The importance of sleeping in all natural bedding and the best products to buy

We’ve all heard about the prevalence of microplastics in everything we eat, wear, swim in and even breathe. It’s really unbelievable how bad the human race has allowed this problem to get. Most trusted sources recommend doing all you can to avoid these toxic plastics, but it seems to be an impossible task. So, do we just throw our hands in the air and give up? Heck no! There are a multitude of ways to create a plastic free home. One of the most important spaces in your home to tackle is the bedroom. 

Most of us spend at least 7-8 hours a night sleeping and if you watch TV in your bedroom you may be spending up to 10 or 12 hours in bed. Do you really want to sleep on or be covered by plastics, especially when the latest research shows that microplastics can be absorbed by our skin? 

Years ago, when I was pregnant, I decided to look into non-toxic mattresses for our soon-to-be-born baby’s crib and stroller bassinet. I found both at Naturpedic and loved the products. I was sure to buy organic cotton bedding and blankets as well. However, I never really gave much thought to the other bedding in our house, until recently.

This year, I decided to transition to clean, plastic free bedding for everyone in our home. It’s no easy task! Almost every bedding item sold in stores contains some form of plastic, as it is made of synthetic fibers. Synthetic fibers consist of many repeating units called monomers which are created into threads, that are dried and woven into fabrics. These include polyester, nylon, acrylics and polyurethane. More disturbingly, when we wash synthetic fibers they “leak” microplastics, which can then be absorbed into our skin. The plastic contaminated water then goes on to pollute the earth and can kill marine life. It’s just awful. Just as troublesome are the chemicals that are sprayed on some items that cannot be washed out. For instance, most conventional pillows are sprayed with flame retardant – Flame retardant! Why is that necessary?

So, how can we create a healthy, safe place to sleep? First, consider the items on your bed that come in close contact with your skin: Sheets, blankets and pillows. Swap the synthetic ones for products made with natural fibers. It’s also important to consider one’s allergies. While down is a natural option for bedding, it doesn’t work for me, as I’m allergic to it. Other fibers used in natural bedding include materials such as silk, cotton, bamboo and kapok. Keep in mind that each of these materials require different types of care and upkeep. For example, silk-filled comforters are supposedly wonderful, but did you know you can’t wash them? Doing so will break up and clump the fibers, so that was a deal breaker for me, as I want to be able to safely wash all of my linens. I decided to go with cotton wherever I could.

I started by swapping out my family’s bed pillows and opting for ones made by Avocado. These pillows feature a breathable blend of organic kapok fiber (In its natural form, kapok is a fluffy, natural material that has a similar look and feel to raw cotton and is sometimes referred to as silk-cotton) and shredded organic latex encased in an organic cotton cover with easy zipper access. The pillows also come with complementary extra fill, so you can customize the firmness. Avocado offers rectangular pillows for back and stomach sleepers, as well as an ergonomically curved pillow for side sleepers. I purchased the rectangular pillows and love them! They are “heavier” than the synthetic pillows I had and the support is fabulous. I opted to purchase their organic pillow covers as well (over which I use cotton pillowcases for everyone except me – I use silk to protect my hair from breakage), as the pillow filling is not washable and I want to keep the pillow as clean as possible.

The next switch I made was to our mattress covers. I wash them every few months and the one I had on my older son’s bed was literally disintegrating onto his mattress. There were little pieces of plastic everywhere. Gross! Luckily, I came across a company called Whisper Organics. I cannot say enough about it. I bought my entire family new mattress covers made out of organic cotton and they are absolutely luxurious! They keep us cool and comfy and upped our sleep game tremendously. I wish I had made the switch sooner. 

I also recently ordered an organic cotton comforter for my husband and I. I was a little nervous about the purchase because the comforter is listed as lightweight and we live in the northeast, where the winters can get very cold. I reached out to the company and was assured that if the product wasn’t to my satisfaction, it could be returned (Shout out to Ben from Whisper Organics for his prompt and kind response to my message. It’s a pleasure to buy from a company who provides such great service!). FYI: The comforter is the perfect weight and upon getting into bed my husband commented to me that it was “awesome”. I agree!

If you can swing it financially, when it’s time to buy a new mattress, that should be changed out as well. I’m not there yet, but when the day comes, I hope to buy healthier mattresses for everyone in the house. Avocado seems to offer great options including an affordable option, which rivals the price of standard, non-green mattresses. To me, it’s a no-brainer!

Lastly, don’t forget to buy all natural pajamas. Moms of little ones: pay special attention to the cotton pjs made for children. If they are form fitting, they might have been sprayed with flame retardant as well! Be sure to read all of the labels. Look for organic materials whenever possible.

If you make any of the changes mentioned above, I’d love to hear about how they’ve affected your sleep. Please feel free to send me a message on my contact page.

Now, get yourself a good book and a hot cup of tea and snuggle up in your healthy bedding to wind down for the night. 

Sweet dreams!