If you don’t know what to do, don’t do anything at all. While I’m definitely no procrastinator (just ask my husband), this adage, unfortunately, describes my approach to determining the best mattress for our master bedroom over the years.
Embarrassing, but true.
You see, my husband and I bought a sleep number bed shortly before we started our family. That was more than 15 years ago. It seemed like a good decision at the time, but the truth is, I never really liked it all that well. How much can you really determine from a few minutes laying on a bed in a showroom anyway?
Why did we buy it, you might ask? Good question! I guess it was primarily because it was the new and different sleep technology at that time and we thought the feature of being able to pump up our individual side of the bed to our personal liking (hubby likes it firmer than I do) would be conducive to slumbering marital bliss.
Yes, we basically got “sold”.
Our sleep number bed had a 20 year or so limited warranty, so about 10 years in, I realized we needed to find something else especially once I started bearing children which caused me to find the bed ever more uncomfortable for my perpetually sore back and neck from all the physical rigors of raising children (constant stooping, bending over, carrying babies on your hip etc).
Besides a lack of comfort, I didn’t find the EMFs from a plugged-in bed right about where your head is resting on a pillow to be conducive to a good night’s sleep. Either my husband, myself or whoever changed the sheets and pumped up the bed kept forgetting to unplug it!
Not to mention the toxic substances that were being outgassed by the chemicals added to the mattress for “safety” that we were breathing all night long.
With so many checks in the “replace your mattress now” category, you might wonder why I didn’t get a new bed sooner.
That’s where the “if you don’t know what to do, don’t do anything at all” comes in.
I knew I wanted a nontoxic mattress, but I didn’t want to pay a ton of money for an organic mattress only to find it just as uncomfortable and possibly more unhealthy than the bed I currently had.
My concerns about buying a new mattress were due to the recent (2007) flameproof mattress regulation which requires all mattresses to withstand a severe open flame test (2000 degrees for over a minute). This requires acutely toxic and known, cancer-causing chemicals in or next to the surface of all mattresses – even organic ones (untreated organic wool cannot pass this test as it burns at 600 degrees). Companies are not required to disclose the chemical cocktails they use in their mattresses and often deny they use them at all.
Watch out for furniture in dormitories too. The mattresses provided by colleges and boarding schools use these chemicals too.
Given all these regulations, I honestly didn’t think that the bed of my dreams had even been invented yet – truly nontoxic with a sleep technology that actually delivered a great night’s sleep. So I procrastinated my decision and did nothing.
Then, a friend of mine who is into a green and nontoxic lifestyle shared the research she had done about mattresses and why she had settled on an IntelliBED.
Sometimes the best things that come into our lives are from the recommendation of a like-minded friend.
Isn’t that the truth?
Benefits of Gel Mattresses
I dug in and started to read the research for myself. Here are the most compelling factoids I uncovered that clinched the decision for me:
- IntelliBED uses hypoallergenic, nontoxic Intelli-GEL® instead of toxic foam or fire retardant treated organic wool to cushion your hips and shoulders. This patented gel technology reduces pressure points by as much as 80% compared to even expensive memory foam or latex foam (see pressure mapping images to the right).
- Over 900 doctors, chiropractors, and orthopedic surgeons recommend the IntelliBED for their patients. The science behind this bed blows away all other sleep technologies.
- Other gel mattresses on the market are not non-toxic and don’t perform as well as Intellibed. When tested, these knock-offs perform more like other foams and nothing like the patented intelli-GEL.
- IntelliBED uses the same patented mattress technology chosen by hospital burn units as this sleep technology eliminates undue pressure on parts of the body damaged by fire exposure which would cause excruciating pain, exacerbate inflammation, and compromise tissue healing.
- Instead of a 10 minute trial in a showroom, intelliBED gives you 90 days to try out the mattress in your own home with a full money-back guarantee if you’re not completely happy.
The combination of top of the line sleep technology which no other mattress measures up to, nontoxic, non-outgassing mattress materials and a 90-day money-back guarantee made the decision very easy for my husband and myself.
In addition to the mattress, we are using the IntelliBED pillows too, which are made from the same non-toxic, hypoallergenic gel instead of toxic foam or mold-prone down or feather pillows. We love them so much that we are purchasing an IntelliBED pillow for each of our children for Christmas and plan to replace their cotton futon mattresses with Intellibeds as soon as possible.
My husband and I are totally thrilled with our new IntelliBED. After sleeping on an IntelliBED for only two weeks, my back felt like it did before I had kids, which I never thought was possible.
