Archive for the ‘Foam Mattress’ Category
Dog Beds - Are They Fun Or Functional?
You bring your cute, fun loving puppy home for the first time and of course you want your him to sleep with you. All furry, cute, warm and snuggly. But that is not the best thing to do for you or your hound. You really need a dog bed to establish correct behavior at the outset. It may be OK now, but when your dog grows to his full size at over 100 lb, will it still be fun?
Now that we have established that a dog bed is an essential item for your pet, what type do you get and what kind of things are you looking at?
How Do You Pick a Dog Bed?
First off ask yourself these questions. Does he like to be able to rest his head with a view of the entire room? Does he hang his head over the edge? Does he avoid the bed because he needs to cool off? Watch your dogs behavior and you’ll quickly learn which type of dog bed best suits him
Benefits and Features of a Dog Bed
The Indoor/Outdoor Bed is tough, water repellent and can be used inside or out. Orthopedic foam tends to provide additional warmth too so if you live in a warmer climate, your dog may prefer a cooling bed like the Canine Cooler to the traditional orthopedic bed. Using a dog bed in your home can help reduce injuries to your pet such as jumping off the couch; which is probably your canines favorite place to lie, especialy when you are away.
Picking the right dog bed will help with your allergies and even clean up. Using a dog bed provides you with one area where the majority of the shedding and/or dander is contained. Just pick up the bed, (or bedding), and put it in the washing machine. Of course make sure it’s machine washable first!
It is important for an older hound to have a comfortable rest area. Senior dogs over the age of 10 are similar to a seventy-year-old person. Can you imagine your grand parents curled up on the floor for the evening? Quality beds such as the Memory Foam Bed or the Thera Ortho Mattress are designed to relieve sore joints, bones and other problems that may arise due to your pets age or weight. They even make orthopedic dog beds now to help address this issue. Similar to humans, dogs also experience changes as they age. Their joints can stiffen, or their bones become thinner. If your older hound has slept in a kennel his entire life, it is good to learn that there are beds specifically designed for use in canine crates.
How to measure your dog for a bed: Different dogs sleep in different positions, as humans do so look at how your canine sleeps and determine the best size bed for your dog. Measure your dog when his is comfortably sleeping and add about 5 inches to ensure that he has enough room in his bed. Watch your canine sleep. Does he usually curl up or stretch out? If he’s relaxed to his maximum size, make sure the bed is big enough to support his entire body.
Spend some time determining which bed is best suited for your dog, keeping in mind that this will become a favorite resting place for your pooch! If your dog likes his head on a pillow, try a lounge bed or couch. Beware, low quality beds are easily torn and fall apart. They never really offer your hound the benefits of a higher quality bed.
Think of your dog bed as an investment, any number of high quality beds will last the lifetime of your canine, and so will their benefits!
Stephen Dolan
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/dog-beds-are-they-fun-or-functional-103859.html
Are Dog Beds a Luxury or an Essential?
You bring your cute, fun loving puppy home for the first time and of course you want your canine to sleep with you. All furry warm and snuggly. But that is not the best thing to do for you or your dog. You really need a canine bed and establish the correct behavior at the outset. Sure it’s fine now but when your dog grows to it’s full size at 100 lb, will it be such fun?
Dog beds today come in all sizes, colors, shapes, materials to suit any canine and any decor. If that’s not enough you can even have dog beds custom made. If you adopted your dog from the pound he may actually prefer his own place.
Things to Consider When Buying a Dog Bed.
Does your pooch shed or have any other disorder that will cause the bed to need constant cleaning? Does he hang his head over the edge? Does your dog curl up in a ball? The answer to any of these questions will help determine the type of dog bed needed for your pet.
Some Of The Benefits of Dog Beds
A dog bed allows your pet to have his own space, a place where he can curl up, relax and sleep. Beds with sides are great for dogs that like to hang their head over the edge.
Cushions and support should be considered for older dogs, as well as pooches with other joint or bone problems. Orthopedic foam tends to provide additional warmth too so if you live in a warmer climate, your hound may prefer a cooling bed like the Canine Cooler to the traditional orthopedic bed.
Some Dog Bed Features
You’ll find out that this is something your canine will be using every single day for the next five to ten years so you ought to put some thought into the dog bed selection. You should consider the size of your room and size needed for comfort the of your pet.
