Bedding

Still working on Toxic Nation's Ways to Detoxify #1 Clean Your Indoor Air Quality, I've been in the process of purchasing new bedding for Jesse. This is a particularly expensive venture, since organic cotton doesn't come cheap. But it's definitely worth it, when you (and particularly your children!) spend such a significant potion of your lives in bed.

I was lucky enough to pounce on a 20% off sale and free shipping offer from Land's End. I bought two sets of 250 thread count organic cotton sheets for Jesse's bed. I was able to get them for about $40 US (plus duty charges) each. Definitely better than the $100+ that I was looking at spending elsewhere.

I also just purchased a old (circa 1990) wool blanket issued by the US army. I got it on eBay for about $40 US (shipping included). I'm going to wash it thoroughly, felt it, and lanolinize it, and use it as a waterproof (or water resistent?) mattress protector for Jesse's bed.

 
If you don't want to go through the trouble yourself, and you have the cash, you can purchase a ready-made wool waterproof mattress protector. This one from Rawganique.com looks awesome!

I still have to get:

-a high thread count zippered mattress cover (to contain the off-gassing from Jesse's non-organic, and likely flame-retardant mattress, which we can't afford to replace at the moment)

-a natural/organic pillow

-an organic cotton blanket

I'm going to get the mattress cover and pillow from Janice's. It's the only place I've been able to find a totally organic cotton pillow. Most "organic cotton" pillows are just an organic cotton cover over polyester fill. I also checked into wool filled pillows, but I couldn't find one with an organic cotton cover. (Frustrating!) I'll probably end up going with Land's End for the blanket. And I think I'm going to end up making a denim quilt for Jesse's bed to go over it. That can wait though. The kiddo hates being covered when he's sleeping anyways.

If you would like to forgo the mattress cover and shell out for an organic mattress, go ahead and fill yer boots! There are lots of options out there, actually. You can purchase mattresses made from cotton, latex, wool, or a number of other natural materials. Google "natural mattresses" and you'll come up with a bunch of options.

Another option you can avail of to avoid flame retardants is to order a mattress without them. You may need a letter or prescription from your doctor, though. But that shouldn't be difficult to get. And if, like for us, a new mattress isn't really an option, you can wrap your mattress in an untreated 100% cotton cloth barrier sheet with a thread count of 250 or more. It must completely cover the mattress though, top and bottom. Like this one (from Janice's):

And now, speaking of bed....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz