Ok - so maybe this is a game changer? I had conflicting information in terms of what Sandy at Dreamline sent me and what she hand wrote for me when we went to their plant/showroom. As it turns out - on "The Dream" mattress the 2 inches of latex are on the top and then the 3 inches of memory foam. The other layers are the same. Does that make this scenario better? Worse? No different?

Also - just to muddy the waters further (again?), I'm a side sleeper.

Thanks.

Hi ZhivagosGirl,

I personally would prefer having the latex over the memory foam (it would result in a more lively surface feel and be more breathable). On the other hand ... the "softness" of the upper layers would remain the same and there is still a lot of soft foam on the top of the mattress. My personal choice would be to have a little thinner layer of memory foam under the latex and less or no "convoluted" polyfoam although this would of course change the feel of the mattress.

The latex on top would isolate the memory foam from body heat more than sleeping directly on the memory foam so the initial feeling of the memory foam under the latex would be firmer but over the course of the night the memory foam would soften as heat reached it and over time (which is one of the factors that softens memory foam along with heat and humidity levels) you may end up sinking in deeper than you expected with the heavier parts of the body (pelvic area). This can lead to starting off the night in good alignment but waking up in the morning out of alignment. In essence ... it would take longer to get to approximately the same level of sinking in than it would if the memory foam was on top of the other layers.

Of course ... the specifics of the layers in terms of density and ILD would affect the degree to which this happened and only personal testing can really know for certain how any mattress interacts with the person on it. While I understand that this mattress could be very comfortable for a side sleeper and have a "feel" that was in between latex (on the mattress and more lively) and memory foam (in the mattress and more "dead") ... my "concern" was that it may have thicker/softer layers on top than you really needed and not be as good for your husband who is primarily a back sleeper. If thinner layers of softer foam on top would also give you good pressure relief ... then it may be a better "compromise" between you and your husband.

None of this is to say what "will" happen ... only a caution with upper layers that may be a little softer/thicker than the "ideal" for your "joint" needs and preferences.

Phoenix

Hi,

Been a while since I checked in. Wanted to say looks like we're going to go with the Jordan Brothers Talalay. Now I'm waiting for my husband to tell me I can "pulll the trigger." I like that he's fiscally responsible but sometimes waiting is the pits!

So of course "idle hands are the Devil's tools..." My eye has wandered back over to the IKEA mattresses.... Just the edsele and the Heggedal - please feel free to tell me to step IMMEDIATELY away from the IKEA store...

Still haven't bought the mattress protector either... I think we'll have to forego the wool ones. THought I was settled on the Protect-a-bed Elite but then seemed to have found better information about a SafeRest (which I think is very similar) and the Malouf (for it's thin-ness)

ANYWAY... I did have a serious question. I was telling my sister in law about our new mattress purchase and she said she has a latex sensitivity. Would she not be able to get a latex mattress? Or is it far enough removed from actual skin contact that it shouldn't be an issue?

Thanks.

Lara

Hi ZhivagosGirl,

I think the Jordan Brothers would make a good choice ... although I do understand the difficulty of the final elimination process

While I wouldn't tell you to step away from the Ikea store and they are "better than average" value ... I believe that what you are considering is superior to either of the Ikea Dunlop latex mattresses you mentioned. Of course if either Ikea mattress was clearly superior in terms of PPP (Pressure relief, Posture and alignment, and Personal preferences) then that would make a big difference but all other things being equal ... I personally would tend to go in the direction you are going ... especially because you have tested it and it "works" for your needs and preferences.

Foamed latex is quite different from the type of dipped latex (such as gloves, condoms, and other more solid latex products) that some people are sensitive to. A type IV sensitivity is to the latex proteins on the surface and these are mostly removed in the foaming and washing process. It would be very rare for people with a latex sensitivity to have any issues with latex foam and I know people who have been selling latex mattresses for decades and have never encountered a single instance. While anything is possible, the odds are very small indeed that there would be any problems.

There's more about this in post #2 here.

Phoenix

Boy, I sure wish we had an IKEA in Little Rock. Not just for the mattresses, but for many reasons. However - it's certainly not worth a 5 hour drive to try them out.

Thank you for the info on the latex, I will pass that along to my sister in law.

