Pottery Barn Kids Has its 1st Organic Crib Mattress

Natural and organic bedding producer Natura World and Pottery Barn Kids have teamed up to sell Natura's organic crib mattress and mattress protector.

This represents Pottery Barn's first organic crib mattress offering. The products will be sold in stores nationwide and online at PotteryBarnKids.com.

"Families are willing to make a greater investment when it comes to their children's health," said Natura World President Ralph Rossdeutscher . "With our deep-rooted expertise in natural and organic bedding, we can provide Pottery Barn Kids customers peace of mind by providing a comfortable and healthy sleep haven for their children."

The naturally hypoallergenic, antimicrobial and temperature regulating, the mattress, which retails for $549 is constructed of a pure organic cotton ticking and pure organic wool lining and includes a removable cover. The core features two-inches of all natural coconut fiber and two-inches of all natural latex.

To protect the crib mattress from common leaks and stains, Pottery Barn will also carry Natura's Puddle Pad. The hypoallergenic pad creates a naturally breathable barrier with moisture resistant Natura Cry Less Wool, discouraging the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew. Made of natural fibers, the Puddle Pad is free of the harmful toxins and chemicals. The machine washable and dryable pad retails for $79.

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The Secrets To Buying The Right Mattress

Korky Vann Savvy Shopper

April 15, 2012

Need a new mattress? Get ready to lose some sleep. The endless array of types, styles, brands and prices can make the process of choosing one feel more like a nightmare than sweet dreams.

"For a lot of people, it's a daunting purchase," says Bob Naboicheck, president of Gold Bond Mattress in Hartford. "There's a confusing selection of options. Visco foam feels different from gel, which feels different from latex, which feels different from innerspring. Then there's organic materials. And pillow tops. Two-sided pillow tops. Euro-tops. No question, it can be overwhelming."

Even Consumer Reports has stopped rating mattresses because everyone's idea of the perfect choice is different. (As Goldilocks said, some are too hard, some are too soft and some are just right.)

Add to that, there are no industry standards for such terms as "firm," "extra firm or "plush. All vary from on maker to another. And manufacturers often modify the models they make for different retailers by changing fabric color, padding, quilting and model names, which makes it impossible for consumers to comparison shop. That's no small thing, because the price of a new queen-size mattress and boxspring (the most common size sold) can run anywhere from less than $1000 to more than price of a new Hyundai Sonata. (Bloomingdale's made news a few years ago when it introduced its Palais Royal Plush Mattress, which carries a $27,000 price tag.)

But if you're sleeping on a mattress that's more than a decade old, you're probably not getting a great night's rest. According to Shop Smart, a Consumer Report's publication, mattresses generally last about eight to 10 years and worn-out mattresses can cause aches, pains and a lot of tossing and turning.

Dr. Patrick Troy, a pulmonologist at the Hartford Hospital's Sleep Center, says people may not be aware that their mattresses are affecting their sleep.

"Your whole environment has to be conducive to falling and staying asleep and that includes your bed," says Troy. "If you are sleeping on an old mattress that doesn't keep your body aligned in a neutral position, it can cause you to be restless during the night."

Your sleeping style figures into the selection process as well. Back sleepers, for example, need a mattress that provides firm support. Side sleepers need medium support. Stomach sleepers should opt for a softer surface.
While close to 80 percent of mattresses sold in this country are innerspring models, Naboicheck says the American consumer is currently in love with memory foam. (Memory foam uses your body's heat to conform to your body.)

"Some people love it, while others say it makes them feel hot," says Naboicheck, who himself sleeps on a firm innerspring mattress.

And it's not just your sleep needs you'll have to take into account.

"Your partner's movements can disrupt your sleep," says Troy. "The mattress that works for them might not be right for you, so you'll have to compromise."

"Number" beds that allow each person to adjust the firmness level for his or her own side are the answer for some couples, but ShopSmart magazine reported that some of their panelists found the mechanism noisy.
To help consumers make the right choice, some stores have developed mattress quizzes. The Ikea website, for example, takes consumers through a firmness, sleeping-style and body temperature check list and provides suggestions.

Bedding producer Kingsdown Inc. developed bedMATCH technology. Shoppers answer basic questions on sleep habits and bedding preferences at an in-store kiosk, then lie down on a diagnostic mattress to have their measurements taken. Based on the findings, the bedMATCH system recommends mattresses to be rest-tested. (A number of Connecticut Sleepy's stores have the kiosks.)

Naboicheck says diagnostic gimmicks may help point you in the right direction, but are no substitute for taking the time to actually lie down on a bed and try it out. And not for a minute or two. Consumers need to give it at least 10 minutes. A half hour is even better. Wear shoes you can slip off and comfortable clothing and settle in. Spend time on your back, your side and your stomach.

