Why buy a natural and organic mattress?

your current mattress could be emitting toxic cancer-causing chemicals.

Conventional mattresses are filled with synthetic materials. For example, most mattresses contain polyurethane foam. Polyurethane foam constantly breaks down and releases chemicals, which is called off-gassing. Polyurethane foam is made from chemicals that are known carcinogens (see http://www.mcnallyinstitute.com/CDweb/c-html/c014.htm).

Other toxic chemicals that can be found in conventional mattresses are PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) or boric acid. These are used in mattresses as a flame retardant. PBDEs: these have been shown to have health effects in animals and are so toxic that Europe is phasing out the use of them completely! Read more about PBDEs at: http://www.thegreenguide.com/flame-retardant/ or http://apha.confex.com/apha/132am/techprogram/session_14062.htm

Boric acid: this chemical is also quite toxic, and is in fact used as a roach killer. The EPA and CDC warn of reproductive, developmental, and neurological damage. It has many known health risks jus due to inhalation, a few of which are: inflammation of the upper respiratory tract (including dry throat and cough), eye irritation, and reproductive damage in men (including low sperm count). Please see the following link for the complete report: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp26-c2.pdfRead more about boric acid in mattresses here: http://www.peopleforcleanbeds.org

What is that smell in memory foam? It is the off-gassing of toxic chemicals and is noticeably strong for weeks to months. This has been known to cause headaches and other severe health reactions in people who sleep on them. Get more information on the health effects of memory foam and conventional mattresses: http://www.chem-tox.com/guest/guestbook.html

You can avoid all these toxins by choosing an organic mattress / natural mattress.

A sleep study conducted by Peter R. Dickson (1984) examined sleep quality of participants when sleeping on natural wool (participants slept on a wool pad that was placed under their sheet). He found that participants moved (tossed and turned) significantly less in the night. Additionally, participants in the study reported that they had slept better and that they felt better the next day when sleeping on the wool. The less a person tosses and turns is related to greater quality of sleep! Wool is hypothesized to increase sleep quality and reduce tossing and turning because
1) it reduces pressure points
2) it regulates body temperature. Believe it or not, wool helps keep you warm when it is cold and cool when it is warm. Wool can do this because of its moisture-regulation quality. Here is how it works: when you get too hot, you sweat. If you are sleeping with bedding that is not natural, the sweat will remain near your body and not evaporate, and not cool you down. You can wake up feeling sticky and clammy. However, if you are sleeping with natural fibers, which are breathable, the sweat can evaporate from your body and cool you down. Wool is able to wick water away from your body and is able to absorb up to 30% of its weight in moisture and still feel dry. Wool helps you stay warm when the air is cool because it is a natural insulator. There are air pockets in wool, which trap heat and let the air circulate near your body. In this way, your body heat stays regulated. If you have a consistent body temperature, you will toss and turn less and have a deep and restful sleep. Click here to read more about characteristics of wool: http://www.americanwool.org/pdf/Characteristics.pdf

Many of of our organic mattresses are made with a layer of ORGANIC wool underneath (and quilted to) organic cotton fabric. References: Dickson, P. R. (1984). Effect of a fleecy woolen underlay on sleep. The Medical Journal of Australia, 140, 87-89.

natural mattresses and organic mattresses help promote a healthy environment.

Natural Rubber/Latex: Natural rubber is harvested by tapping the milk (sap) of Hevea brasiliensis (the common rubber tree), which grows within 10 degrees of the equator. The rubber tree sap is whipped up and turned into latex foam. This is truly a sustainable resource because sap can be collected from the trees up to 180 days per year and the tree heals within an hour.