Quality beds such as the Memory Foam Bed or the Thera Ortho Mattress are designed to relieve sore joints, bones and other problems that may arise due to your pets age or weight. More traditional-style cushioned outdoor beds are made of tough polyester and resist mildew and fungus.
Other Dog Bed Considerations
Be sure to measure the entire length of your canine at rest to get an idea of how much space he is using so you can select the correct size. The most efficient way to make sure you are ordering the correct size bed is by measuring your hound in his favorite laying position and adding five inches. Watch your dog sleep. Does he usually curl up or stretch out? If he’s relaxed to his maximum size, make sure the bed is big enough to support his entire body.
If you have a little hound a small round pillow-type bed may be the best. It will let your pet burrow and nest. They come in a variety of styles, materials and colors and most can be thrown straight into the washing machine.
Next on the list of requirements is probably a chew proof bed, especially for puppies! There are any amount of styles of dog bed, such as indoor or outdoor, heated or not, travel or car beds and as previously mentioned orthopedic beds for the older canine. Most are stuffed with polyfill, often have cedar chips to repel odors and their covers are removable and machine washable.
For older dogs you need to consider the ideal dog bed. What about Grandma climbing into a waterbed with a two-foot frame? Or better yet, imagine her trying to get out. If your older pooch currently sleeps on the floor or in a cardboard box with blankets, his discomfort would be similar to these scenarios. An orthopedic dog bed would be ideal in this case.
Your dog will enjoy a high quality dog bed for all the same reasons that we enjoy our beds so make sure you buy a good quality bed that fits your pet and suits the way he likes to sleep.
Stephen Dolan
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/are-dog-beds-a-luxury-or-an-essential-101546.html
Canopy 4" Hypoallergenic Memory Foam Mattress Topper: Which side is the top and which is the bottom?
I got a Canopy 4" Hypoallergenic Memory Foam Mattress Topper for Christmas and I no longer have the box and the instructions don’t say which side the green side is: top or bottom.
there is no zipper and neither side is convoluted.
I don’t think it matters
Dog Bed Basics
Domesticated dogs, much like humans, like to be pampered and comfortable. A dog bed is just a dog bed before you get one. Your dog will likely take to it like a fish to water. A ‘cuddly’ cushion makes a good dog bed. It extends the sides to form a protective ring and simulates the feeling of sleeping in a pack. This gives your dog the added psychological comfort for a good sleep.
It is a great idea to buy a dog bed. There are certain benefits that a dog bed provides. It gives your dog a comfortable sleep zone, in the same way a mattress does for a human. The ideal dog bed raises the dog above the ground, provides warmth and supports the joints of the dog. A whole range of dog beds is available. From expensive sofas that heat and cool as required to simple foam filled cushions, there is a dog bed for every dog and every level of spending. Some dog beds are filled with chips of cedar. These discourage the growth of fleas. Fabric that is machine washable makes washing easier.
Plastic, rattan and wicker are used in the making of dog beds. Rattan and wicker dog beds are constructed as low profile round or oval baskets fitted with a custom-made cushion. Plastic is often used in the same manner to make beds. Care should be taken however to see that it is chew resistant and without sharp edges. Stainless steel is used in beds that are more expensive. This is easy to clean.
Beds should use fabric that is resistant to chewing and easily washable. Some beds use foam or polyester fiber as filling. Though these are comfortable, they do not stop the laying of flea eggs. Dog beds that act against egg laying fleas have an outer zippered covering of cedar chips. These are less comfortable than other types of beds, but more functional.
Some dog beds offer the option of heating and cooling. They do this through a heated or frozen gel pad fitted within the cushion. This is not a good idea for canines that have the habit of chewing furniture. Some dog beds heat in the manner of an electric blanket that is placed on top of the bed and under the dog. These warmers are necessary for some dogs, particularly ones with joint issues.
A dogs sleeping environment should duplicate its natural sleeping habitat. The bed’s size should be proportionate to the dog. It should be large enough but not overly large. It should make the dog feel natural and unthreatened. For those who want the perfect custom-made bed for their dog or want one cheaper than would otherwise be available, the option of making a custom dog bed is always available. Here is one way to make such a bed.