How to Try IntelliBED for 90 Days Risk-Free
I contacted IntelliBED and asked if it would be possible for me to share a special coupon with my readers to try it as I know from your emails that sleep and nontoxic slumber are big issues for many. For those of you in a quandary about your mattress like I was for such a long time, this coupon plus the 90-day money-back guarantee makes the decision easy and risk-free.
Use coupon HealthyHomeEconomist to get 10% off Intellibed’s Organix line of beds including pillows. In addition to the 10% off, this coupon includes organic cotton sheets, a deluxe mattress protector, and free delivery.
Click here to find out more.
IntelliBED even offers the white glove treatment at no extra cost, with the bed delivered and set up by a team of two professionals right in your own home who will also haul off your old mattress if you like! This is what we did, and it was so convenient and non-stressful.
Bye, bye Sleep Number!
UPDATE: Since this initial article was written, we’ve now replaced our three children’s natural mattresses with Intellibed mattresses too! We even got one for my son’s bed at college (check it out in this article on healthy dorm furniture).
Included in this update post are my photos and film clips after visiting the Intellibed factory in Salt Lake City, Utah to personally verify all claims about this bed.
More Information
Sarah Pope has been a Health and Nutrition Educator since 2002. Her work is dedicated to helping families effectively incorporate the principles of ancestral diets within the modern household. She is a sought after lecturer around the world for conferences, summits, and podcasts.
Her work has been covered by major media including USA Today, ABC, NBC, and many others.
Recovering the Health of Foster Children
Sarah, Is it firm?
It’s hard to describe … the intelligel is amazing in that it completely collapses and is soft where there is a pressure point, but firm where there is no pressure. So, it feels soft but is firm. I realize this makes no sense .. but once you feel it when you lay down on it you will know what I mean. I like a soft bed and my husband likes a firm one and yet we both love the Intellibed.
it’s great you nixed the flame retardants but you bought a bed made from mineral oil, polyurethane, and polyester according to the company website. non-toxic you say? no offgassing you say? BS
I just bought mattresses for my home made from latex and wool with no chemicals, springs, or pesticides and it has a lifetime guarantee. they are expensive but you spend a third of your life in bed…
I understand your concerns, but the bed is free from outgassing materials. … the materials are not organic but they are nontoxic and hypoallergenic 🙂 http://www.intellibed.com/toxic-materials-and-intellibed/
The beds ARE made of polyurethane foam, a toxic petrochemical foam that emits VOCs. They say its processed in an organic factory…nonsense! A petrochemical foam is not organic and if so, where is their organic certification.
Not sure where you got that info, Kerwin and I never claimed the intellibed was organic … only nontoxic. Here’s a link for you to review: http://www.intellibed.com/research/mattress-materials/
If the soy foam is not appealing to you, you can upgrade to tallalay latex.
The IntelliBED is not a fully organic bed but is nontoxic and hypoallergenic which is more important to me. Although the intelli-GEL is neither natural or organic it is, however, the safest material used in a mattress. Unlike the natural, organic materials sometimes used in mattresses (like straw, wool, horse hair, feathers) intelli-GEL is 100% non-toxic, hypoallergenic and anti-microbial meaning that bacteria and mold doesn’t grow on it. It is also up to 80% more pressure relieving than any other type of mattress on the market. I needed both the best sleep technology *and* nontoxicity … not just organic. Organic alone wasn’t enough for me.
I get cold easy, is this bed easy to warm up. I use 4 heating pads on my bed right now to warm it up before I go to bed.
It is easier to choose a car than a bed!
Which model did you purchase, and how did you decide which bed was right for you? We don’t live near a store.
We chose the intellibed 30 deluxe because we really needed the zero partner disturbance feature.
Good to know…I also have a sleep number bed that I do like. Although without experiencing this intellibed I wouldn’t know if I’d like it better.
My concern is the metal coils…if I recall the metal causes interference energetically similar to your concern of EMF from the plug in.
What research did you find to support health while sleeping on metal coils?
Plus he didn’t say anything about the gel regarding toxicity. Fabric etc.
Thanks for sharing.
Sarah, I’m intrigue to find out why you plan to replace your kids’ cotton futon mattresses with Intellibeds? After months of research, I’ve taken the financial plunge and just recently swapped over our kid’s spring mattress with an organic futon mattress (certified organic). So, am interested to know how the Intellibed is compared to an organic futon mattress ? Many thanks.
