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.
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.