Organic Cotton: United States farmers applied nearly one-third of a pound of chemical fertilizers and pesticides for every pound of cotton harvested (these chemicals are the most toxic classified by the Environmental Protection Agency). This can account for 25% of all the pesticides used in the United States. The use of chemicals in producing cotton can lead to massive environmental and health problems. You are helping sustain the environment if you buy a natural mattress made with 100% organic cotton, organic sheets, and/or organic bedding. Read more about pesticides at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/

Organic Wool: Organic wool is produced without the use of hormones or pesticides, both in the animal and in the animal’s food. Wool is a sustainable resource because the sheep are not killed; they are merely shorn each year. See the quote from http://www.ota.com/OrganicWool.html :In order for wool to be certified as 'organic,' it must be produced in accordance with federal standards for organic livestock production, which state:
• Livestock feed and forage used from the last third of gestation on must be organic.
• Use of hormones or synthetic hormones and genetic engineering is prohibited.
• Use of synthetic pesticides (internal, external and on pastures) is prohibited.
• Producers must encourage livestock health through good cultural and management practices.
That means that sheep cannot be dipped in pesticides to control external parasites, and all pastures must have gone a minimum of three years since last being treated with synthetic chemicals. Producers must also ensure that they do not exceed the natural carrying capacity of the land on which their animals graze.

Why choose organic for baby?

- one cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) may be from exposure to toxic chemicals being emitted from crib mattresses. Crib mattresses off-gas many toxic chemicals similar to adult mattresses (they are made from polyvinyl chloride [pvc], polyurethane, etc.). They also contain phosphorus, arsenic, and antimony compounds as preservatives and fire retardants. Toxic nerve gasses (phosphine, arsine, and stibine) can be emitted because of interactions with these chemicals and cause anticholinesterase poisoning and cardiac failure in infants. These chemicals are linked to SIDS; in fact, Richardson (1994) and Taylor (1996) found high levels of antimony in the blood and livers of babies who died from SIDS.
  An article in Midwifery Today goes into detail as well as explaining how these chemicals in crib mattress may be related to other SIDS risk factors (Quinn, 2002). To read this article, go to: http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/bedding.asp?a=1&r=1&e=1&q=sids+crib+mattress. However, there has been some revolt against the conclusion that baby mattresses can cause SIDS (see, for example, Mitchell, Fitzpatrick, & Waters, 1998). As with most things, the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle; toxic chemicals in crib mattresses may be one of the many causes of SIDS. Either way, most parents are not willing to risk it.

See also http://www.jeffreywarber.com/hc%20pages/sids.html for more information on SIDS.Avoid exposing your baby to toxic chemicals by choosing an organic crib mattress and organic sheets for baby’s crib. References:

Mitchell, E.A., Fitzpatrick, M.G., & Waters, J. (1998). SIDS and the toxic gas theory revisited. The New Zealand Medical Journal, 111, 219-221.
Quinn, J.B. (2002). Baby's bedding: is it creating toxic nerve gasses? Midwifery Today, 61, 21-22.
Richardson, B.A. (1994). Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: a possible primary cause. Journal-Forensic Science Society, 34, 199-204.
Taylor, A. (1996). Antimony, cot mattresses, and SIDS. The Lancet, 347, 616.

For greater quality of sleep for baby. As discussed above , sleeping on wool has been found to increase the quality of sleep in adults (Dickson, 1984). We expect that due to the temperature regulation quality in wool, the same would hold true for babies sleeping on an organic crib mattress with wool in it, perhaps even more for babies since they cannot manually regulate their temperature by adding or removing covers like an adult can. We are currently trying to track down three articles in The Lancet on babies’ health and sleeping on wool. Please check back soon.

- a great deal of infant sleepwear is treated with toxic fire retardants.

By law, infant sleepwear has to be fire- or flame-retardant. As cotton is not naturally flame-retardant, it is treated with flame retardants such as PBDEs, which may cause cancer. What is especially disturbing is that companies do not have to place this information on the label of the clothes. We contacted Carter’s to find out if their sleepwear was treated with flame retardants. Their polyester sleepwear is NOT treated because polyester is naturally flame-retardant (however, their cotton sleepwear is treated with flame retardants). The only problem with polyester as a material is that it does not breathe well, which makes it difficult for baby to regulate his or her body temperature. The only ways to get around treating cotton sleepwear with flame retardants are to 1) not sell them as sleepwear; and 2) disclose on the label that it is to be worn snug-fitting.See http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/safety/fireresist.html for a discussion on flame retardants in infant sleepwear.Choose organic baby sleepwear to reduce exposure of toxic fire retardants for baby.

What is a natural rubber or natural latex mattress?

latex rubber foam is encased in wool and/or cotton to make the most comfortable, yet supportive organic mattress out there.

