Thanks Pheonix for running this site with such great information and user experiences. I purchased a 6" firm core and 3" medium layer from FoamByMail and feel for what I paid, I received an OK setup. Of course, my only experience is with what I have and don’t know what the long term experience will be, and from what I have read, seems like I actually have dunlap and not real talalay (it is really firm). So I am now looking to purchase a soft topper, real talalay, from a quality retailer (a member of your site) and this site has been a great help. The 5% discount will be great too! Thanks again.
Hi Codacon,
You’re most likely correct that what you have is firmer Dunlop.
You’ve probably seen this but some of the better topper options I’m aware of are listed in post #4 here.
I should also mention that the 5% discount or “bonus” that the manufacturers here have agreed to provide to members of this site applies to mattresses only not any other products they may sell (although it never hurts to ask as long as it’s not an “expectation” :)).
Phoenix
Hey Phoenix,
Thanks for an awesome site. I think I’ve spent way too many ours over the last couple weeks reading articles and the forum.
My wife and I decided to go with the Yamaguchi platform bed from tatamiroom.com and the latex 13000 from SleepEZ. So excited to get rid of our super old spring mattress.
Look forward to updating everyone on our experience once we have been able to use it for a while.
Hi rlwoolz,
I understand how easily a forum like this can lead to a LOT of time spend reading about mattresses. I’ve been told by some people that the information just never seems to end!
The good news though is that you made it to the other side and ended up with some great choices. I’m looking forward to your feedback about both of them.
Congratulations on your new mattress … and bed 
Phoenix
Thank you for all the information you share. I’m afraid that all the information is kind of leading to decision paralysis, but I know for sure it’s kept me from making a bad decision!
I’m trying to find a mattress that is suitable for bed-sharing with an infant, so I’ve decided on latex and more likely one with wool. I’m hoping to pull the trigger in the next few days or so!
But thanks again for this resource!
Hi anatayw,
I think that one of the most effective ways to bypass “paralysis by analysis” is to put just as much importance on who you are dealing with as you do on which mattress you buy. When you are dealing with people that have the knowledge, experience, and integrity to help “educate” you instead of “sell” you … then you don’t need to learn what they already know and are willing to share. One of the most reliable signs of manufacturers like this are the ones that will disclose the details of every layer of their mattress. There is a great deal of information on this site that can be somewhat overwhelming but the best use of much of the information is to validate what a manufacturer or retailer is telling you to help you know which ones are the most knowledgeable and helpful.
This can make a very good choice for bed-sharing because latex is one of the “safest” materials along with natural fibers and innersprings. Even blended latex (which uses a blend of synthetic and natural latex) is a very “safe” material.
the subject of what is safe, natural, organic, and eco-friendly can be very complex and the edges between all these terms are often blurred even though they are all very different. Post #2 here has links to much more information about this that can help you unravel some of the conflicting and contradictory information you will be exposed with deeper research that can sometimes seem like you are going “down the rabbit hole”.
In general though … if you stick with more natural materials (natural fibers, natural latex, steel innersprings, fire barriers with no chemicals etc) then your odds are very good that you have a “safe” mattress that would be suitable for a baby, infant, or young child. If you decide to move into less natural materials … such as blended latex, or polyfoam, or some of the semi-synthetic fabrics like bamboo or viscose, then the degree of safety that you can find out will depend on the certifications that have been done on them (such as CertiPur or Oeko-Tex) and on how much you “trust” the testing protocols.
The only thing I would exclude completely from your choices for babies, infants, or young children is memory foam because of the potential risks that are involved in its use with very young children. Several of the better post and threads about mattresses and children are linked in post #2 here that may also be helpful. In the end each of us needs to decide “how safe is safe” for ourselves because there are often no absolute answers to these questions and each person will need to decide for themselves the “degree” of safety that they are comfortable with.
If you have questions along the way that i may be able to help with feel free to post them on the forum.