You will need a string, pillow cover or tee shirt and plastic grocery bags. Choose designs that look best to your eye. Fill up the pillow cover with the grocery bags and sew it up. You can do this with the t-shirt as well. Optionally sew a zipper onto the pillow cover or t-shirt and periodically fill it with plastic bags, as you like.
A good dog bed can provide all the rest your dog needs to remain healthy and happy. A healthy and happy dog means more fun-filled hours for you with your dog. In short, a good dog bed is a small price to pay for what you get in return.
Renske Buursma
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/dog-bed-basics-133096.html
Vera Wang Serene Haven Euro Top Memory Foam Mattress
Foam Mattress” />
Vera Wang Serene Haven Euro Top Memory Foam Mattress
Ecomfort Supreme 10″ Eco Friendly Memory Foam Mattress - Ecomfort Mattresses

The ECOmfort Supreme 10″ Memory Foam Mattress The Ecomfort Supreme 10″ Memory Foam Mattress is made up of: 1″ super soft layer of EcoMemoryFoam 2″ elastic memory foam enhanced anatomic support layer; 2″ memory foam transition layer; 4″ firm BioFoam core support layer; A rigid base layer of 1″ thick pre-consumer recycled foam; Wrapped in a healthy, breathable bamboo MemStretch cover. “Sustainable Global Comfort” is our values statement at Ecomfort Mattresses. Every Ecomfort mattress is created from innovative and sustainable plant-based formulas and zero-emissions manufacturing processes to maintain a small carbon footprint with increased efficiency. We aim to design supremely comfortable and technologically superior memory foam mattresses that we, you and the Earth can feel good about. LOVE THE EARTH . Our proprietary EcoMemoryFoam material and bamboo coverings and stitching is 100% plant-based and replaces a significant percentage of the petroleum often found in other memory foam mattresses. Ecomfort mattresses are biodegradable to reduce landfill waste. SLEEP ON A CLOUD . A 7-zone lumbar support chamber and neutral posture support system with a 20-year history in the medical industry is proven to provide plush comfort and the ultimate healthy sleep. Six layers of foam cushion every movement across every pressure point so you never feel a thing. Click through to view a cut-away view of each layer. STAY COOL . Extreme open cell memory foam allows improved breathability to sleep cooler than other brand-name mattresses. Eliminate sleep interruptions from overheating discomfort. Non-allergenic, plant-based materials are all-natural and better for your body. Click through for information on Ecomfort mattresses‘ breathability. BE GREEN . Pre-consumer recycled foam uses fewer natural resources and new materials. Zero-emissions manufacturing processes produce fewer hydrocarbons that can damage air and ozone. Earth-friendly, compressed shipping uses fewer packing
Writers and Ergonomics
If you are a professional writer that spends many hours sitting at your keyboard pounding away at the keys to produce written product you have probably become painfully aware (pun intended) of the need to pay attention to the way you hold your body when you work.
Recently I started to deal with numb fingers, primarily in one hand, tendonitis in both shoulders, and lower back tension which has affected a nerve in the outside of my right thigh. Does any of this sound familiar to your situation?
Because I did not want to give up my new and successful freelance writing career I decided it was time to hire a professional ergonomics specialist. As I was seeing a physical therapist (PT) for the shoulder tendonitis, I asked for a referral to a physical therapist who made ergonomic house calls. It was well worth the $130 for the one hour appointment.
The PT sat with me as I worked, and for the first ten minutes took notes and also measured the distance of numerous things, such as the distance of the top of my desk from the ground, the distance of my elbows from the ground, the distance to the top of my head from the ground and the distance of the top of my two monitor from the ground. She observed my position in my chair as well as the configuration of the dual monitors I work on. Then she made her recommendations.
My new sit-stand desk with an under-table adjustable, forward tilting keyboard tray arrives today, my new chair is about two weeks away from arrival, my left monitor has been lowered so the top of the two monitors is equal and neither are above eye-level, and my new split keyboard, though it has taken me about two weeks to get used to, has provided a measure of relief from the wrist problems. Also consider an ergonomic mouse, where the wrist is in a more natural, tension free position. Lastly, if you don’t already have a super comfortable mattress, consider memory foam style mattress or mattress pad to help relieve shoulder compression while sleeping.
