Time for a new mattress? You’ll know it when:
1. You awaken stiff, achy, tired, or in pain.
2. Dark circles develop under your eyes, and it has nothing to do with staying out late or not getting “enough” sleep.
3. Your mattress is getting on in years; it is saggy or droopy, or perhaps the fabric is falling apart.
4. Your current mattress is over ten years old, or you bought it in a previous decade.
Mattresses have lifetimes just like people do. After 5 years, an innerspring mattress just isn’t as supportive and clean as it used to be. It sags and fills up with bacteria and dust mites over time, which we think is pretty gross.
Shopping for a new mattress doesn’t have to be a pain. If you shop with a little savvy, a little shopping “know how,” the experience won’t even be a little overwhelming. Read on to gather all the information you need to help you breezily find a mattress that will bring you restful sleep.
First: what’s your type?
With so many mattress types to choose from, selecting a mattress can be a confusing process. The following guide will help you select the perfect type of mattress.
memory foam beds: specifically engineered based on modern NASA technology, these comfortable and allergy resistant (read: bug proof!) mattresses conform snugly to your body, delivering the most comfortable sleep.
Pros: memory foam beds are hypoallergenic and conform to support every curve of your body. These beds alleviate pressure from crucial pressure points on your body, like your neck, back, and hips. They also have an extra long lifetime and are very durable: the average memory foam bed will last about 20 years.
Cons: Generally speaking, memory foam mattresses tend to be warmer than other mattress types as their dense structure retains more body heat. They may have a factory odour, depending on where they were made.
Innerspring mattresses: these are your “classic” mattresses, the traditional ones that support your body on a bed of wire coils.
Pros: Dependable and the most popular style, the innerspring mattress is time-tested.
Cons: These mattresses are incapable of evenly distributing body weight, which may lead to restless nights (especially when sleeping with a partner). They are hollow inside, save for the coils, so they are absolutely ideal living quarters for various bacteria, allergens, and dust mites (the infamous “bed bugs”).
Air Mattresses: Inexpensive and portable, air mattresses can be filled with a pump and deflated as desired.
Pros: Lightweight and storable, air mattresses are great for campers and singletons. They sometimes come with small, electronically controlled air pockets, giving you improved dynamic control over your bed’s firmness.
Cons: Don’t let your cat near this bed, as it easily punctures. Air mattresses do not provide even support.
Water Mattresses: these artefacts from an earlier time are full of water and as such are particularly soft.
Pros: Soft for those who like it that way, newer models are more stable than their 1970s counterparts.
Cons: Water mattresses are cold, heavy, and should be avoided by anyone with motion sickness or back pain. If your partner moves, you’ll catch a wave.
Second: be comfortable.
If you’re an average adult with proper sleeping habits, you will likely spend about a third of your lifetime in snoozing in bed. Obviously, with all that mileage, you’re going to want a supportive and comfortable mattress. Every mattress offers something different in terms of layers and firmness, and out of the wide variety of mattresses available today, most all of them will feel different.
Ideally, a mattress should keep your spinal alignment parallel to that of a person standing upright (with good posture), allowing for a sort of weak backwards ‘S’ curve. Choosing the wrong mattress or practicing improper sleeping posture will likely lead to back pain, particularly in your lumbar region. Mattresses that are far too soft, for example, will not give your back proper support, while mattresses that are far too firm will put too much pressure on your joints. You may have heard that a firm mattress is best for your back, but the truth is that firmness is less important than even support. As long as a mattress distributes your weight evenly, you can use any firmness level you like.
Take time to test out mattresses at a warehouse or in hotels to see how soft or firm you like them. Then get online and shop around for the best deals. Online shopping has a much wider selection than brick and mortar stores. If you’re having trouble finding the perfect firmness level for your body, consider buying a memory foam mattress with removable softness layers.
The third question you need to ask is: what’s my size?
A variety of mattress sizes suit a variety of needs.
Standard twin, also known as single, mattresses are great for children, bunk beds, dorm rooms, and guest bedrooms. Twin beds usually measure approximately 39” in width by 75” in height; needless to say, this simply won’t do if you’re taller than average or plan on sharing a bed.
An alternative to the regular twin is the twin extra long mattress, adding 5” in length for those who need the room. The problem with extra long twin beds is that it might be a pain to find sheets for them, though once again you can almost certainly find them online.
Double or “full” mattresses allow significantly more room for moving, rolling, and stretching out. They measure 54” wide by 75” long, which may be short for some teens and adults. But for singles who find twin beds too crowded or uncomfortable, these are perfect fits.
If you anticipate sharing your mattress with someone now or in the future, a queen is the smallest size recommended. These large beds measure about 60” in width by 80” in height, easily accommodating taller persons and couples who like to snuggle.
A king mattress may be the most expensive, but it allows the most room for anyone who really likes their space. King beds are different from other beds in their measurement variations, so you’ll need to consider whether you’re more interested in a long bed or a wide bed. There are two types of king mattresses:
The standard king, or eastern king, mattress is 76” wide by 80” long, making it 4” wider than its counterpart.
The famous California king bed (the “western king”) is about 72” in width by 84” in height, a whole 4” taller than its king sized counterpart.
Fourth: shop smart.
So, you’re going to test out a new memory foam bed. First, you’ll need to wear some comfortable clothing. Lie in the position in which you normally sleep for several minutes. Pay particular attention to the effects of the mattress on the heavier parts of your body: is the mattress giving your hips, shoulders, and lower back the support they need? See how well the bed absorbs your movement.
Keep the following questions in mind as you shop for a mattress:
1. Where’s it manufactured? Who makes it?
2. Will it aggravate my allergies?
3. Is it cost-efficient?
4. Am I confident that I’ll be able to comfortably sleep on it for years to come?
5. How well does it support me?
6. Is there a warranty, and if so, how good or sound is the policy?
7. Will I be sharing this bed with someone, and what are this person’s needs?
8. How much space will I need to accommodate my movement and size?
Always keep in mind that the sales associates you speak with should be competent, knowledgeable, and friendly or welcoming. If the person helping you can’t answer your questions, find someone else who can.
Fifth: Sleep Well.
In addition to sleeping on a supportive memory foam bed, there are a few things you can do to improve your sleep:
1. Sip on chamomile tea before bedtime.
2. Try to get some exercise in about four hours before you go to bed, but do not exercise within two hours of going to bed.
3. Create and practice a regular sleep ritual. This may include reading, listening to soothing music, stretching, or breathing deeply. These exercises will tell your body that it’s time to relax and go to bed.
4. Consider eating a very light snack before going to bed to avoid mid-slumber hunger pangs. Dairy products or turkey are particularly good choices as they contain tryptophan, a sleep-inducing compound.
5. Sleep in a cool room on a cool mattress with enough blankets to keep you warm. If you have a memory foam bed, consider using fewer blankets or sleeping in a cooler room.
6. Keep a nightstand near your bed where you can place books, water, or perhaps a music player; anything you may need to access easily before drifting off to sleep. This way, you won’t need to get up and move around a lot before going to bed.
7. If you need to get up, use a nightlight instead of turning on bright lights. This will prevent your body from thinking it’s daytime.
8. Take a hot bath 90 minutes before bedtime. The drop in body temperature you experience afterwards will make you sleepy.
9. Write your thoughts in a journal before bedtime. This will relieve you of worries and keep your mind still.
10. Breathe deeply and slowly while counting your breaths.
With these considerations in mind, you will surely find the perfect mattress for you!
Memory Mattress