Because I was dismayed to discover that cotton futon mattresses are treated with fire retardants! The Intellibed may not be made of natural materials, but it is nontoxic and hypoallergenic which is more important to me … it doesn’t outgas and isn’t treated with fire retardants. Plus, it gives the best sleep support on the market.
PLEASE….do more research! Sarah, I believe you’ve been green washed. I purchased a pure 100% latex bed with wool quilting and organic cotton cover after many months of research. Look into Lifekind, their sister company OMI, and Sleeptek for high quality mattresses. Look for legitimate certifications like GOTS.
I have been really happy with my Lifekind natural rubber mattress and wood slat foundation, plus a natural wool mattress protector. Have had it about 10 years and it has a 25 year warranty.
Glad you are happy with it 🙂
I’m glad you are happy with your bed, Kerwin, but I needed a sleep technology that was really going to work for me support-wise as well as being nontoxic. The intelliBED was the only one that met both my criteria. It is not organic, that is true, but it is nontoxic and hypoallergenic.
Polyurethane foam is toxic.
Um, not all polyrethane foam. Did you read the link here on how the foam is produced? http://www.intellibed.com/toxic-materials-and-intellibed/
I could not find on their website what the bed was made of, either outside or inside. I wouldn’t buy anything without knowing exactly the composition of the materials, then research them myself. Places like Monsanto have taught us well that taking someone’s word for what “safe” is isn’t good enough. Not that this bed isn’t safe, but what EXACTLY is the bed and gel made out of?
Here’s a link for you Karen. http://www.intellibed.com/research/mattress-materials/
What is the gel made of? Did you receive some kind of compensation from IntelliBed for this post?
The gel is made primarily of unscented baby oil, which you would never want to eat, but it is safe and nontoxic as a primary mattress support. I did not receive any fee for this post, no. I did receive a bed to try … which I was free to return within the 60 day period just like any other customer. I insisted on trying the bed to be sure I liked it before I would endorse it. I only support and endorse products I use and believe in, as you know.
I just recently got rid of our Sleep Number bed in Jun 2014 too—custom built an organic mattress for us. Our Sleep Number was FULL OF MOLD!!! And had been for probably 10 years! Did it contribute to my autoimmune—my guess is yes. I had even replaced the innards from Select Comfort, but mold has spores, which were obviously living in the bed. They are an awful company and glad to hear you got rid of your toxic mattress too.
Oh my. The hair on my arms stood on end when I read your comment! Ours probably was too. I had so many issues with that sleep number bed. So glad it is GONE for good.
Hello, I also have a sleep number bed. How did you know your bed was full of mold? Thanks..
Scary indeed! So how does one know if their mattress is full of mold, besides tearing it apart? We don’t have a sleep number, probably a serta but it’s beginning to sag and we’ve owned it for almost 6 years and it has been covered by a mattress pad for the majority of that time. I usually wake up with a stuffy nose and I know that is not a good sign since our room is non carpeted and clean. Great to see they make special pillows as well. Also, is the intellibed mattress pad nontoxic as well?
I always hated our Sleep Number bed! It was uncomfortable and too hot when sleeping. Sarah, can you tell me if this mattress “breathes”? Does it regulate body temperature so that it is neither hot, nor too cold to sleep on. Thank you in advance for your response.
I didn’t include this in the post but I should have .. good point. The IntelliBED is temperature neutral which means it is not too hot or too cold to sleep on. This is another reason it is used by hospital burn units because it doesn’t trap heat.
Thank you for this post – I was starting to research this and we really love a foam bed – but I was concerned about anything other than organic. This info was great as I would not have known about the flame resistant regulations and the non-disclosure. I really like the 60 day trial too! Thank you so much!
You’re welcome. I hope it helps. Finding the bed you want is a matter of prioritization. For me, it was about being nontoxic (not necessarily organic) and providing the best sleep support on the market. I love being able to bend over and tie my shoes in the morning without a sore back and having to stretch it out I can tell you!
Do you recommend a bed that does not contain metal coils as studies have shown they act as emf antenna and can contribute to certain cancers- if you google this issue scientific America and mercola etc site the studies. Very hard to find a healthy bed!
Yes indeed … very hard! Organic does not necessarily mean nontoxic as I discovered with my research. I chose a nontoxic bed which isn’t organic but you have to prioritize your needs. I don’t worry about the metal in the bed so much as we live in a rural area and turn off our wifi at night and don’t have anything plugged in. The EMFs are minimal in our bedroom.
This beds have soy foam which is full of chemicals. Please do more research.
I’ve done my research 🙂 If the soy foam bothers you, can can upgrade to tallalay latex.
