TOPIC:

Hello, My husband and I just purchased an all latex mattress (from Seattle Natural Mattress), thanks to help from this site. I like that there is no wool component sewn into the top of this mattress, since I would like to be able to easily replace and/or wash that part. I hate sleeping on any lumps or unevenness and I imagine the wool will wear down much sooner than the latex. That said, I would like to add a wool layer myself for temperature regulation and fire resistance (seattle natural mattress uses no fire retardants). I've noticed that most high quality latex mattresses include a layer of wool covered with an elastic cotton jersey material. I imagine the stretchy material helps preserve the body conforming properties of the latex. I would like to add my own washable layer of wool, but all of the wool mattress pads or protectors I've found are covered in cotton sateen or percale, which is not stretchy. Can anyone point me to a cover that is more like the ones sewn onto the top of mattresses like cozy pure's or spindle's (links below)?
www.cozypure.com/latex-mattresses/organic-latex-mattresses/9-organic-mattress-made-with-100-organic-zoned-latex
spindlemattress.com/spindle-natural-latex-mattress/

Thanks in advance!

Do a search for St. Dormeir washable mattress pad. We use them and they are just what you are looking for.

Hi burnstsienna,

Congratulations on your new mattress! You certainly chose something using high quality materials.

I like that there is no wool component sewn into the top of this mattress, since I would like to be able to easily replace and/or wash that part. (seattle natural mattress uses no fire retardants).

I have to admit this part made me curious, as mattress manufacturers are required to pass 16 CFR 1632 and 1633 , unless you have a prescription from a health care professional that would allow the manufacturer to skip using some sort of FR barrier. Passing these tests doesn’t necessitate the use of flame retardant chemicals. Many manufacturers use a thin “sock” comprised of inherently fire resistant fabrics that encloses the inner foam layers. There was no information on the Seattle Mattress (or Mulligan’s) web site that described how they meet these guidelines, but I suspect it might be the FR sock. Regardless, it piqued my curiosity.

Regarding the specific type of wool mattress protector you’re trying to find, that combination is more commonly found as a mattress cover versus a protector, as I think you’re already realized. Magpie did have a good suggestion (thanks magpie!) for the St. Dormeir – that is probably the most popular one referenced on this forum. Other items that I found after a brief search that are “close” to what you specified that you may also wish to consider are the myPad ; CozyPure has a few options that don’t contain wool; suitesleep has one with wool but the cover doesn’t look as flexible as you would like. There is more about mattress protectors in post #89 here . There is a listing of many businesses who deal with wool toppers (I know not exactly what you are looking for but still a good resource) in post #3 here .

One other note. Do not assume that adding any sort of wool mattress pad/protector to your existing mattress will cause that mattress to pass 16 CFR 1632 and 1633. Meeting those guidelines are done on a completed mattress and certified after passing using only the exact combination of padding materials present in any specific mattress.

Phoenix

Thank you Phoenix and Magpie! I must admit I am a little nervous for our new mattress to arrive. I have been sleeping on a tempurpedic for the last 10 years and, even though it's been causing lots of issues for me, change is hard!

I will definitely check out the st dormeir cover - that does sound very close to what I am looking for. I may try contacting a Cozy Pure and Spindle as well to see if they might be willing to put together a cover with just their top wool layer.

Regarding the fire resistance, I am ok with not being strictly to code but I like the idea of having *some* resistance. Your comment does explain why the mattress has a large sticker on it stating that it was made according to a doctor's prescription and to beware that a large fire could start if the mattress comes in contact with flame. I guess Seattle Natural Mattress got the health exemption you mentioned.

Hi burntsienna,

I must admit I am a little nervous for our new mattress to arrive. I have been sleeping on a tempurpedic for the last 10 years and, even though it's been causing lots of issues for me, change is hard!

It’s normal to go through a period of “retrogression’ as you adjust to any new sleep surface. Hopefully within a few weeks you’ll become accustomed to your new mattress. Does Seattle Natural Mattress allow for customization or exchanges after your purchase for a period of time? I couldn’t find anything on their web site – quite limited there.

Regarding the fire resistance, I am ok with not being strictly to code but I like the idea of having *some* resistance. Your comment does explain why the mattress has a large sticker on it stating that it was made according to a doctor's prescription and to beware that a large fire could start if the mattress comes in contact with flame. I guess Seattle Natural Mattress got the health exemption you mentioned.

