy? Maybe not.

This controversial article from Scientific American explains how rising rates of breast cancer and melanoma in the Western world provide a possible explanation:

As we sleep on our coil-spring mattresses, we are in effect sleeping on an antenna that amplifies the intensity of the broadcast FM/TV radiation. Asleep on these antennas, our bodies are exposed to the amplified electromagnetic radiation for a third of our life spans. As we slumber on a metal coil-spring mattress, a wave of electromagnetic radiation envelops our bodies so that the maximum strength of the field develops 75 centimeters above the mattress in the middle of our bodies. When sleeping on the right side, the body’s left side will thereby be exposed to field strength about twice as strong as what the right side absorbs.

I recently had my home professionally evaluated for EMFs so that I could address any issues. He tested our mattresses and found EMF activity and magnetism related to our mattress springs (and this was not present in the coil-free organic mattress our kids use). You can listen to my podcast with him here.

This is still a really controversial topic and I think we need more data before we can reach any type of official conclusion, but it is a factor to consider.

Millions of Mites, Oh My!

I didn’t realize how much of a problem dust mites could be until I sat down to do the research. These unsavory critters feed off human and animal dander (excess skin shed from the body). After ingesting this dead skin, mites then defecate and their feces accumulate inside the mattress. A single mite can produce up to 2000 units of fecal matter in a period of 10 weeks. A harmful allergen, mite fecal matter has been proven to impact sleep quality and other aspects of health. Female dust mites live about two months and can lay 100 eggs a month during this time.

I’ve read that mattresses doubled their weight every 10 years due to dead skin, dust mites, and mildew. I couldn’t actually find a study to back this large weight gain, but there is a lot of evidence about mildew, mold, and mite buildup over time. Sleep conditions lead to this, and the mattress and cover we choose makes a big difference.

Research did reveal, however, that a used mattress can have up to 10 million mites inside (eww!).

So while our mattresses may not be doubling in weight, the real risk is exposure to the feces of these mites.

How to Find an Organic Mattress

Just knowing the problem does not unfortunately lead to a solution. Even after I’d researched the problem with conventional mattresses, I still had trouble finding a mattress brand that was a good alternative for us.

An organic mattress often contains cotton, wool, latex, or a combination of the three. On their own, these ingredients are generally considered safe but some of them can still be problematic in mattresses. Additionally, there is a lot of green-washing and mislabeling in the mattress industry and it is important to check for undisclosed added flame retardants.

Organic Certifications in Mattresses

Terms like “natural” and “eco-friendly” are unregulated for mattresses. They also don’t mean that the mattress is made of natural materials. A mattress must be 95% organic to meet USDA organic mattress standards and be labeled as organic. Some mattresses may use organic cotton or organic wool for the top layer, but check before assuming an organic label means an entirely natural mattress.

If a mattress is certified organic, it is certified by a third party. Look for terms like:

  • GOTS – Global Organic Textile Standard. Mattresses with this certification must use at least 95% certified organic fibers for all fabric used.
  • GOLS – This stands for Global Organic Latex Standard and is the first third party standard for organic latex. It specifies that the latex used must be at least 95% organic latex.
  • GREENGUARD – An independent certification that requires environmental chamber tests for over 360 chemicals. This certification specifies that a mattress is low in VOCs, phthalates, formaldehyde, and other harmful chemicals and that it is safe for children and the elderly.

If you’re buying a mattress that contains both cotton/wool and latex, it is good for it to have all of these certifications.

Factors to Consider When Choosing an Organic Mattress

Finding a safe and organic mattress was the first priority but comfort was also really important to us. We also didn’t want to break the bank (since there are eight of us)! When choosing mattresses, we considered and ranked mattresses based on:

Safety

Based on the criteria above, we looked for organic and non-toxic mattresses that had been third-party tested. We also looked at potential EMF risk from coils. See my recommendations and what we chose below with specific notes on safety factors below. We also use mattress covers that can be easily washed to reduce the build-up of mites over time.

Comfort

My husband and I take jujutsu together several times a week. It is a very physical form of martial arts that often involves throws, rolls, and flying through the air. We admittedly often get a little sore from these workouts, so a rejuvenating sleep with as much pressure relief as possible was a priority.

Many organic mattresses I’d tried tended to be very firm and I wanted to find one that was supportive, but not overly firm.