If you are beginning to experience any physical discomfort from sitting for so many hours at your keyboard, it’s time do some research and find the combination of equipment and exercises that will allow you to work in a pain-free fashion. Don’t wait too long, after all we have to inhabit out bodies for a long time and you might as well do it in comfort!
Ken Hassman
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/writers-and-ergonomics-100235.html
America’s Sleep Epidemic: Some Helpful Tips
If you feel tired while reading this short article, it is already happening to you…
An estimated 100+ million Americans have occasional sleep problems, of which 40 million have so-called “sleep disorders”, and over 75% of the population is walking around deprived of sleep on a daily basis. Studies show it only is getting worse with each passing decade, and there are no signs of the situation becoming any better. In fact, over the past 5 years alone there has been a startling 33% increase in those of us reporting trouble sleeping! Can you imagine what statistics in another decade will be like? Unfortunately, it does not look like we are heading in the right direction. (You can read more statistics at the following URL: http://www.sleepfoundation.org/.)
In our busy, fast-paced society, it seems we are constantly moving, thinking, and trying to get “more” done. The first thing many of us think of doing when we do have so-called “free time” is to catch up on a little TV or do some activity that we have “not had the time to do”, aside from catching up on our sleep. And greater quality and quantity sleep is exactly what most of us really need.
Sleep studies clearly show that not receiving the quality and quantity sleep affects our lives in negative ways, sometimes greatly. It can change the way we see and experience our lives and the world around us in dramatic ways.
Some of the following can help us identify when we might not be achieving enough quality sleep each night:
* Feelings of tiredness at some point throughout the day
* Falling asleep within a few minutes when going to bed
* Decreases in levels of intolerance and increased levels of hostility
* Reduced ability to concentrate
* Slowed reflexes
* Impaired judgment
* Apathy
* Unusual weight gain or loss
* Change in body temperatures that lead to feelings of chilliness
* Unusual levels of anxiety
* Falling asleep when inappropriate
* Reduced creativity
* Reduced ability to think logically or handle complex tasks
* Increased levels of self-consciousness with increased levels of anxiety
If you find any of these attributes apply to you, you might want to sleep a little longer or sounder each night.
Amazingly, one of the quickest ways to improve the quality of our lives and waking hours, as the statistics show, is to simply get a better night’s sleep. It is such a simple answer to such a complex problem.
If you are having troubles falling asleep, there are things you can do that can help you very quickly. Yes, the following might seem obvious to many folks, but sometimes we miss the obvious. So, let’s cover some quick and easy ones first.
Two Things to Avoid: Caffeine and Nicotine
Reduce the levels of caffeine used throughout the day. Studies show that people who have insomnia already have a higher metabolic rate (typically 9%) than those who are sleeping normally. It would take about 4 cups of coffee to raise a normal sleepers metabolism to the same rate. From this metabolic indicator, although the person with insomnia does not feel wide awake and shows all the signs of not achieving enough sleep, we can see that a person who intakes caffeine actually on average is highly physiologically aroused. After all, caffeine is a stimulant!
The short of it…reduce the levels of caffeine intake throughout the day. Obviously, we are not going to say quit totally, even though it can help. Of course, the last thing you want to do is drink the caffeine within a few hours (three or more) before attempting to go to sleep.
List of items, both food and beverages, that may contain caffeine:
* Coffee - Brewed (drip or percolated), Instant, Many so-called “decaffeinated” coffees
* Tea - Brewed (drip or percolated), Instant, Many so-called “decaffeinated” coffees
* Cocoa
* Chocolate (Light, Dark, Baker’s, etc.): Beverage or Food. This includes hot chocolate milk.
* Most Sodas: Including “Diet” and “Clear” Sodas - Coke, Diet Coke, Mr. PIBB, RC Cola, Diet Pepsi, Pepsi, Canada Dry, and many others
Next, nicotine intake can have a dramatic affect on our ability to get a good night’s rest. Just like caffeine, nicotine is a stimulant. Smoking is the primary way of ingesting nicotine. Smoking can raise blood pressure, stimulate brainwave activity, and increase heart rate.
Studies have shown that smokers actually have greater difficulties falling asleep and wake more times during the night. It is possible the later is a symptom of withdrawal. And, when people have quit smoking after regularly smoking from 1 to 3 packs of cigarettes a day over at least a two year period of time, studies have clearly found it is easier to fall asleep and sleep more soundly with less awakenings at night.