In a natural latex mattress, latex rubber foam is the core of the bed. Latex rubber foam is dense foam that will last for 10 to 20 years. Latex is great as a core, because it helps relieve pressure points from sleeping on an innerspring mattress, helps keep your spine in alignment, and is inherently hypo-allergenic, anti-microbial and dust-mite-resistant. However, natural latex doesn’t offer the breathability that cotton and wool can, so our natural latex mattresses are encased in organic cotton and organic wool. When sleeping on natural mattresses, circulation can be increased, tossing and turning can be reduced, and you will be breathing clean air. This helps you sleep more deeply!

Why should you sleep with natural or organic bedding?

many cotton sheets are treated with formaldehyde to produce less wrinkles. Non- organic cotton sheets are often treated with a formaldehyde-based finish that reduces wrinkling. These sheets don’t even have to have a label informing you of what they were treated with! Formaldehyde is a cancer-causing chemical that, unfortunately, is found in many common household items like furniture, particle board (which is actually used in the construction of your house), paints, and carpet. It would be hard to completely avoid exposure to formaldehyde, but about 1/3 of your life is spent sleeping, so by avoiding breathing formaldehyde fumes while you sleep (by using an organic mattress with organic cotton sheets) could greatly reduce your overall exposure. Follow this link for more formaldehyde information: http://www.homestore.com/HomeGarden/HomeImprovement/Safety/Dadd/Sheets.asp?poe=homestore
Dakota Rose organic bedding, including our organic cotton sheets and organic baby sheets, are chemical free to avoid formaldehyde

Why should you sleep with organic bedding?

many non- organic cotton sheets are treated with formaldehyde to produce less wrinkles. Organic sheets are not treated with any toxic chemicals

Reasons to choose a natural latex or natural rubber mattress

There are many reasons why people choose a natural latex or natural rubber mattress (please note that the terms "natural rubber" and "natural latex" can be used interchangeably).

Longevity: Natural latex does not form body impressions as easily as organic cotton batting or even polyester batting used in conventional mattresses. Many non-latex mattresses over time will form a body impression- a hole or a dip exactly where one sleeps each night. This can be very uncomfortable. However, natural latex does not form body impressions for 15 years plus. It is truly a mattress with longevity!
Natural rubber is dust mite, mildew, and mold resistant. Natural rubber is a great choice if you have an allergy to dust mites, as they can't breed in natural rubber.
Natural latex reduces pressure points. When you sleep on natural latex your body can "sink" into the mattress exactly where it needs to (ex. shoulders) while keeping your spine in alignment. This improves circulation and reduces tossing and turning.
Natural rubber is very comfortable!

Reasons to choose an organic innerspring or organic cotton mattress

Price is often a reason why people choose an innerspring or organic cotton mattress. Since the price is lower than a natural latex mattress, it is an economical way to make sure you are on an all organic mattress made with organic cotton and wool and no flame retardants. If your greatest concern is wanting to get away from a chemical mattress and into an organic mattress, one of these mattresses may be a great choice for you. The innerspring mattresses tend to be firmer. If you prefer a softer mattress, consider placing a natural or organic mattress topper on it to give it a pillowtop feel.
Natural latex allergy. There are two types of latex allergies. One allergy is to the chemicals and/or synthetic latex used in latex items like latex gloves. Most people have this type of allergy. However, some people do have a true natural latex allergy which is an allergy to the proteins in natural latex. All of the natural latex used in our mattresses are washed to remove the proteins which should eliminate any problems or allergic reactions. However, a very small number of people have reported allergic reactions when in direct contact with the natural latex used in our mattresses (while directly touching the latex). Most people who do have a true latex allergy will have no problem sleeping on a natural latex mattress, because there are layers of organic cotton and wool in between the latex and the outside of the mattress. If you aren't sure what type of latex allergy you have, please contact us for a test piece.

Why choose a natural mattress topper

Some people do not want to replace their current mattress, but would like to have an organic barrier between themselves and their conventional mattress. The natural mattress topper is a great way to do that!
The natural mattress toppers can offer a softer or a pillowtop feel to our organic mattresses. Although you can choose a soft natural latex mattress, it will still not feel exactly like a pillowtop mattress. If the pillowtop feel is something you like, a natural mattress topper is a super option.