On the other end of the spectrum, many organic memory foam mattresses can be too soft. Memory foam was developed my NASA to support astronauts as they adjusted to the force of gravity after being in space. Unfortunately, many memory foam mattresses are chemical-based and contain flame retardants. They can also be too soft for many people.

Price

Of course, most of us don’t have an unlimited budget for a mattress. Especially in families, budget matters a lot and while safety was a top priority, budget was a big factor for us as well. (See budget notes on my top picks below.)

Organic mattress- what we chose and why

Organic Mattress Reviews & My Picks

With ten beds (including guest rooms) plus a crib in our home, we’ve had the chance to try out many natural and organic mattresses over the years. We tried many options for our king mattress and it has been quite the saga over the years.

To hopefully make your choice easier than ours was, I’ve ranked all the ones we’ve tried that meet my criteria below. I also included notes about chemicals, EMF exposure, price, and comfort under each listing. If a discount was available, I included that as well.

The mattress we picked may not end up being your top pick but I hope that my reviews (and fails) help you make an informed decision. I think that all of the mattresses below are great options and list my concerns with any of them as well as the things we love.

Please note that I am now an affiliate for several of these companies. We purchased our mattresses to try them and only signed up after purchasing a mattress so all reviews could be objective. This also means that if you should purchase a mattress based on my recommendation, I may make a small commission and I am grateful for your support.

My Green Mattress Review & Rating

We have one of these mattresses in our guest room as well as our kids room. These are GOLS, GOTS, and GREENGUARD certified. I slept on it one night to test it and found it comfortable. My Green Mattress mattresses are some of the most budget friendly and we have several team members who also use this mattress. We recommend their Hope Latex Mattress that is coil free.

Overall Rating: 4.8 out of 5

Safety:  Latex and cotton/wool are certified organic and safe. To avoid EMF concerns, just choose an option like their Hope Latex mattress that is coil free.

Price: Range from $649 to $1,594 so very budget friendly for an organic mattress. Even the top of the line coil-free Hope is only about $1,500 for a king size.

Discount: Discounts and sales are available at this link.

Comfort: Seemed comfortable when I slept on it and guests have said it was comfortable as well.

Obasan Mattress Review & Rating

Obasan makes high quality GOTS and GOLS certified mattresses without inner springs. EMFs can be more problematic for children, so I wanted to avoid springs for the kids. Several of our kids have an Obasan Child’s mattress and we also have an Obasan crib mattress.

I really like the price point of the baby and child mattresses from Obasan as they are some of the most budget friendly on this list with no real downsides. We’ve recently started trying their king size spring-free mattress as well, and its super comfy. They ship to the US and Canada and we’ve always had good experiences with them.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Safety: Great ratings for safety. GOLS and GOTS certifications mean that 95% of materials used are organic and they don’t contain springs so there are no EMF concerns. Another benefit if you have bunk beds — the Child mattress is a thin mattress so it is great for top bunks. Several twin mattresses we’ve tried have been too tall and met the top of the guard rail, making it easier for kids to roll off. The Obasan Child mattress is just right.

Price: Range from about $1,100 for the Child basic twin (what we have on kids’ beds) up to $6,000 for a top-of-the-line king ($7,100 with frame), with many options in between. Top pick for kids for this reason.

Comfort: The kids love how comfortable their mattresses are. It is important to note that the Child Mattress is recommended for up to 150 pounds for maximum comfort. That said, visiting friends have slept in our kids’ bunk beds at times and said that the mattresses were comfortable. Our crib mattress has lasted through several babies and is still going strong. We’re still testing out the king size mattress, but it has been great so far!

If you are also searching for a good pillow recommendation, we love our Obasan pillows. I am currently using their Organic Shredded Rubber Pillow and what I like most about this pillow is that it is completely customizable to you. Simply unzip the inner shell of the pillow and you can remove (or add back in!) the rubber filling to make it as soft or as full as you want. Use code WMPillow for $70 off a Queen size. If you need a different size, simply reach out to them and let them know you are a Wellness Mama customer and they will be happy to help with a discount.