Ah, mystery solved.

Thanks for the updates!

Phoenix

Hi Phoenix,

Thank you - I will try to be patient during the transition!

I agree there's not much information on the Seattle Natural Mattress website. Tim, the owner, told us that for the first 30 days we can return the mattress for a full refund. After that, he will switch out layers for us if we decide we want to go firmer or softer. I am hoping none of that will be necessary, but it's nice to know we have options just in case.

Hi burntsienna,

Tim, the owner, told us that for the first 30 days we can return the mattress for a full refund. After that, he will switch out layers for us if we decide we want to go firmer or softer. I am hoping none of that will be necessary, but it's nice to know we have options just in case.

That’s good to know they are willing to work with you. Being a custom mattress manufacturer, I was hoping they’d be able to provide such an option. Yes, hopefully you won’t need to explore any of those possibilities.

Phoenix

Well, we received our new latex mattress last Friday (4 sleepless nights ago) and I am really struggling with it. I was expecting some adjustment period, but I am *so* uncomfortable on this bed that I haven't slept more than 3 hours at a time since we got it. I am not sure what to do or even what the problem is, so I would love some guidance.

I think the mattress does feel pretty nice and supportive from the waist down, but my upper body is in a world of pain all night. I have tried a dozen different pillows and none of them make it tolerable. On my back (my most preferred sleep position) I used to sleep without a pillow, but I feel like I need one on this mattress. No matter how flat though, every pillow feels like it's pushing my head too far forward and my neck aches. My thoracic spine also aches from the pressure of the mattress. On my side (my second most preferred sleeping position), my shoulders and neck ache, no matter how thick a pillow I use.

I think the mattress is too firm, but when I tried the softer model in the store (which has two layers of the 2" soft talalay instead of one) it felt too bouncy. Like the whole bed was just bouncing around under me.

The other (even more perplexing) issue I am having is with temperature regulation. After sleeping on a tempurpedic mattress for 10 years, I figured latex would feel cool and breezy in comparison. To the contrary, I am constantly overheating now. I go through a never-ending cycle of throwing the covers off in a sweat and then shivering and covering back up. I thought latex was supposed to have less heat retention than memory foam, so I am perplexed. And uncomfortable.

I should say that the st dormier wool cover might help a tiny bit with the heat regulation, but not enough to get me out of the overheating/cold sweat cycle. Also, I have tried the mattress with and without the cover and both ways are supremely uncomfortable for me in terms of posture and pressure.

Last night, in desperation, I went scouring the internet for information and came upon "the old bed guy" website. He seems to think a latex/coil hybrid is the only way to go. I am wary of latex now because of my overheating and the feeling that my bed is trying to push me off of it, but I love the idea of it for quality and health reasons. I would like to stay away from memory foam, so maybe a latex/coil hybrid would be a better fit for me. I am more confused that ever...

Hi burntsienna,

I’m sorry you’re having a rough time adjusting to your new mattress, but it’s only been four nights, so hopefully things will get better for you.

I think the mattress does feel pretty nice and supportive from the waist down, but my upper body is in a world of pain all night. I have tried a dozen different pillows and none of them make it tolerable.

The pillows wouldn’t necessarily be the best way make your comfort in your upper body feel better, although they can certainly have an effect. It would have the most dramatic impact in your lower thoracic/upper cervical region. What you’re describing “sounds” like something that has a bit too firm of a surface comfort.

On my back (my most preferred sleep position) I used to sleep without a pillow, but I feel like I need one on this mattress. No matter how flat though, every pillow feels like it's pushing my head too far forward and my neck aches

Not knowing what type of pillows you have available, it sounds as if all of them ae too thick or too resilient for your preference. You would have “sunk in” more in your Tempurpedic, and since you’ll be “on” this mattress more than “in” it, needing some type of support for your head makes sense.

My thoracic spine also aches from the pressure of the mattress. On my side (my second most preferred sleeping position), my shoulders and neck ache, no matter how thick a pillow I use.

Again, these sound more like pressure issues, especially coming from memory foam to latex.

I think the mattress is too firm, but when I tried the softer model in the store (which has two layers of the 2" soft talalay instead of one) it felt too bouncy. Like the whole bed was just bouncing around under me.

