If you are a regular reader you will know that a little while back I had the pleasure of visiting Harrison Spinks’ farm and factory and I came away feeling humbled, honoured and overwhelmed all in equal measures.
Harrison Spinks has been renowned mattress makers since the 1840s and over the years it has continually grown and developed into a market leader in the mattress and bed making arena.
On my visit I was lucky enough to discover how the company prioritises the use of natural fillings, with some of the mattress pads being made from products grown or reared on the company’s own 300-acre farm. I also got the opportunity to visit Harrison Spinks’ factories in Leeds to see how its award-winning pocket springs are made and then how they are all put together to create the company’s mattresses and beds.
While there I was introduced to one of the newest elements of the business, Harrison Spinks Baby.
After providing supportive and well-made adult mattresses for over 177 years, the next step in Harrison Spinks Baby was to ensure that even the smallest of sleepers get to experience what quality felt like.
For Harrison Spinks the key to its continued development and outstanding product has been about several factors over the years – natural fillings, award winning springs and, to top it off, hand-made with love – and ensuring babies have the same is important to them too.
After visiting the farm and seeing the natural ingredients being grown, including hemp and flax, and the lambs and sheep that provide the wool for the mattresses, it made the whole thing even more surreal that something that was in a field a few weeks ago was then going to be made into something that you slept on!
In the factory it was amazing to see that every aspect of Harrison Spinks Baby’s NaturalStart No.1 and No.2 mattresses are still very much built on the same principles and processes their full size offerings are, with the build of the mattress being done by dedicated experts that take pride in what they do. There are certainly no big machines pumping out mattress after mattress here, as it’s common practice for Harrison Spinks to hand create wherever possible.
Having fallen in love with the company and what it stands for, I could very easily tell you all day long how excellent it is but instead I am going to say that 177 years of experience really can’t be wrong.
What I can also say is that having a natural alternative the to the pre-offered mattress that tends to come with cots and beds has got to be good right? Many parents like myself like to have the choice of a more natural products for our children. From nappies to food, it should go without saying we should have a product filled with natural ingredients for a sleeping option too, right?
While in the Harrison Spinks Baby department I am thrilled to say that I was given the opportunity to have a go at building my very own NaturalStart No.2 cot bed mattress, which I wasn’t expecting but I had lots of fun doing.
Harrison Spinks Baby’s NaturalStart cot bed mattresses are dual sided! Yep that’s right, you flip them over! The first side is specifically designed for babies from 0-18 months, allowing them to sleep in the correct position for optimal growth on a firmer side. Then, once your little monster is not quite so little, you flip the mattress over as the second side is tailored to babies and children from 18 months to five years, as it’s more responsive to their movements.
Now, being a fairly new product in the baby area compared to some, here are a few things I have learned about this mattress that can be tricky to find out. Firstly, they only produce a cot bed size mattress currently and that is a standard size 140 x70cms. For me I kind of thought this made sense as you will be saving yourself some money in the long run only buying one mattress. So one tailored from birth to five years of age offers longevity over a cot option.
It’s also worth being aware that it’s never too late to swap to a NaturalStart mattress, as they even fit standard size toddler beds!
For me the whole experience has been eye-opening in terms of understanding the importance of sleep for babies. I guess until you see something being made up close and personal you have no real idea of what something contains and I am thrilled to say that I know exactly what goes in to each NaturalStart mattress, from field to factory, from skilled hand to new-born heads. And while driving down the A1 back home I felt very humbled and honoured that I was allowed to experience what Harrison Spinks and Harrison Spinks Baby have to offer.
Thank you for having me.
Disclaimer: I received a NaturalStart No2 mattress after my visit, although I was unaware of the possibility of receiving this prior to visiting. In fact, it was the one that I made! However, all thoughts and opinions were independently formed by members of The Oliver’s Madhouse.
What a fantastic experience making your own mattress, it’s hard to imagine all the hard work which goes into something we take for granted
What a great experience, I can honestly say I have never put much thought into how a mattress was made. I am going to have a look at their site as interested in their baby mattresses x
It looks really interesting to see how they make mattresses. It does look like a lot of work goes into making them
OMG thats an experience of a life time! And flipping the mattress for older children is just a genius idea!
Oh wow I bet that was an amazing experience, it is really interesting to know how some of the things we use daily are made.
I love that more things are becoming natural. I agree as a parent, I want the most natural thing for my kids, including a bed. We will look into buying one for our younger two babies.
I bet it was fun to have a hand in making a mattress.
That’s an interesting way to find out about how the mattress was made. Great that you were gifted the one you helped make too
Never heard of Harrison Spinks’ farm and factory, looks like you had an interesting and exciting experience, lucky you 🙂 x
This sounds like a really interesting experience – I had no idea how much work went into making a mattress (especially as this was a child’s one!) x
It’s very important to have a good mattress. I never knew there was so much involved in the process of making one! 🙂
Harrison Spinks sounds like such a great company. I’ve never really thought about how mattresses are made, and it was cool to go behind the scenes. I’m so impressed the attention to detail and will definitely keep them in mind the next time we’re in the market for a new mattress.
oh i love seeing how things are made! Great opportunity!
What an amazing experience you had! It must have been fascinating to see the product from start to finish. It was also really lovely of them to give you the mattress you made!
What an experience! I wouldn’t have had the first clue about how they’re made either!