Naturepedic Mattress Review & Rating

Naturepedic is also a great natural option! They have many organic options, some without springs. Prices range from $1,100 to $4,800+. Available in some stores and online. Naturepedic options are all GOTS, GOLS, Non-GMO, Greenguard and Green America certified. They use absolutely no flame retardant chemicals (even the more “natural” ones) and still meet all state and federal standards for safety.

We recently ordered one of their mattresses for our house. It came in several boxes and was easy to assemble. The outer cover holds several layers of organic foam and then easily zips closed (making it easier to move if we ever needed to).

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (5 out of 5 for non-spring versions if EMFs are a concern for you)

Safety: Top of the line on safety with every certification available. They’ve also received awards for their environmental impact and were even recognized by the EWG. Vegan options are also available.

Price: Range from about $250 for crib mattresses up to around $5,000 for really high end king size options with many good options in between.

Comfort: So far, this mattress has been really comfortable. It’s still one of the newer ones we’ve tried so I’ll update if that ever changes, but we’ve been impressed with the comfort.

Happsy Mattress Review & Rating

Happsy is a really solid budget-friendly option. Prices range from $900 to about $1,600. All of their mattresses do seem to have springs… so if you consider EMFs an issue, this could be problematic.They are all GOTS, Made Safe and Green Guard certified and Happsy participates in 1% for the planet.

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Safety:  Happsy has all of the main certifications and use safe materials. EMFs would be the only safety concern due to the springs.

Price: Scores high for price… $900-$1600 is one of the more budget friendly options.

Comfort: I haven’t personally slept on a Happsy but my kids and guests who have didn’t have any comfort complaints.

Essentia Mattress Review & Rating

Essentia is another high quality GOTS and GOLS certified mattress with several other independent lab tests. We had an Essentia for a couple of years but it ended up being too soft for my athletic husband. (I do think it would be an awesome choice for anyone who likes a soft memory foam type mattresses.) Of course we didn’t try every mattress they have, so there may be one that we would have loved. We tried the Dormeuse Fior, so if you are athletic and looking at an Essentia, consider one of their more firm choices.

I have their Comfort pillow and absolutely love it and still use it every night (and miss it when I travel).

Overall Rating: 4.2 out of 5

Safety:  These top the list for safety. GOLS and GOTS mean that 95% of materials used are organic and they don’t contain springs so there are no EMF concerns.

Price: Range from about $2,100 for a basic twin up to $7,656 for a top-of-the-line king with many options in between. They are more pricey than some other options but are very high quality.

Discount: Use the code wellnessmama15 for 15% off any Essentia product. In addition, occasional discounts and sales are available at this link.

Comfort: I found their mattress comfortable but it was too soft for my husband and made his back hurt over time. That said, they have many options we did not try that may have been more comfortable. We passed along our mattress to a friend and it worked great for them.

Eight Sleep Mattress Review & Rating

I ordered the Eight Sleep Pod mattress and give it rave reviews for quality and comfort. It is the first high-tech mattress to combine temperature regulation, biometric tracking, and sleep coaching to improve sleep performance. Yes, this mattress has it all. You can cool and heat each side of the bed (and schedule on/off times) directly from the Eight Sleep app.

Overall Rating: 4.6 out of 5

Safety: This mattress has low EMF, made without ozone depleters, PBDEs, TDCPP or TCEP (“Tris”) flame retardants. There is no mercury, lead or other heavy metals and is made without formaldehyde or phthalates. This mattress is low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions for indoor air quality (less than 0.5 parts per million).

Price: Ranges from $2,000 to $4,000, depending on mattress size and options.

Comfort: Eight Sleep does very well in this category, exceeding all expectations. This looks like a mattress that will hold up well over the years and feels like a luxury traditional mattress.

White Lotus Mattress Review & Rating

White Lotus makes wide range of mattresses and pillows that are especially great for those with very specific criteria. For instance, they make 100% cotton and wool mattresses with no latex, which is a great choice for those with sensitivities to latex. They have flame-retardant free cotton/wool mattresses which are very difficult to find. We have one of these on a trundle bed in our girls’ room and they love how comfortable it is. Their mattresses do not have coils so EMFs are not a concern.

Overall Rating: 4.1 out of 5

Safety:  Their mattresses are GOTS and GOLS certified. They specify that they use no chemical flame retardants, carcinogens, petroleum fillers, fungicides or other harmful compounds.

