Stuffed Sheets

When Toby Belch advises Aguecheek to place as many lies on a sheet of paper as would fit on a sheet on the great Bed of Ware….the mattress on said bed, was organic.  400 years ago when that cheeky challenge was first penned by Shakespeare, who clearly knew of this immense bed -  randy bard that he was – (incidentally, also referenced in Don Juan), mattresses were filled with straw, wool and feathers. (Personal Note: My best friend and I were nearly chucked out of the Victoria & Albert Museum for touching this bed for good luck. I’m almost 8 months pregnant, so there you are….)

Though I itch just thinking of how many mites lived with one in a straw bed, today’s organic mattresses are again using naturally fire retardant, breathable, waterproof (via the lanolin), antibacterial property sporting wool, often topped with unbleached, soft as angel wings down.

What you will not find in these beds, nor in the great Bed of Ware, are carcinogenic chemicals such as Pentabde, a member of the polybrominated diphenyl ether family of flame retardants, that was used in mattresses prior to 2004, when it was phased out. Nor will you find equally toxic pesticides, benzene, naphthalene or formaldehyde.  (Again, when you don’t know what it is – run.)

Well, a clever girl like you may ask, if that penta-stuff was phased out in 2004, what chemicals are used in its stead?  Well, Virginia: great question. But the answer is: I can’t tell you which. Why? And I quote:

“Major manufacturers such as Simmons, Sealy, and Tempur-Pedic won’t divulge their flame-retardant formulas, which are considered trade secrets. A Simmons press release touts a “proprietary blend of char-forming, intumescing, flame-resistant components.” Tempur-Pedic vaguely states that its products “consistently meet all safety standards.” Source.

Right.

So now that you are pregnant, or a new mum, and have bought junior his organic crib, bassinet and toddler bed mattresses, it doesn’t make much sense to then allow him on your stuffed pile of toxins and dust mites, does it?

Exactly.

You need an organic mattress. A third of your life (more, if you are Cuban), is spent in bed. Your mouth and nose (conduit to your lungs), are smooshed against the thing.  And your entire body – and absorbent skin – are up against it for hours and hours. You really, truly and verily need an organic mattress.

I know.  Things haven’t been this bad since your grandmother used eye kohl to feign stockings (my grandmother drew fishnets).  You really are considering planting a Victory garden. And you wonder how bad bathtub gin could possibly be….

But I promise you that organic mattresses are NOT as expensive as you think – and they are an investment in your HEALTH!  More importantly, the health of your child.

If you are one of the lucky few who went from MIT to being a baby faced billionaire, then consider the Hasten bed. It costs as much as the Bed of Ware, but is meant to be fabulous. (Test sleep at The Peninsula hotel in Chicago.)

If you do not have a Bugatti, then you may want to compare organic mattress prices and features at the Pristine Planet. Prices range from $700 to $2000+.  At the very least, consider an organic topper. A Queen sized organic topper will average $350, whereas an organic pad can be less than $300.  Not cheap – but for the price of an evening (pre-baby), at SoHo House, you could be healthier.

Basically, getting an organic mattress is one of the top 5 healthiest things that you can do for your nest.

To sleep, perchance to dream….