Phoenix
Thank you so much for this fabulous resource! We’ve decided on a latex mattress, and are so excited! We’ve learned so much from reading this forum, and feel like we’re making a great decision for ourselves, both for our sleep and health, and also for our pocketbook.
Hi chhcoach,
Thanks for the kind words … and I hope you let us know what you end up choosing
If you have any questions along the way of course feel free to post them here.
Phoenix
We did “pull the trigger” and slept on our mattress last night. I think it needs some breaking in as it’s pretty hard right now! Hoping it will soften up well since it’s not “soft” or “plush” right now ;]
Hi LisaB,
I’m glad to see you’ve received your mattress so you can start sleeping on it.
As you probably know from reading the forum, it will take a few weeks for the memory foam to go through its initial softening (this is the case with all higher quality memory foams) so the more you sleep the faster this can happen
Make sure as well that there is nothing over the foam that can interfere with it’s ability to mold itself to your body or interfere with its temperature response (such as mattress pads or other bedding which can reduce the temperature response of memory foam).
I hope you have the chance to give us your feedback from time to time as things progress.
Phoenix
This site is amazing.
I have been looking to replace my mattress for a number of years now and just haven’t been able to find enough credible information to make a decision. I have been reading over the site and although I still have not decided on the mattress I will buy. I do feel after reading a bit more I should be closer to making the decision. I have read many other sites and have always came away confused, resulting in me just giving up the pursuit of a new mattress.
Thank you for the site and information.
Hi Metalman,
Thanks for the kind words
Feel free to ask any questions you may have along the way and if you let me know your city or zip I’d be happy to let you know of any better options or possibilities I’m aware of in your area.
Phoenix
Thanks for this site and all of the good information Phoenix. I decided to go with Sleepez and think I am getting a much better value than the flobed I almost purchased.
Thankyou for bringing a sense of clarity to such a seemingly obscure purchase decision.
Hi dinsley,
Thanks for the kind words … and congratulations on your new mattress!
As you know I think SleepEz is a great choice and I’m looking forward to your feedback once you’ve received it
Phoenix
Thanks for all the great information on the site. It has been really helpful in learning about things I should look for when buying a new mattress. I have checked out a couple of DFW stores that you have mentioned on the site and am going out again today. Hopefully I will be able to find a great quality/value mattress that works for me!
Hi kmj,
Thanks for the kind words.
Don’t forget “rule #1” which is to always make sure that any retailer (whether they are on a list here or not) can provide you with the quality details of every layer of any mattress you are considering or testing (thickness and foam density for memory foam and polyfoam and the thickness, type and blend of any latex in the mattress). If they can and will cheerfully provide you with this information and understand what it means then this is one of the more reliable indicators that you are dealing with a more knowledgeable person.
Phoenix
Thanks for the informative site. Been reading a lot over the last couple of weeks as we thought we probably needed a new mattress, today I finally actually looked at ours and noticed some major sagging. No wonder we hurt so much So, am about ready to pull the trigger. Just got off the phone with Sean at Sleep EZ who helped me decide on the layers, he was so helpful and makes me feel much better about ordering. Will do an update once we get it try it out!
Hi melen,
As you know I think very highly of Shawn and SleepEz … and I’m always amazed at his patience and calmness on the phone.
Congratulations on your new mattress … and I’m looking forward to your update when you receive it
Phoenix
I appreciate all the information on the site- a discount would is the icing on the cake.
Although I am probably reaching paralysis by analysis, I think my wife and I are leaning towards ordering from SelectFoam. We are probably going to take a trip to one or two of the Southern California mattress places listed in the Los Angeles Thread (here, for those interested)
Thanks again!
Hi doggu4747,
I can understand how “paralysis by analysis” can be a danger on a site like this. Sometimes the more you learn the more you want to learn and the more it can feel like it’s not enough. I face that challenge every day
There comes a point of diminishing returns though where any more information probably won’t make any real difference in the quality or value of your choice and where you have to trust your instinct and choices … and of course what your body tells you in your own testing.
I’m looking forward to finding out what you end up choosing.
Phoenix