Obviously people are not going to just quit smoking, as most who have the habit realize how addictive it really can be. So, maybe lessen your smoking intake and only do it a certain points during the day. Try not to have any cigarettes close to bedtime and try, like the case with caffeine, to limit your usage to several hours before bedtime, which can help greatly. If you want to quickly work toward getting a better night’s sleep and you smoke cigarettes, then to quit smoking is one of the quickest ways to help achieve your goal.
Bedroom Sleep Tips!
There are many more things we can do, to achieve a better night’s sleep, including taking a look at different aspects of our bedroom or sleep environments. Many of the following list will be subjective, so you will want to find out by focusing on a few and making small changes through time to what personally works for you.
* Bed Sheets: comfort… silk may be romantic, but not always practical. Your sheets should “breathe” well.
* Room Temperature: not too hot and not too cold. Some people find it easier to keep the room cold and wrap up warmly in their bed sheets. If your feet are cold… easy enough… wear socks.
* Noise or Sound: the less the better, although some people might consider an underlying, constant sound to help with sleep.
* Humidity: If you find your throat is scratchy/sore, your skin feels dry, or you have congested sinus passages, it might be because your room is too dry. If you feel warm, sweaty, and moist, you might want to see if there is too much humidity in the room.
* Lighting: the darker the better.
* Drafts: some people like a draft, while it bothers others. Keep an eye on this one for sore through or tight chest while sleeping. It might mean you have a draft in the room. If you can, open a window and let in some fresh air, as air can become stale while stagnant.
* Cleanliness: Ok, simple… keep it clean. This can keep the air fresh and help with sleep.
* Bed Equals Sleep: Use and associate your bed with sleeping only and not other activities. Read or do you “home” work somewhere else… not in bed. Associating the bed with something like work or even TV can keep us up at night. Associating it with relaxing activities, sleep or even sex, can help us fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly at night.
* Clocks: the click-click-click of mechanical clocks, the brightness from digital clocks, or just having a clock in front of us can be a distraction. For some, the constant sound of clicking might actually be good for sleep.
* Pillows and Mattresses: Take your time and find what will work for you. The new memory foam pillows, although sometimes seemingly expensive can be worth every penny. Make sure they are high quality products, high-density (approx. 5lbs. per cubic foot) memory foam, as there are a lot of cheap, lightweight memory foam pillows on the market today. With your mattress, take your time and make sure you can test run a bed at home, so you can take it back if yours does not work for you.
* Biggest sleep tip of all: Take your time and BE PATIENT with yourself. See what works best for you. It’s worth the effort. Simply reading each of the above can help make you conscious of ways you might not have noticed in the past, and this will lead to improve your own life, by achieving a better night’s sleep. Take your time and be patient.
These are just a few things about our sleep context that can help us achieve a better night’s sleep and improve the quality of our lives.
As the statistics clearly show, most of us are walking around half awake every day, which means in all probability we are not living a higher quality of life we could be and other areas of our lives can suffer. Both psychical and psychological problems can arise by not achieving enough quality sleep.
Take the above tips and run with them. Take your time, be patient, and find what has helped others and how you can help yourself improve the quality of your life through a better night’s sleep. It’s time stop the growth and reverse America’s easily unnoticed sleep epidemic.
If you have any questions or comments, you are more than welcome to stop by my website: http://www.stasispillow.com where you can contact me, read a lot more about the topic of sleep, and even take a sleep IQ test and develop your sleep knowledge. Hope some of these tips help! They can really improve the quality of your life. I am proud to say they have helped improve my life and many others. Sleep well!
Joseph F. Guarino
President of Innovative Sleep Solutions Inc.
Author’s Web Site
Joseph F. Guarino
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/americas-sleep-epidemic-some-helpful-tips-37786.html
Foam mattress?
What will happen to it if I use it without the box springs?
Nothing, just won’t have as much give, but you can lay a Foam Mattress on the floor. When I was a teen I had a platform bed 6 ft up, just a foam mattress on top of plywood. If you mount one on plywood, though, make sure and drill some air holes so the bottom can breathe, moisture can actually build up on the bottom side, and mold.