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Alternatives to an organic mattress?  

post #1 of 42
4/7/08 at 1:24pm
Thread Starter 
We need at least one new bed in my house, and I am just shocked at the cost of organic mattresses. There is just no way we can afford one. What are some alternatives? An air bed? Foam bed? Wrapping a regular mattress in plastic or one of those carbon blanket wraps? I breaks my heart to buy one of the new, especially toxic, mattresses on the market, but I just can't spend $2,000-$5,000 on a mattress.
post #2 of 42
4/7/08 at 1:49pm

Keetsa organic mattresses

Hi there,

Check out keetsa.com. I can't speak on behalf of their mattresses yet, but just heard about them.

Has anyone else tried a Keetsa?

Also, as a sidenote, I picked up the Target brand organic sheets and am very happy with them.

Good luck!
post #3 of 42
4/7/08 at 3:07pm
You should be able to get a good latex mattress in the $600 range. Another plus to latex is that they don't harbor bugs.

The keetsa website looks really good. Thanks for the tip, pp!
post #4 of 42
4/7/08 at 10:05pm
An air bed is made of plastic, generally containing PVCs. A foam bed is one of the most toxic beds you can get.

I would really shop around. We were just discussing mattresses on another thread a few days ago. I know Organic Grace has some excellent prices on organic beds, and Heart of Vermont has organic futons.
post #5 of 42
4/8/08 at 12:04am
We got ours at IKEA!!!! Latex is a good alternative!!!
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/ca...bedroom/10631/
post #6 of 42
4/8/08 at 12:09am
We also just ordered a latex/wool mattress from Ikea. The no flame retardants is what initially drew me to Ikea. I looked into it a bit more, and it seemed like the most accessible, healthy thing for us. It's currently stuck on the other side of the river, waiting for break up so the ferry can get it over to us (the ice road is closed to trucks right now). I'm really excited for it to get here though!
If we were rich, I would order a wool bed from Shepherd's Dream, I think. We have pillows from them, and they are completely lovely.
post #7 of 42
4/8/08 at 12:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by selkat View Post
If we were rich, I would order a wool bed from Shepherd's Dream, I think. We have pillows from them, and they are completely lovely.
oh yummy!!!! have you seen the pads?!?!?!?! http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00112088
This is the one we want to get!

We got the pillows with duck feathers filling
post #8 of 42
4/8/08 at 12:53am
Be aware that Ikea Canada beds are retardant free, but Ikea US beds are not.
post #9 of 42
4/8/08 at 9:54am
Organic bed cover or sheets? We use organic sheets because a new bed isn't in our budget right now.
post #10 of 42
4/9/08 at 7:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by eco_mama View Post
Organic bed cover or sheets? We use organic sheets because a new bed isn't in our budget right now.
sounds good.

how often should i really be replacing my mattress anyway? i have no clue. ours is like 6 years old, so i assume we've already absorbed most of what it's offgassing. it's all stainy and kinda weird, but it's not uncomfortable. really, that's my biggest priority. i'm way scared of huffing regular "new mattress scent" anytime soon, but we couldn't afford organic either. hmm...
post #11 of 42
4/9/08 at 9:23pm
The Ikea beds are synthetic latex though. I would rather pay a little more for a natural latex.

We got DS bed from Habitat and we are thrilled with it.
post #12 of 42
4/9/08 at 10:05pm
Have you looked at www.organicgrace.com? We just ordered from there last week, and its run by an MDC mama. She's running an earth day sale on mattresses this month (20% off!). We ordered the budget latex mattress (with a 4" latex core wrapped in pure wool and organic cotton) and it was only $480 on sale. We are on a super tight budget here, so I was thrilled to find a safe mattress for a fantastic price!

I had looked at Ikea mattresses, but since they do use flame retardants here in the states, the wool isn't untreated, and its mostly synthetic latex, we decided against it.
post #13 of 42
4/11/08 at 9:00am
I'm allergic to latex, so I probably should avoid those. I've also wondered too about comfort. I would hate to order a mattress without getting to try it out first. I wouldn't want to shell out the big bucks and then not be able to sleep well on it.


Are the organic mattresses flame retardant free? I read in another thread somewhere that they weren't.

