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I have worked with thousands of customers and friends over many years. I have studied sleep and alignment issues. I don’t regard myself as an expert, but I hope you’ll find my answers honest, straightforward, and sensible.
--Michael Penny
What level of firmness is best for my back?
The answer to this question is that it is totally individual. Some people have back problems and do better on a firm mattress. Some people with similar issues feel better on a soft mattress…and everything in between. Best advice: listen to your body over the advice you receive from anyone else. Your body will give you the answer that is right for you.
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I want to try an Organic Serenity mattress, but I don’t know how firm or soft to make it without trying it. What do you recommend?
If you really don’t know what your needs are, we recommend a medium Dunlop mattress. We would recommend configuring it this way: bottom layer Firm, middle layer Medium, and the top layer Soft. If you are getting a Queen or larger mattress, we recommend ordering it with all layers split (6 pieces total). In this way you have maximum flexibility in terms of testing the mattress. You can make it really firm with Firm-Firm-Medium (Firms on the bottom) or pretty soft with Medium-Soft-Soft (Medium on the bottom). If you do an exchange, you’ll know exactly what you want from switching things around before you tell us which replacement layer(s) to send you. |
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Is it better to sleep on your back or your side or your stomach?
This is very individual, but generally we don’t see any advantage to sleeping on your stomach.
We have spoken with lots of therapists and customers about their sleep habits. Some think that sleeping on your back is better because it is easier to align your body when you are on your back. Others think that sleeping on your side is better because then there is no pressure on your lungs and it is easier to breathe. In short, what is best is whatever allows you to sleep most deeply and wake up most refreshed. |
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I am a side sleeper. What do you recommend for softness or firmness?
Generally side sleepers need a little more pressure relief because pressure tends to build up in the shoulders and hips more quickly than it does for back sleepers. Therefore, side sleepers tend to do a little better on a softer mattress. What’s great about side sleeping is that there is no pressure on the lungs, and breathing is easy. |
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I am a back sleeper. What do you recommend for softness or firmness?
Back sleepers tend to value their alignment, and it is a little easier to stay aligned on your back. Back sleepers seem to like a somewhat firmer mattress than side sleepers so they don’t “hammock”.
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I am a stomach sleeper. What do you recommend for softness or firmness?
To be perfectly honest, I don’t see any redeeming quality of stomach sleeping, from an anatomical perspective. However, if you sleep best that way and you wake up refreshed, your neck and back feeling flexible and aligned, by all means continue. The main thing is not to get a mattress that is too soft because your body can hammock. Most stomach sleepers do not use a pillow, or use a small one. |
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I sleep all over the place--side, back, and stomach. What do you recommend for softness or firmness?
What we find is that people who turn a lot tend to have pressure point problems. It is usually an innerspring mattress that creates pressure points. A pressure point is where circulation is reduced, heat is created, and your body sends you the signal to turn so circulation returns to that area. Most times what you need is a softer mattress that is pressure relieving. Memory foam is great for pressure relief, but it is also a petroleum product. Natural latex rubber is also pressure relieving. |
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I am trying to sleep on my side (or back), but I keep rolling onto my stomach. What should I do?
There is a reason you are rolling on to your stomach. Does it feel good to your back and neck when you sleep on your stomach? Why do you want to sleep on your side? Did someone tell you that, or is your body telling you that? Do you hold tension in your abdomen and feel some relief when you roll on your stomach? Your answers may alert you to some issue you may want to address with an activity such as stretching exercises or yoga. |
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Some people have an allergy to latex. How do I know your latex is safe for me?
Contact allergies to the chemicals in synthetic latex blends, such as those in latex gloves, are not uncommon. These cause localized skin reactions. Allergies to natural latex, such as that in Savvy Rest mattresses, are less common; when they do occur they are almost always caused by direct contact with the latex itself. Systemic reactions to natural latex are quite rare (less than 1 percent of the U.S. population) but they are possible. Despite what you may read elsewhere, if a person is allergic, they can react to either Talalay or Dunlop latex.
A very small group of people has an aversion to the soft natural scent of latex rubber. This response is very uncommon, but it does happen.
Our latex is a very pure, natural product, as all our products are; but no one can guarantee that a product will be non-allergenic for everyone. The information we provide is not intended to substitute for medical advice. Please consult your doctor or allergist to be sure latex is right for you. We do not accept returns on mattresses due to latex allergies.
If you are chemically sensitive or think you may have a latex allergy, we can send you a free sample. You can tape a small piece to the skin of your forearm and leave it overnight to see if there is any skin reaction. First, ask your doctor if this is an appropriate test for you. |
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I have sleep apnea. Do you have any recommendations?