Price: Range from about $1,500-$4,000+ depending on size, type and if they have a sale.

Discount: White Lotus offers a 15% discount exclusively to Wellness Mama Readers with the code “wellnessmama” at this link.

Comfort: Was really comfortable when I slept there one night and gets good reviews from our guests.

Birch by Helix Mattress Review & Rating

These mattresses are handmade in the USA and use wool sustainably sheared from New Zealand sheep or Talalay tapped from trees. They also use 100% all-natural and organic wool batting. Unlike some other natural mattresses that come in layers (see Plush Beds review above) Birch mattresses come as one core mattress. They are GreenGuard Gold certified and their natural latex also received the OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certification, which is an independent testing certification system for textile products at all processing levels. This ensures the products are free from a long list of chemicals.

Overall Rating: 4.4 out of 5

Safety: Non-toxic with zero polyurethane-based foams. This means no off-gassing. This mattress does contain coils which may be a concern from an EMF perspective.

Price: Cheaper than other organic mattresses. They offer a 100-Night Sleep test and have a 25-year warranty. Prices range from $1049-$1799.

Discount: Free Shipping in the US through this link. Use the code WELLNESS200 for $200 off any mattress.

Comfort: This mattress was designed with a medium-firm feel. One of our Wellness Mama team members has one and loves it. She did add the Plush Pillow Top to add some softness, but found it didn’t lose the firmness with the topper. (She also says the mattress helped with her lower back pain and that her husband who is notoriously picky about mattresses also approves!

PlushBeds Mattress Review & Rating

We have a PlushBeds mattress on a guest bed and it is a less-expensive choice with options for firmness. (Also, I’m realizing just how many beds we have!) Don’t be afraid to go on the firmer side, especially if buying for an adult. One of our team members ordered a Botanical Bliss model in medium firmness and found the mattress lives up to its name (very plush) but was lacking in support even for a child. She was able to use their free exchange program to adjust the foundation layers for a better result.

Overall Rating: 4.0 out of 5

Safety: All of their mattresses are GreenGuard Gold, Oeko-Tex Standard 100, GOTS and GOLS certified. The latex and cotton/wool are certified organic and safe. They use no chemical flame retardants, carcinogens, petroleum fillers, fungicides or other harmful compounds.

Price: Range from about $1,000-$3,000 depending on size, firmness, and sales, making them a good budget-friendly option.

Discount: Check this page for discounts and sales, as they often have specials running. In addition, Wellness Mama readers can take an additional $50 off with the code WELLNESS50.

Comfort: Our guests sleep well on this mattress. Our team member found the support lacking but was able to adjust the firmness by exchanging layers. As I said, this is a very individualized decision and different mattresses feel more or less comfortable for different people. If you want to be able to adjust the firmness of the bed without sending the whole mattress back, you may want to consider Plush Beds.

Organix by Intellibed Mattress Review & Rating

OrganixBed uses a Gel Matrix in their mattresses that is made in America and doesn’t off-gas harmful chemicals. (If you have some time, check out my full review and notes here).

Overall Rating: 4.0 out of 5

Safety:  OrganixBed is tested to be non-off-gassing and inert. It does contain coils so if EMFs are a concern, this is a factor to consider. Their high-end model has three coil zones so EMFs may be of more concern with this one. We have their basic model and comfort was the main factor in our choice since my husband had back pain from other mattresses we tried.

Price: Range from about $2,700 for a basic twin up to $6,400 for a high-end king.

Comfort: Organix is really comfortable and gets my husbands highest comfort rating. Their “gel matrix” is what seems to provide the right mix of firm and soft and this same technology is used in burn units and hospitals to help avoid pressure sores.

Pillow

We recently ordered a Wakewell pillow and have enjoyed the ability to customize it to my specific needs. I tend to be a side sleeper and I was able to adjust the stuffing inside the pillow to give my head and neck different amounts of support and find a much more comfortable way to sleep. The pillow is made with all safe and natural ingredients and has a 120-night sleep satisfaction guarantee to give you time to find your perfect setting!

Final Thoughts

Organic mattresses certainly aren’t cheap, but since we spend so much time in bed, investing in a high quality and safe mattress can have a big impact on health. If you are working toward purchasing an organic mattress, but can’t swing it quite yet, I discuss several options that may help make your current sleep environment healthier in this post. As with any aspect of health, I’d encourage you to do your own thorough research before making a decision. Hopefully, my experience can be a helpful part of your research!