You seem to be describing something that might be “too firm”, and you also will have a bit of a “learned alignment” from sleeping upon a memory foam product, so these two things combined certainly could be contributing to your discomfort. My first course of action would be to phone Seattle Natural Mattress or stop by in person and speak to them of your concerns. They may have other options for adding plushness to your mattress besides what you tried in their showroom.

The other (even more perplexing) issue I am having is with temperature regulation. After sleeping on a tempurpedic mattress for 10 years, I figured latex would feel cool and breezy in comparison. To the contrary, I am constantly overheating now. I go through a never-ending cycle of throwing the covers off in a sweat and then shivering and covering back up. I thought latex was supposed to have less heat retention than memory foam, so I am perplexed. I should say that the st dormier wool cover might help a tiny bit with the heat regulation, but not enough to get me out of the overheating/cold sweat cycle. Also, I have tried the mattress with and without the cover and both ways are supremely uncomfortable for me in terms of posture and pressure.

Talalay latex is the most breathable of all foams, that is true. But every layer you change will have an impact upon your temperature regulation. There is more about the many variables that can affect the sleeping temperature of a mattress or sleeping system in post #2 here . Have you tried going back to the same mattress pad/sheet combination that you used to use and see if that makes a difference in your temperature? And I wouldn’t expect your new mattress pad to have much of an impact upon your comfort based upon your comments.

Last night, in desperation, I went scouring the internet for information and came upon "the old bed guy" website. He seems to think a latex/coil hybrid is the only way to go.

You can see my comments about the Old Bed Guy and his website (and some of the very strange comments he makes) in this topic . There is "some" good information on his site and some information that is questionable at best, and misleading, inaccurate, or deceptive at worst. You can find sites that say coils are the only way to go, memory foam is the only way to go, natural beds are the only way to go, polyfoam beds are the only way to go, etc. None of them would be able to predict what is best for you, as that can only be accomplished through your own testing and personal results.

My best suggestion to you is to have a detailed conversation with your retailer and see what suggestions that they may offer up to help you with your situation, as they would be most knowledgeable about their product and have the experience to work through common “issues” that people have experienced with them. After just a few nights, I'd personally try to work with what I had and give that a longer chance before looking at other options and starting anew, which is certainly an option with the product you chose.

Phoenix

Thanks so much for your detailed response, Phoenix. Your help is much appreciated during the stress of mattress transitioning! Ever since we got this mattress, I am getting more and more aches in my lower thoracic spine that are starting to stick around during the day. I am a bit concerned that I am doing damage by continuing to sleep (or lie awake) on it.

I called Tim, the owner of Seattle Natural Mattress (who is very kind and easy to work with, by the way), and he suggested that we stop in and borrow a 2" soft talalay topper from him and sleep on that for a while. I am not super hopeful since this set up felt unstable to me in the store, but it certainly seems worth trying. If that feels good, then he will alter our mattress to add a thicker layer of soft talalay (or we can just buy the topper). I am worried that this setup wont feel supportive enough and might throw me out of alignment, but I have my fingers crossed that this will be the answer and I can stop fretting about mattresses.

I am still concerned that an all latex mattress wasn't the best choice for me though. I think the push back feeling of latex might not work well for my body. I feel like I can't really relax in the bed and the bony parts of my upper body aren't getting good pressure relief. I know that it's not wise to base mattress choices off of other people's experiences, but I came upon a member of this forum who has similar issues to mine (chronic pain, scoliosis, and being a small/light-ish female) who ended up purchasing a Tuft and Needle bed and loving it. For now, that is my backup plan if we have to return this mattress. I love the *idea* of latex (quality, durability, environmentally sound) and kind of hate the idea of polyfoam, but at this point I just want to sleep!

As far as temperature regulation - the only thing that makes any sense is that the latex does conform to my body quite thoroughly. While on my back, on the old tempurpedic, I could slide a hand under the small of my back. On the latex, there is no space there. So maybe this explains why I am sleeping hotter. The sheeting and mattress cover are pretty much the same (same cotton material, but we went from a queen to a king, so they are new). The cold and hot sweaty feeling reminds me of sleeping under polyester sheets though, so I'm not sure what to do about that. Maybe adding more wool would help?

I had no idea that "the old bed guy" was related to the charles p rogers company he so highly recommends. Thank you for sharing that. That information plus the company's horrible return policy is enough to take them off my list of considerations. And anything that simplifies this process is a bonus!