If you can afford an adjustable bed, you will never regret having spent the money. It will allow you to sleep more comfortably with your head raised to the perfect height without using pillows or props. An adjustable bed can also help reduce snoring. As for a mattress, above all, listen to your body. Do not put a mattress that is too thick on an adjustable bed. 10” - 11” is about the maximum thickness that will work. If your mattress is too thick, it won’t articulate or bend very well, and that’s what makes the adjustable bed worthwhile. An adjustable bed is also wonderful if you have been standing a lot as you can raise the lower end of the bed and relieve your aching feet. |
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Do you have any suggestions for someone who wakes up stiff or sore?
Normally as we get older, we need a softer mattress for pressure relief. Also, any condition such as fibromyalgia or arthritis will usually be eased by a softer mattress that offers pressure relief. We will always suggest the Organic Serenity or the Organic Serenity Pillowtop as they allow for the greatest amount of pressure relief while still offering support. |
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I am about 130 pounds, and my spouse is about 240 pounds. What do you recommend?
From a physics perspective, your spouse will generate more force on the mattress than you will. Usually a heavier person will want a thicker, firmer mattress. The main thing with a bigger person is to ensure that there is enough material so he or she doesn’t “bottom out” (meaning, feel the foundation or the bottom of the bed). The only way for a big person to get some pressure relief with our mattress is to have 9” or more of natural latex, as in the Organic Serenity or the Organic Serenity Pillowtop. That way s/he can feel the soft cushioning on top and the firm support underneath. |
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Everyone on the Web says Talalay is better than Dunlop. Is it?
We disagree. We sell both, and we have handled both. Both make a great mattress, but we feel strongly that the Natural Talalay is no better than the Natural Dunlop. That said, Talalay is better if you need a soft mattress. That’s because you can’t vary the softness of latex as much using Dunlop material. Dunlop latex tends to make a firmer mattress overall. So if you like to sink into the mattress or if you need a lot of pressure relief, we suggest the Natural Talalay. |
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We get conflicting information about natural, latex mattresses. It seems like everybody says they have a natural mattress, but then it’s not. How can they get away with it?
We are told that it is okay to advertise anything and say anything, and unless you are challenged, you can continue to do it. We would rather be perfectly honest about our material and say that our latex is 95% natural rubber because that is what the independent purity testing shows. As far as we know, no other company takes on the responsibility to have their products tested and certified for purity. Furthermore, we post the test results on our site. |
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How toxic are chemical mattresses?
Some are made of very toxic chemicals that we don’t think should be next to a person’s body, or be breathed in, as these synthetic materials off-gas for eight hours every night. We are not scientists or experts in this area. If you want to know more, please visit the EPA website at www.epa.gov and look up the risks for some chemicals. Chemicals typically found in mattresses include formaldehyde, antimony, styrene, butadiene, various PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers), toluene di-isocyante (TDI), and other glues and adhesives.
However, there may be no noticeable short-term effect on you. I look at it this way. I eat organic food, exercise, and practice moderation in all things. If there is a risk that any of these chemicals might trigger a degenerative disease, do I want to take a chance? Fifty years ago, asbestos was used in construction materials. Today, the law requires that specialists in protective gear remove the same asbestos. Fifty years from now, what will we be saying about the synthetic chemicals in mattresses? |
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What is the difference between natural latex and memory foam?
Natural latex rubber is a natural product that comes from the rubber tree. Memory foam is a synthetic petroleum product. Memory foam is designed to relieve pressure. That's what it does best. However, natural latex is also pressure relieving. In our opinion it takes 6" – 9" of latex to provide as much relief as 3" - 4" of high-density memory foam.
In terms of durability, natural latex will normally outlast memory foam, but of course it depends on the quality of the latex and of the memory foam. Higher-end memory foam with density that is over 5 pounds per cubic foot will last almost as long as top-quality latex that has no clay or other additives.
In terms of safety, natural latex is much safer for most people. That said, memory foam and natural latex are both hypoallergenic, unlike many other mattress materials. We usually don’t think of mattresses as being toxic, but memory foam mattresses are manufactured completely from chemicals. We have many testimonials from people who changed from memory foam to an organic mattress. Headaches were the main health problem that cleared up immediately, but in some cases nausea and even depression improved. If you have headaches and sleep on a memory foam mattress, it makes sense to make a change. Synthetic latex (or latex “blend”) mattresses also contain synthetic chemicals. The FDA, manufacturers, and salespeople will say they are safe, and maybe they are right; but if you have a health issue, in our opinion it’s better to listen to your body than to someone who is benefiting from a sale. |
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