"Keep an open mind and try everything," he says.

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Mattress store unveils napping room which tired New Yorkers can use for free to get a couple of hours shut-eye

By Olivia Fleming

A hotel-style bedroom open to the public to take free naps, has been set up in an all-natural mattress store in New York's SoHo.


The complimentary upscale sleeping room, set up on the lower level of the store Coco-Mat, is a free by-the-hour suite - complete with couch, coffee table, bathroom and their famous customized Californian king.

In a no-strings-attached arrangement: the founder and Greek native Paul Efmorfidis welcomes you to take his all natural and handmade mattresses for a test drive, for a one, two or three hour nap.

Coco-Mat: The complimentary upscale sleeping room in SoHo is a free by-the-hour suite for napping

While the idea comes from an 'I sleep well, then I buy' mentality, Mr Efmorfidis has no qualms if you simply just want to pop in for lunch (yes, they serve lunch every day in the showroom) and a restful nap.

In an age when the attitude of 'what's the catch?' is prevalent, he told MailOnline, there is none.

'In Greece, we want to show that everything is transparent. This is the policy of our company, to show that our mattresses are the best in the world,' he said.


'If I tell you they're the best, why should you believe me? With [the sleeping room], you can see for yourself, with no obligation to buy.'

Really?

Yes, he explained: 'I have no trouble if they misuse [the service]. If you come here with your friends for a handful of naps and don't buy anything, that's OK. 


'I guarantee when it's time for you to invest in a mattress, you'll think of us first. And you'll talk about the experience with your friends.'

The idea started in Coco-Mat's Amsterdam store and proved a great success.
Not so much a business model as a great idea, the unique room enables an everyday person, tourist, or SoHo regular to build a close rapport with the brand, even if they're not in the market for a mattress. 

SoHo siesta: Book Coco-Mat's sleeping room for a nap, or if it's vacant, they accept walk-ins - you will be set up with everything for a good sleep, on the house

When you walk in to Coco-Mat, which opened earlier this week, you're immediately offered an orange juice or espresso, because all Mr Efmorfidis wants is for you to hang out, and have fun in his showroom.


'We want to be close with our customer,' Mr Efmorfidis said. 'We're a friend'.
Coco-Mat's mattresses are made from all natural materials, including seaweed and eucalyptus, and have no metal springs, instead using natural rubbers made from trees to give the mattress's their firm hold.

'I was in Greece sleeping on Sparta beach, lying on seaweed and enjoying the sun,' Mr Efmorfidis explained. 'The iodin in seaweed is so good for your health, I thought, why don't I make a mattress from seaweed myself?'

Seaweed is a source of iodin, necessary for thyroid function, which also has has curative properties for tuberculosis, arthritis, colds and influenza, worm infestations and even tumors.


You can book Coco-Mat's sleeping room, or if it’s vacant, they accept walk-ins. 


You will be set you up with everything necessary for a good sleep - pillows of varying firmness, soft sheets, a glass of juice and soothing classical music, all on the house.

If you fall in love with the suite while you're there, you can purchase everything in it too, if you so choose.

And if you don't want to sleep alone, bringing a guest along is not a problem - which may explain oversize shower and sound proof walls.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2126242/Mattress-store-unveils-napping-room-tired-New-Yorkers-use-free-couple-hours-shut-eye.html#ixzz1rbIz6e1e

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Crib mattresses: 72 percent of models use suspect chemicals, advocacy group says

By Dina ElBoghdady

Nearly three-quarters of crib mattresses in this country contained “suspect or dangerous” chemicals, underscoring the need to reform the federal laws that govern chemical use, according to a report scheduled to be released Thursday.

The report by Clean and Healthy New York, an environmental health advocacy group, surveyed 28 companies that make most of the standard-size crib mattresses and found that 72 percent of mattress models use one or more chemicals of concern, including certain flame retardants, antibacterials and waterproofing additives.

Only three firms — Vivetique, White Lotus and Naturepedic — make some or all of their crib mattresses without using risky chemicals or allergens, according to the group.

The results come as efforts aimed at better regulating chemicals in household products have gained traction.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of six types of chemicals called “phalates” in children’s products starting in 2009. The Food and Drug Administration is investing in research on the health impact of bisphenol A, a chemical widely used in plastics. And within a few weeks, the Senate plans to hold a hearing on a measure authored by Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.) that would for the first time require chemical makers to prove that their products are safe.

Consumer advocates are particularly enthusiastic about the Lautenberg legislation because it attempts to revamp the 35-year-old law that regulates chemicals instead of simply targeting one or two chemicals at a time, a tactic often adopted by federal regulators and various states or cities that have targeted potential toxins.