So, funny story. As soon as I saw your post I thought: “I THINK that is what we have.” So I raced to the bedroom and ripped back the sheets. Joy (and disappointment) filled me. Joy, because I know these beds aren’t cheap, and sure enough, it is the bed we have. I bought it very inexpensively gently used from an older couple who could no longer sleep in the same bed together and needed it gone. (“ahhhh, so sad!”) I LOVE the bed. I was an insomniac sleeper, and this bed is the best. My hips no longer hurt and I don’t toss and turn. But disappointment filled me because my hubby HATES this bed. The instructions clearly say not to turn the bed on it’s side, which was ignored in our recent move to 2 acres. Now his side is a bit lumpy and I don’t think he would let me buy this bed again when it wears out. He keeps demanding a new bed, I was hoping I could buy the one you recommend. 🙂
This is a warranty issue .. IntelliBED will make this right for you if you contact them about the lumpiness. 888-Gel-Bedz (435-2339)
ALL mattresses are bad for asthmatics as they gather dust, mold, filth in the course of their life. I am very comfortable without a mattress and get sound sleep on wooden planks as base for my bed which I just cover with thickish rug and a sheet, that’s all. very simple to sun my bedding every week.. Many people still sleep without mattresses and enjoy perfectly good sleep. Mattress is just another bad habit acquired along with our myriad other vices
We just RETURNED our Intellibed. In fact, the delivery company came and picked it up yesterday. We were so excited to find a non-toxic bed that wasn’t made of wool and didn’t cost $6,000, and it was a disappointment to us. Within a week, my husband was telling me that the Intellibed had to go. I know this is unusual because this company has a 2% return rate, but we just couldn’t get used to it. My hips kept going numb, forcing me to wake up and turn over–the same problem with had with our previous mattress. We were always feeling each other move–a new problem that didn’t happen with our old memory foam topper. Also, within 2 weeks, there was a large dip where my husband sleeps, and he is definitely not overweight at 6’1″ and 180 lbs.
I have been very impressed with Intellibed’s customer service, however. They were nothing but nice and made the return happen quickly. The customer service rep, Denise, kept telling me that the goal of their company was to make sure people were getting the best sleep of their lives, and that if if that wasn’t happening with Intellibed, it was ok!
I hope you love your Intellibed, Sarah. We really wanted to love ours. Today, FedEx is delivering our original first choice, an Essentia mattress, which is made with organic foam from the hevea rubber tree.
Good luck!
Oh, I forgot to say that we NEVER smelled any type of “new, off-gassy” smells from our Intellibed. It definitely did not smell like our former mattress did when it was new. In fact, I put my nose to it and smelled it all over after it was delivered, and it had NO smell at all. I do believe Intellibed is a great, non-toxic choice — it just wasn’t for us, unfortunately.
Lindsey, How is the new mattress working out?
Hi Christy,
I’m Lindsey’s husband, David. She probably hasn’t seen your question. The Essentia mattress has been wonderful! I guess you could think of it as an organic Tempur-Pedic mattress. We haven’t been on it a full week yet, but it’s been great so far.
I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you Lindsey. Yes, intellibed has a very low return rate, but not everything works for everyone unfortunately. Thanks for sharing! I am glad to hear of the excellent customer service and that intellibed makes good on its 60 day money back guarantee.
essentia got fined from the federal trade commission for making false claims.
if it’s the law that even organic mattress companies MUST use chemical flame retardants how then does IntelliBed not use them for theirs?
Because intellibed uses completely different materials that can pass regulations without flame retardants. These materials are not organic but are nontoxic which is good enough for me.
Sarah, would you please share which model you are using? Thanks!
I got the intellibed 30 deluxe because I wanted the zero partner disturbance feature as our youngest child still gets into bed with us occasionally 🙂
the big Q is what is the Gel made of?
The main ingredient of the intelliGEL is unscented baby oil. While you certainly wouldn’t want to eat baby oil or rub it on your skin (although many do as it is an ingredient in many conventional cosmetics), it’s fine as a material for the support structure of a mattress as it doesn’t outgas or pollute the air in any way. In addition, the intelliGEL doesn’t require fire retardants which is what is so toxic and outgasses all night while you are sleeping and what is standard in other mattresses due to onerous regulations from 2007 which require an open flame test for ALL mattresses (which untreated organic wool does not pass). Silica (glass) thread is used as the fire retardant instead which is considered very safe. Check this link for more info. http://www.intellibed.com/toxic-materials-and-intellibed/