Well, it has been such a crazy time in the mattress business with the new flame retardant regulation that I thought I would shift gears a bit and talk about choosing the correct pillow.

Most people don't think about their pillows, but if you really look at it - that's the one part of your bed that is right at your face!  You're going to breath in whatever is on, in or around your pillow and keeping them clean should be a priority.  There are also a wide variety of pillow filling out there, so let's take a look at your most common organic options:

Cotton:  Cotton always stays firmer and flatter.  An overstuffed cotton pillow is actually just overkill, they are really meant for people that want a nice, flat pillow with a firm filling.  They are very long lasting and a lite fill cotton pillow is about the flattest pillow there is.  Ideal for stomach or back sleepers.

Wool:  Wool offers a nice loft, even in the lite fill levels, and these pillows stay really clean because wool will not retain any moisture (come on, let's face it - we all drool a little when we sleep!).  These pillows are not as long lasting as cotton, but easily refreshed by exposure to direct sunlight.  Lite fill might work for a back or stomach sleeper, but regular or extra fills are perfect for side sleepers - it just depends on how broad your shoulders are.

Buckwheat:  Whenever anyone mentions an organic pillow, this one always comes to mind as it is the first, original organic headrest!  Buckwheat pillows do not generally have a lot of loft to them when you see them, but the big advantage is that they can be shaped to your head and neck for the very best ergonomic support, thus making them appropriate for any type of sleeper.  The big dissadvantage to buckwheat hull pillows is that the filling (the hull that is left after the buckwheat is harvested - oh, and it's "lightly toasted"!) is noisy!  The Natural Bedroom has tried to quiet their buckwheat pillows down a bit by creating an outer pocket of wool and it does help considerably.  These are also fun pillows to "experiment with" as most have zippers to allow you to remove some of the fill if you wish.  If your microwave is big enough, you can even put the pillow in there and heat it up - just make sure and watch it very carefully!  With care, these pillows can virtually last forever - the outer fabric will wear out before the filling does!

Shredded Natural Latex:  This has enjoyed some popularity because of the price - they are, pound for pound, the least expensive of the organic pillows.  Here's the rub:  Do you ever wonder what happens to those latex mattresses that are defective or get returned?  You guessed it!  They are put into a grinder and turned into chunks of latex for filling.  The pillows tend to be lumpy, but they are also softer than the molded latex, so that is one nice advantage.  Here too, most come with zippered covers so you could remove some of the latex chuncks.  Not recommended for back or front sleepers.  These are also very long lasting.

Molded Natural Latex:  Like wool, these stay very clean, so they could be a good choice for you if that is what you are looking for.  Be careful, however, as they can not be shaped or fluffed - what you see is what you get.  The pillows that are made in the states (usually by a company called Latex International) are pretty lofty and thus not necessarily recommended for back or front sleepers.  The imported natural latex (from Sri Lanka or Malaysia - not China!!) tends to be flatter and could work for any sleeping position.  These pillows usually come with a removable and washable cotton cover, eliminating the need for a pillow protector.  This is also a pillow that is likely to pretty much last forever, with the cover wearing out before the core does!

Contour Natural Latex:  With the explosion of memory foam beds, those dastardly contour pillows made out of that noxious stuff have flooded the market.  But did you know that they cost, by and large, about twice as much as their organic latex equivalent?  Yes, an organic alternative that costs less!!  This pillow is made for back or side sleepers only, so if you're a stomach sleeper just move on to the next paragraph.  One side is lower for back sleepers and one side is taller for side sleepers (so it can provide ergonomic neck support).  Like molded latex, there are some differenced depending upon where the latex came from but these also almost always come with a removable and washable cotton cover.  This will last about as long as the molded latex, which pretty much means forever.

Kapok:  Organic dealers have tried to stay away from down because of all the people with allergies, so this is basically your organic equivalent.  It is the seed pod fiber of the ceiba tree and is extremely light - far lighter than cotton - which makes it exceptionally soft and fluffy (and great for pillow fights!).  If you're a back or stomach sleeper, these pillows are far too lofty for you, but if you want all the softness and cush there is available in an organic pillow, this is definately for you.  These pillows have become very popular recently so you might expect a short wait if you order one (or two, or three)...  Not as long lasting as cotton, but comparable to wool when it comes to durability.  Kapok fiber also floats, so it does not retain any moisture!

Now that we've gone through the pillows, let's talk pillow protection.  In the organic world, the pillow protector is an organic cotton zippered cover that is size specific to the pillow.  The cotton is a very tight weave, thus keeping out all the nasty critters that like to hang around your bed.  They are washable, durable and comfortable.  However, in my opinion, unless you are trying to keep your bed strictly organic, they do not provide as much protection from bugs, bacteria and so forth as another non-organic product. 

Let's face it, our faces are ripe with moisture and that doesn't change while we sleep.  Besides persperation, there's the ears, eyes, nose and mouth there all with stuff that ends up on our pillows.  Plus, most people at some point during the night hug or move their pillow, thus your hands (the dirtiest external part of the body) are always touching it as well.

My recomendation is a pillow protector from a company called Protect-A-Bed.  These are made in Spain (so we don't have to deal with the whole China thing) and feature a terry cotton that has a polymer membrane bonded underneath where the individual cell structure is elyptical in nature, thus it allows air to pass in and out but not moisture.  Fully washable in hot water, it's the best thing out there for keeping pillows clean and sanitary.  You could even spill a whole cup of your morning latte on your pillow and not one drop of the heavenly brew will get through! 

But, as I've said, if your intention is to go totally organic, then by all means the organic pillow protectors are a good product, just not as good as the non-organic alternative.

Now let's talk sizes: 

Most people use Standard pillows.  These are most common on twin and full beds and is the most popular pillow size in the United States.

Queen pillows are sized so that, when two are placed side by side on a queen bed, you will have pillow from one side of the bed to the other.  The drawback is nobody in the organic sheet biz makes queen pillowcases!  Unbelievable, I know, but most conventional queen sheet sets actually do come with queen pillow cases.

King pillows are just absolute monsters.  On a king bed, two of them will give you pillow from side to side with just a natural break in the center of the bed.  Organic sheet manufactures DO make king pillowcases, so you are safe there and nearly all king sheet sets come with king pillowcases (which look pretty pathetic on a standard sized pillow, I might add). 

Of course, there are specialty sizes:  Boudoir/Travel pillows (small and cute); Euro Pillows (big, fluffy squares); Throw pillows (like what you'd see by the arm of a sofa) and the little Neckroll pillows (just enough to put behind your neck and no more).  By and large, these are accent pillows and unless you've been banished to the sofa or are on a trip somewhere, they have little actual sleeping use.  The do, however, look really good on a fully dressed organic bed!

I hope you find this information helpful and I promise all of you that I will not be taking an extended absense from my next post!!  Take care.