Have you switched to an organic mattress? If not, will you?

Category: Reviews

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About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a wife and mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

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Reader Interactions

Discussion (238 Comments)

  1. Rose

    December 16, 2014 at 11:12 PM

    We have just ordered a bed from Essentia – I can’t wait for it to arrive! I was wondering if you were planning on purchasing a mattress pad. We have little ones too and I am worried about an accident on our new bed, but every cover I seem to find is made from toxic materials. Did you find something that works for this or do you think the cover that they provide will provide enough protection?

    Reply
  2. Sheri

    December 16, 2014 at 11:11 PM

    Great article. I also worry about the couches and chairs too. I wonder if the leather couch would be full of PBDE?

    I switched to an organic latex mattress and absolutely love it! Also got a 3″ topper for our camper and it is so supportive.

    Reply
    • Janelle

      January 18, 2020 at 11:50 PM

      What brand did you go with? We are looking for something for our camper as well! I know this is super old but was wondering if you still like what you have.

      Reply
      • Katie Wells

        January 19, 2020 at 2:32 PM

        We have an intellibed in our camper and still like it.

        Reply
  3. Kristen

    December 16, 2014 at 10:29 PM

    Thank you for this! We’ll be in the market for a new mattress soon and you just made my life so much easier.

    Reply
    • Carly

      October 12, 2019 at 10:06 PM

      Hello,
      I am looking for a good mattress for a pack n play or a portable crib.
      A standard crib won’t fit well in our room.
      Have you found any non toxic options?
      Thank you!!!

      Reply
  4. Raphaëlle

    December 16, 2014 at 9:16 PM

    yeah so we got an essentia mattress. Gave me terrible headaches. I had done a lot of research and was really disappointed. I gave it a few days to air out but nothing. The headaches got worse. I am extremely sensitive to chemicals and scents and I guess I must have picked up something in this mattress. We sent it back and got an omi with a wool topper. Much nicer!!

    Reply
  5. Tiffany

    December 16, 2014 at 9:08 PM

    I am wondering if my earthing sheet would counter act the electromagnetic field my spring mattress puts off?

    Reply
    • Wellness Mama

      December 17, 2014 at 8:44 PM

      It likely helps…

      Reply
  6. Carole

    December 16, 2014 at 4:29 PM

    I have a memory foam mattress, unfortunately not organic, but I began having terrible joint, shoulder and muscle pain after about a year, not realizing the mattress was causing it for almost a year. I just thought my arthritis was getting worse. I have mild arthritis. I decided one day for some reason to put a mattress topper on it, and I felt better the next morning than I had in a long time. I ended up using three toppers to make it soft enough and now I’m feeling much better. It’s only been a couple of weeks. I am wondering about others experiences with mattresses that are too firm, and what solutions they used.

    Reply
  7. Rachel

    December 16, 2014 at 4:08 PM

    Could you tell me, are there chemicals used to retard flames on the mattresses from the company that you recommend? We need to replace our mattress and just read a post from the healthy home economist who chose a gel bed which is a bit more pricey. As I understood from that post even the organic companies had to douse their mattresses in chemicals due to governmnt regulations… could you tell me does this mattress not have any added chemicals because latex is naturally flame resistant? I do not have concern for the mattesses ability to catch fire when the house is burning down as much as the sickness from chemicals! Thank you ahead of time for this post! Super interested!

    Reply
    • Rachel

      December 16, 2014 at 4:26 PM

      I just called them for the answer and they were wonderful… thank you again for the recommendation and blog post! (my question may not be helpful to post if you would rather not 🙂 ).

      Reply
  8. Emily

    December 16, 2014 at 3:54 PM

    Hi Katie!

    Thanks so much for this post. I first heard about My Essentia from Mama Natural and I want one so bad! My husband and I have been sleeping on a FULL size bed for two years— I don’t know how on earth we’ve lasted that long. I’m already daydreaming about using our tax return for a new mattress…

    Anyhow, I’d be so curious to know which model you ended up going with– was it the Grateful or one of the other models?

    Thanks again!