Even as a series of studies has linked various chemicals to serious health problems, the Environmental Protection Agency has tested for safety only 200 of the roughly 80,000 chemicals registered in this country and banned only five, according to federal data. That’s because federal regulators must overcome enormous legal burdens before they can test or restrict a chemical, consumer advocates said.

“It’s the Wild West in your home when it comes to chemicals,” said Andy Igrejas, director of Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, which reviewed the crib mattress report. “There are both known hazardous chemicals and chemicals whose health effects are still unknown that wind up in the products that come into our houses.”

Clean and Healthy New York focused on the crib mattresses because infants are especially vulnerable to chemical exposure, and they spend up to 16 hours a day with their faces pressed up within inches of chemicals their parents probably do not know about, said Bobbi Chase Wilding, lead author of the study.

The 28 companies surveyed by the group make 190 models of crib mattresses. Some — about 20 percent, or 39 models — made “small changes with big claims” by adding thin layers of organic cotton, for instance, and marketing those mattresses as “greener” even if other components contained risky chemicals, the report said.

An additional 22 percent refused to disclose the chemicals they used, making it impossible to figure out whether their products posed a hazard, the report said. The firms were most reluctant to answer questions about flame retardants.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission approved standards in 2007 to limit fires from spreading in mattresses. The rule did not require the use of chemical flame retardants, said Scott Wolfson, the agency’s spokesman. The report said that safer flame retardants include hydrated silica and wool.

Two of the companies with mattresses that contained at least one chemical of concern — Dream on Me and Foundations — offered no “green models” of mattresses and refused to provide some information about their products, the report said.

Officials at Foundations could not be reached for comment.

Joe Olds, a manager at Dream on Me, said he is satisfied that his mattresses are safe. Olds said the company buys pre-cut foam and mattress covers from other firms and sells good-quality, fire-retardant, waterproof, bedbug-proof mattresses. “I’ve never had any problems,” Olds said. “The only problem I had [is with consumers who] use the mattress for six kids and they call to say it’s worn out.”

Olds said his products are certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association. But the association said it does not certify crib mattresses. The industry is working on voluntary rules for those products.

Source

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Cloud b Twilight Constellation Night Light, Turtle Reviews

Product Features

• Twilight Constellation Night Light Turtle calmly transforms bedrooms and nurseries into a starry sanctuary of light which relaxes children and gently puts them to sleep.
• A starry night sky is projected onto the ceilings and walls of the children's bedroom or any room for that matter.
• It has an automatic shut-off sleep timer.
• Color options are also available to choose from: green, blue and amber.
• Batteries included

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Cloud B Twilight Constellation Night Light Review Snippets

' My husband and I actually bought the turtle for ourselves. It sits on a chair in our bedroom - we turn it on every night before bed. The turtle is very cute and has three color lights to choose from (blue, white and green). The stars are kinda blurry with the white light, but are clear with the green and the blue. The light is soft and lasts just long enough to get to sleep'..... Logan

'I am an avid stargazer and have been looking for the perfect celestial touches for my soon-to-be-arriving baby's room. This is the most adorable and unique night light I have ever seen! It works beautifully - the star projections on the ceiling are great, and I am especially thrilled that they are actual constellations. To the reviewer who complained about the shell breaking and injuring her 18-month old, it says on the box that this is for ages 3 and up. It's not meant for babies to play with; it's more of a night light than a toy anyway. Overall I think it is a high quality, wonderful item and I would recommend it to anyone!' .....Stargazin' new mommy

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'First, let me say, that I bought this early, as I have a newborn (3 months old), but at some point my daughter will be old enough to sleep in her own room, and as most kids do, she will want a nite-light.
Well, I was skeptical at first, but this thing really does produce a cool looking and relaxing night sky on the ceiling. Say goodbye to those lame, glow-in-the dark stars that you put on the ceiling of your kids' rooms...you know, the ones that never really hold the glow. This thing projects a beautiful sky, and in 3 different colors (although they claim the red is mostly for the nite-light usage)'. .....John

'Wonderful item. My husband and I purchased the turtle to help our infant daughter fall asleep. Within minutes she would be off to dream land. Our 3yr old son also loves the turtle. He would sit in her room and gaze at the stars every night so we decided to purchase another one for his room. This is obviously not a toy use a dresser or shelf for best results'. .....Mcdaris

Watch a video presentation of the cloud b twilight constellation night light


'This turtle may seem on the pricey side if you were just looking for a nightlight for your child, but it is well, well worth it. Our son just turned three and has had it for years - but still asks for it every night. BLUE, BLUE he says (he likes the blue stars in it). And it really puts a LOT of stars on the ceiling. Beats getting the 'glow in the dark' stars and trying to stick those on a 10-foot ceiling. Turtle stays on a long time too - so very rarely do we hear him 'scream' that he wants his turtle back on (since it's dark after that) - but if so, after turning it on one more time, back to sleep'.....Kevin

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