crowd a room
and seem
chaotic, so a
Sanctuaries for Sleep
good storage
system is a
toxin-free mattresses Promote the sweetest,
must. Closet
safest dreams
systems,
bookcases, toy
by lee walker
chests, bulle-
tin boards and
shelving can
help corral
I
f children are to close their eyes, dream their dreams and let their imagina-
tions take them on adventures never before told, as the poet Rebecca J. Burns
suggests in Dream Your Dreams, they need a sanctuary of their own for sleep-
kids’ collec-
ing. One of its key elements should be a toxin-free mattress that provides a safe
tions and art
place for restorative rest.
projects. “Kids like structure, although
“Wynken, Blynken and Nod were probably sleeping on organic mattresses
they would never ask for it, so giving it
and wrapped in organic cotton sheets when they dreamed of sailing amongst the
to them in their room is a real gift,” says
stars,” jokes LeeAnn Broad, owner of Your Organic Bedroom. While no poison-
Butler.
ous chemicals lurk within mattresses in the fantasy world of nursery rhymes, the
She suggests making an art proj-
real world is a different story: Traditional mattresses may contain about a pound
ect space out of a closet or a corner
of boric acid, a flame-retardant pesticide used to kill roaches. “It’s hard to believe
space in the room. “Keep it set up so it
that we spend one-third of our lives sleeping on the 30 or more chemicals typi-
encourages art to be happening at any
cally found in traditional mattresses,” advises Broad, who became interested
moment.” For example, the door can
in organic alternatives after her son was diagnosed with leukemia at age 15. In
be removed or closed when not in use.
her search for ways to help, Broad learned about the toxins in food, clothing,
Mount an extra table on the wall to
cleaning products and even the mattress her son slept on. After she made many
be dropped down as needed, like old
changes in her household, Broad discovered a market for organic mattresses and
ironing boards did. “There are never
bedding and opened her store.
enough tables,” says Butler, “so find
The pure wool used in Broad’s certified organic mattresses is naturally
clever ways to create them and teach
flame-retardant and the natural rubber is anti-microbial and mold- and mil-
the kids to clear them while waiting in
dew-resistant. Neither rubber nor wool attracts dust mites, an added benefit for
anticipation of the next project.”
anyone suffering from allergies.

Broad advises that although many bedding products may be referred to as
Pre-teen
organic, consumers need to look for proper certification to ensure that a pur-
From junior high through high school,
chase is not organically produced in one place and artificially processed in
privacy and respite become crucial for
another. “In an industry where ‘greenwashing’ occurs, third-party certification is
children weathering the turbulent ado-
essential,” says Broad. “The only assurances we have that the stringent standards
lescent years. Doe suggests that “If your
for organic certification have been upheld in the production of a mattress or any
child wants a cozy, private, snug nest,
bedding products are the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Oeko-Tex
suspend sheets from the ceiling on all
Standard 100, and GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) certification for
four sides of the child’s bed. Purchase
low VOC emissions.” Certificates of Sustainable Textiles specify that no pesticides
curtain rods from the hardware store
be allowed in fields where cotton grows or sheep graze.
that screw into the ceiling; sew tabs on
A night spent enjoying the support and softness of a natural rubber mat-
the sheets and hang them up for a low
tress topped with natural wool and cotton is the next best thing to sleeping on
cost, royal canopy bed. If two or more
a cloud—a healthy, heavenly rest that even Wynken, Blynken and Nod could
kids share a room, ensure that each has
dream on.
privacy—bookcases or rice paper pan-
els to divide the space is one solution.”
Contact LeeAnn Broad at Your Organic
Adolescents also need as much free-
Bedroom, 19 East Oakland Ave., in
dom as possible to change room colors
Doylestown. Call 215-345-5551 or
and posters, arrangement of furnishings
email Leeann@YourOrganicBedroom.
and even bedding, in order to reflect
com. Visit YourOrganicBedroom.com.
their growing individuality. Thus, their
See ad on page ???.
room becomes a welcome respite from
the peer pressure to be just like every-
For more Rebecca J. Burns poetry, visit
one else.
CafePress.com/rebeccajburns
Judith Fertig is a freelance lifestyle writer
in Overland Park, KS; for more, see
AlfrescoFoodAndLifestyle.blogspot.com.
natural awakenings March 2010
9
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