Interesting note, the rest of the thread was very relevant to me. I had back surgery on my L4/L5 discs and my lower back is in sorry shape in general (L5/S1 disc is pretty much blown too). You wrote, "the side position is easier on the spine and the body pillow can help prevent turning onto the stomach. If you tend to move into a half stomach/half side position (with the top leg bent and raised towards your head) then the pillow can help keep you on your side or help support the top leg and keep your spine from twisting as much." That's exactly how I sleep.

Hi ZhivagosGirl.


Synchronicity in action ... I love it

Phoenix

Finally pulled the trigger... www.jordanmattress.com/index.php?option=...icle&id=29&Itemid=20
Won't be delivered for 10 days however.

Hi ZhivagosGirl,

Congratulations on your new mattress

You did great research and made a good choice... and I hope you have a chance to give us some feedback once you've had a chance to sleep on it for a few days.

I also understand that waiting for a new mattress can be one of the hardest parts of all!

Phoenix

As everyone who visits and posts here knows - we all could have used a new mattress probably 6 months to a year ago so now what we know what's out there and actually coming for us the waiting is agony!

Will be happy to provide feedback.

Wow - has it really been a month since I've posted!? SO - life after a new mattress... It's good, we're happy. I'm assuming there is $1,500 happy and $3,000 happy. If we'd paid $3,000 for this I don't know that we'd be happy.

All in all - it's firm, I don't "bottom out" like I did in our old mattress. I feel like I wake up in better alignment, and not "hitched up" like I used to. I have a couple of really bad spots in my back that literally felt like knife stabbings that I haven't had. So all definitely good things. I suppose the best thing is that I really for the most part I don't notice the mattress.

I think I'd like a fluffier "cloud-like" top and maybe that would be the "wow" factor that isn't there. Maybe there is a topper in my future. I haven't wanted to broach that with hubby since the large recent purchase - although my birthday is in Sept. Any thoughts on what would add fluffiness?

And now for pillows... I'll go look for the pillow thread to talk about that...

Lara

Hi ZhivagosGirl,

Thanks for the report ... and I agree it really is amazing how quickly time goes by

I guess this would depend on what you mean by"fluffiness". If you are just looking for surface feel and "fluffy, puffy, softness" ... then a featherbed or fiberbed (either down or down replacement) may do the trick.

If you need a just little extra pressure relief without sacrificing support ... then a fairly thin memory foam, ultra plush latex, shredded latex or even wool topper may work well.

It sounds to me that you have hit the sweet spot in terms of pressure relief and alignment so I wouldn't play with success too much (a mattress is meant to be "forgotten"rather than "noticed") but some fine tuning with some softer materials would probably be what you need for "feel".

If you do a title search on topper there will be quite a few threads come up that you can "scan" with many good options worth considering.

Phoenix

Yes - I would say surface feel, puffy softness. I suppose it's the difference between firm/utilitarian "doing it's job" and cozy "nesting" in the bed. I don't necessarily want to be swallowed up by it, but a little sinking in would be nice.

I'll do a search for toppers.

Thanks.

Hi ZhivagosGirl,

You can just click on the search link I added in the last post. If you just do a "regular" search instead of a "title search" you will get way to many hits. This way you will have many hits as well but you can just scan the content without having to click on each link that it brings up.

Each person would be different in their preferences of course when it comes to "feel" but if I was in your shoes ... and depending on budget ... I would probably go with a fiberbed (down alternative) which are widely available, fairly low cost, and good value (you can do a google search for down alternative topper) or with a "shredded" latex topper such as the Seven Comforts (less poofy and firmer than a fiberbed) or the Lanoodles (I havent tried this but it is similar but likely softer but more expensive than the seven comforts) or with a wool fleece topper such as the snugfleece mentioned in post #3 here (along with other types of wool toppers).

Post #10 here also has some good information and resources for "fine tuning" your mattress with different types of mattress protectors, mattress pads, and toppers.

Phoenix

Awesome - thanks.

I also meant to mention that my husband has actually been able to sleep on his side for intermittent periods of time, that is huge. He wears a CPAP and most of the time struggles with positioning his mask and hose so for him not to be tethered literally to just sleeping on his back and get comfortable is great.

Hi ZhivagosGirl,

That's great news!

Maybe you can convince him that now that he's spending more time on his side that a new pillow might help him even more

Phoenix