    Reply
    • Katie - Wellness Mama

      December 16, 2014 at 5:26 PM

      We ended up going with this one: https://myessentia.com/products/dormeuse

      Reply
      • Stephanie

        January 13, 2021 at 8:20 PM

        Have you tried the avocado mattress?

        Reply
  9. Tanja

    December 16, 2014 at 2:15 PM

    I LOVE THIS!
    So important.

    We have one too.

    If I could also please make a request! I would LOVE one of your next blog’s to be about how to make an organic down pillow. I’ve read over and over and over again how each pillow contains at least 2 lbs of flame retardants. It also seems like the next logical step after getting an organic bed. I really want an organic pillow bc I sleep with a pillow over my eyes ( I don’t know why I do that… comfort I guess). I feel like I’m inhaling all those toxic yuckies all night long.

    Reply
    • Katie - Wellness Mama

      December 16, 2014 at 5:27 PM

      Essentia also makes organic pillows…

      Reply
      • Susan

        March 26, 2019 at 11:18 AM

        Just a note when purchasing Essentia pillows: They are NOT returnable or exchangeable.

        Reply
  10. Naznin

    December 16, 2014 at 2:05 PM

    Hi Katie.
    I wanted to know why you didn’t chose an obasan mattress for yourself. ? I heard that my essentia was green washing and last year the government cracked down on them.

    Reply
    • Jackie

      December 23, 2014 at 7:47 AM

      Dear Katie,

      As this is yet another thing that I could never even think of buying, I would like to suggest some helps to poor people, like myself, who may be stuck with a traditional mattress. First of all, when buying something new, like a mattress, keep the room well ventilated for a while. Also, get a tight fitting mattress cover to prevent dust mites. I put a mattress pad over that. If you have kids, get two mattress pads on their beds. I have found that 2 usually keeps any pee or vomit from hitting the mattress. Wash all new bedding in hot water before use. I usually do a double rinse with new bedding. I have allergies and always wash all bedding in hot water to deal with the dust mites.

      Modern houses are very energy efficient and therefore, very tightly sealed. Don’t forget to crack a window or door once in a while and let some fresh air in and some of the “old air” out. If you have a new mattress or carpeting, do it daily.

      I tend to avoid latex. Latex allergies are very common. People who work in healthcare (as I did), or have had many latex exposures due to medical conditions can become allergic over time. (Spinal bifida children used to be assumed to have a latex allergy because as many as one third of them did. I believe that it is now assumed to be from exposure to medical products versus something genetic or directly related to the condition. Disclosure: I am not up to date on any of this, I am going on past knowledge.) The likelyhood may have decreased now that most medical gloves are no longer powdered (so you breathed in the latex, versus just touching it). Remember, universal precautions in healthcare did not start until the 80’s. While preventing exposure to blood born pathogens, the massive use of latex gloves led to other problems. Now it grosses people out, but gloves were not worn that often before then for care such as bathing and mouth care. I am not saying don’t get a mattress with latex, but, if (like me) you have had a lot of latex exposure, you may not want to sleep on one every night.

      While the study mentioned is very interesting, it is just one study. It is a jumping off point for further research. There are always many factors to consider in cultural comparisons. In other words, don’t panic. If you want to go organic and can afford it, good for you. For the rest of us, a comfortable mattress that allows you to sleep well is most important. My husband and I both have worked jobs where we went to bed hurting after a long day and hoped we would get enough sleep to get up and do it all over again. He still works a physically demanding job and the older you get, the more it hurts.

      I would also mention one other thing. My childhood was in the 70’s in New England. Houses were old (ours was well over one hundred years old) and made of dry sticks stuffed with plaster and horse hair. When a house fire started, it spread. Fast. It was not uncommon to hear about horrible burn injuries on children and total loss of family homes even with smoke detectors. Although flame retardants delayed a fire only briefly, it was often enough to prevent very serious injury and death. However, as with many things, this may have been trading one problem for another. As you reduce flame retardants in your home, be OCD about fire prevention.