Thanks!
post #14 of 42
4/13/08 at 3:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Manonash View Post
Are the organic mattresses flame retardant free? I read in another thread somewhere that they weren't.
It may depend on which bed you're looking at, but I highly doubt that any organic mattress would contain chemical flame retardants.

From Organic Grace:
Quote:
All of our organic mattresses meets all state and federal fire codes, including the new 2005 California mattress fire code. No fire retardant chemicals or any other chemicals are used in any of our organic mattresses. This hand crafted organic mattress is made in the USA by Vivetique/Crown City Mattress Company, America's oldest manufacturer of organic beds.
Wool is naturally flame-retardant, and many of the organic beds are wrapped in wool for that reason.

If you're talking about all-cotton organic mattresses, they do not contain any flame retardants. If you live in the state of CA and want an all-cotton organic mattress, you are required to get a doctor's prescription.
post #15 of 42
4/13/08 at 7:40pm
If I absolutely HAD TO replace a mattress, on a tight budget, I'd go with an all natural futon over a conventional mattress. And then maybe cover the futon with an all natural latex topper.

For beds that are "wearing out, not as comfy as they once were but still usable" I'd get a latex topper. I bought one for DD2's bed, and I may get one for DS bed, unless I just hold out until I can afford a good latex mattress for myself, and then give him my current bed (or give DD2 my current bed and give DS DD2's current bed.)
post #16 of 42
4/14/08 at 10:30am
Quote:
If I absolutely HAD TO replace a mattress, on a tight budget, I'd go with an all natural futon over a conventional mattress. And then maybe cover the futon with an all natural latex topper.
Oooh, now that's an idea. Would using a wool topper do as well too? Would that help reduce the amount of junk we were breathing in from our current mattress?
post #17 of 42
4/14/08 at 8:47pm
A wool topper would help with having an extra layer between you and the chemicals, but IME it's not as constantly fluffy and just doesn't hold up as well for bedding. I have a wool pillow that needs to be constantly fluffed up- but DD2's latex topper is soft and comfy without any maintenance whatsoever.
post #18 of 42
4/15/08 at 9:26am
Darn. I hate to hear that it doesn't stay soft as well. I'm allergic to latex. It's a contact allergy, but I'd hate to risk investing in the latex and have the allergy develop into something more. I wonder if the organic cotton toppers require a Rx to get FR free.
post #19 of 42
4/15/08 at 11:15pm
Thread Starter 
How long do you think mattresses off-gas? We're having a baby in a few weeks, and I'm wondering if I should be just as concerned about replacing our queen mattess as buying a new one for my daughter's room. Our queen is almost 10 years old.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Manonash View Post
I'm allergic to latex, so I probably should avoid those. I've also wondered too about comfort. I would hate to order a mattress without getting to try it out first. I wouldn't want to shell out the big bucks and then not be able to sleep well on it.
I know, that was my thing, buying w/o trying. But I figure I don't have a lot of choice here since there are no stores near me selling them. And supposedly the all-natural latex is much less likely to be allergenic than synthetic latex, but again, it's a lot of money to spend to maybe have a useless mattress. It's not exposed, though.

[QUOTE=tempestjewel;10967494]Have you looked at www.organicgrace.com? We just ordered from there last week, and its run by an MDC mama. She's running an earth day sale on mattresses this month (20% off!). We ordered the budget latex mattress (with a 4" latex core wrapped in pure wool and organic cotton) and it was only $480 on sale. We are on a super tight budget here, so I was thrilled to find a safe mattress for a fantastic price!QUOTE]

Thank you!! I'm going to check that out right now!
post #20 of 42
4/16/08 at 12:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve's Wife View Post
How long do you think mattresses off-gas? We're having a baby in a few weeks, and I'm wondering if I should be just as concerned about replacing our queen mattess as buying a new one for my daughter's room. Our queen is almost 10 years old.
The concern with older mattresses and small babies is no longer off-gassing from the way it's made, but the gas produced from the interaction of bodily substances combined with the chemicals in the mattress and bacteria producing toxic gas. The older the bed is, the more of this gas is created, and the more toxic it is. If you're planning to co-sleep, I'd worry about your own mattress now, and get a topper for your DD's bed until you can get her a new mattress, too. If you're not planning to co-sleep, I'd be sure to get an organic crib mattress and get one for your DD as well, worry about yours later. YMMV.
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