      Reply
      • Owen

        September 1, 2015 at 8:07 AM

        Hi, so I’ve been doing research on flame retardants for over a year now… Bought several mattresses and couches… Returned several… Did MORE research! What a rough (and expensive) experiment…

        I suggest those who want to learn more about flame retardants go to: http://media.apps.chicagotribune.com/flames/index.html
        Or go to the NYT and search for flame retardants
        Go to the Chicago Tribune and search for flame retardants – see the exposé

        Your blog isn’t up-to-date and actually seems very much like a sales pitch with the coupon included. Very sad & disappointing because more advocates ARE needed especially since so many “Eco-friendly” companies aren’t ethical and are greenwashing their products to make money. Fear sells. ESPECIALLY when kids are involved.

        Reply
        • Cara

          September 2, 2015 at 1:27 PM

          Hi Owen,

          As a long-time follower of Katie’s blogs, it is safe to say that Katie did a tremendous amount of research before writing this blog and posting the choice her and her family made on a bed. I am sure she has read the same material as you.

          Almost everyone who subscribes to this blog has the same concerns about toxins in their environment, especially their living space.

          It would be much more productive if you posted what brands you bought/returned, which ones you stuck with and why.

          We are all facing the same challenge during this transitional period of flame retardant requirements are changing. The challenge is finding products with out these chemicals and that do not cost a small fortune. I recently researched this same topic and I’ve read about the flame retardant ties to the tobacco industry, the efficacy of the chemical and the view fire professionals have as well. It has never made sense to me how these chemicals could truly halt, or even slow down a tragic fire. I would never want my kid sleeping in fire retardant infused pajamas, on a bed/couch that contains them either. The latter is a much harder one to find without the chemical.

          Again, it would be much more beneficial/productive if you posted your actual findings with the products you chose.

          Katie also always recommends that her readers do her own research. We’re all pretty fortunate that she shares an incredible amount of information on the foods, supplements, and homemade goods that she does … we actually get to read this information for FREE. (Thank you for all you do, Katie!)

          Thanks!

          Reply
          • Wellness Mama

            September 2, 2015 at 1:50 PM

            Thanks for your support, Cara. I’m actually working on a follow up post to this one…

      • Tiff

        December 24, 2015 at 9:25 AM

        Jackie if you don’t already have a blog you should

        Reply
        • Jackie

          December 27, 2015 at 3:17 PM

          Thank you but that probably won’t happen 🙂

          Reply
    • Victoria

      November 5, 2015 at 10:15 AM

      Hi! Really appreciate the info and really considering an intellibed..question about your stance on EMF exposure… You talk about it being dangerous and avoiding them…
      However intellibed has metal springs in mattress for sure and metal in the box spring ( looks like it?!) they require you to purchase to maintain integrity of warranty. Please advise!! Thank you, Victoria ( Midwest)

      Reply
      • Wellness Mama

        November 5, 2015 at 6:12 PM

        Good question- forgot to include that aspect in the post but I researched it too. I’ll work on adding it…

        Reply
      • Kellie

        January 1, 2016 at 7:31 PM

        I was just wondering this same thing 🙂 any follow up info? I’m already trying to avoid coil and all intellibed models have the coils.

        Reply
        • Kaila Dawson

          January 13, 2016 at 1:11 AM

          I’m wondering this too

          Reply
          • Wellness Mama

            January 13, 2016 at 10:32 AM

            That info has been added to the post…

          • Robin

            May 23, 2018 at 9:31 PM

            Hi Katie,
            I’m wondering this same question. I can’t see where you added the info about why you are ok with the metal coils in Intellibed. I just chatted with them on their website. All models on their website have metal coils. But they have a Gel+ model without any coils (that’s not listed on their website — no idea why not). Customer support said in a chat, “The Gel+ is not listed on our website. The Gel+ is a 7 1/2? Mattress it has our gel matrix technology it also has a Certi PUR Certified foam core for support…The same foam that we use in our Azure Mattress which you can find on our website…So we actually use a Silica based Fiber Material for the flame retardant.”

            Is this the Intellibed model you purchased? I’m really curious if somehow the Intellibed metal-coiled models somehow reduce EMF exposure. I really value your research and opinion. Thanks for any more light you can shed on this!

            Blessings,
            Robin

          • Katie - Wellness Mama

            June 6, 2018 at 11:04 AM

            Hi Robin and Kaila,
            Great question and one I’m constantly researching more and more. I will email them to see why the model without the coils is not on the website, as this definitely seems like the best option. The models have all changed (and changed names) since we ordered so I’m not actually sure which one it would be now.

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