HOW TO CHOOSE A MATTRESS: YOUR GUIDE TO A PERFECT NIGHT'S SLEEP
How to Choose a Mattress: Your Guide to a Perfect Night’s Sleep
A good night’s sleep is fundamental to our physical and mental well-being. Did you know that you spend up to 1/3 of your entire life, sleeping? Not only important to regenerate and feel rested, choosing the right mattress means that your bones can rest aligned and muscles can relax for better recovery.
Yet, with such an important decision on hand, many of us struggle to find consistent, quality sleep, often due to an uncomfortable mattress, or one not optimized to our unique needs. Choosing the right mattress is essential for achieving optimal sleep, but navigating the plethora of options and conflicting information can be overwhelming.
This comprehensive guide will equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to select the perfect mattress for your needs. We’ll dive into into crucial factors to consider, explore different mattress types, and provide tips for ensuring a purchase that makes sense for you.
Table of Contents
Understanding Your Needs: The Foundation for Choosing the Right Mattress
Before diving into specific mattress features, it’s vital to understand your individual needs and preferences and how they should influence your mattress purchase. Consider the following factors:
1. Sleeping Position: Your dominant sleeping position significantly influences the type of mattress that will provide optimal comfort and support.
- Back Sleepers: You require a mattress that offers proper lumbar support and keeps the spine aligned. Opt for medium-firm to firm mattresses with good pressure relief, which will keep your bones supported but provide pressure relief to the heavier parts in your body, mainly your hips and shoulders.
- Side Sleepers: You need a softer mattress that cradles your hips and shoulders, alleviating pressure points by allowing those areas to dip deeper into the foams. In doing so, your spin will lay in a neutral and aligned position. Plush-to-medium-firm are generally ideal mattresses for you.
- Stomach Sleepers: You require a firmer mattress to prevent the spine from sinking and causing misalignment. On the right mattress, you should have the feeling of “floating” on top of the mattress, and your hips should only very minimally dip into the upper foam layers. Medium-firm to firm mattresses are recommended.
- Combination Sleepers: This category faces unique challenges. Opt for a mattress that offers a balance of support and comfort, often medium-firm with zoning technology for targeted support.
2. Body Type and Weight: Your body weight plays a crucial role in mattress selection. Heavier individuals require firmer mattresses to provide adequate support and prevent excessive sinkage, while lighter sleepers may fare better with softer options.
3. Personal Preferences: Beyond these factors, consider your personal preferences when you choose a mattress. Do you prefer a plush, cloud-like feel, or a more supportive, firm surface? Do you tend to sleep hot and need a breathable mattress? But also keep an objective eye on things. If you love soft mattresses and feeling cradled to sleep, but wake up to lower back pain… could your mattress be too soft? If you are a side-sleeper who loves harder mattress but wake up to shoulder and hip pain, could you benefit from a softer mattress?
4. Budget: Setting a realistic budget early on helps narrow down your options and prevents overspending. While investing in a good mattress is worthwhile, it’s vital to stay within your means. With mattresses-in-the-box, you can now find mattress companies offering high-quality options at an affordable price.
5. Allergies and Health Concerns: If you (or your child, or partner) have allergies or specific health conditions, please be very careful when you choose a mattress. Consider materials and features that can address them. For instance, allergy sufferers might benefit from hypoallergenic materials like dust mite-resistant covers. Opting for organic mattresses is also a great way to reduce allergens, and then of course, using clean, hypoallergenic, mattress / pillow protectors and sheets, will play a big role in your healthy sleep.
6. Consider your partner’s needs: If you sleep with a partner, spend some time considering all of the above for the person who shares your bed. Opting for a foam mattress is generally a good option for better movement isolation and to prevent a partner waking up the other person at night. And if sleeping styles and preferences are different, you may want to consider mattresses that let you customize the firmness of each side of the bed!
Demystifying Mattress Types: Exploring Your Options
The mattress market offers a diverse range of options, each with its own advantages and drawbacks. Here’s a breakdown of the most common types:
1. Memory Foam Mattresses: Known for their pressure-conforming properties, these mattresses mold to your body shape, relieving pressure points. At their inception, memory foam mattresses were known to trap your body’s heat and hence, sleep very hot. In recent years, mattress manufacturers have engineered foams that are “cooling,” by infusing cooling gels and using other techniques, and more memory foam mattresses no longer sleep hot. For some sleepers, they can feel sluggish and make it hard to toss and turn at night, creating the feeling of “being stuck”.
2. Latex Mattresses: Naturally derived from rubber trees, latex offers excellent support and contouring, along with good breathability. Thanks to their natural bouncy nature, latex mattresses make it easy to move around, as the latex foam springs back up to its original shape as soon as you move out of it. However, latex mattresses tend to be more expensive than other options, but they are a sustainable option for the environment and use natural materials, making them a great choice for those suffering from allergies.
3. Hybrid Mattresses: These combine different materials (memory foam, latex, etc.), often incorporating a thick layer (~6 to 8 in.) of individually-ensached coils with memory foam or latex layers on top. They offer a balance of support and pressure relief, catering to a wider range of sleepers. The coils also allow for air to flow through the mattress, helping to cool down the foams above.
4. Gel Grid Mattresses: These newer mattresses incorporate a gel grid layer within the comfort layers, aiming to improve breathability and temperature regulation, particularly for hot sleepers. The grids are typically made of polymer and very open cell, allowing for plenty of air flow. The polymer layer is has bounce and allows for easy movement, as well as a well balanced position of your body as you lay down.
5. Air Mattresses: Adjustable through inflation, air mattresses offer customizable firmness. However, they may lack the contouring and support of traditional options and are not ideal for long-term use. Those are great as guest accommodation for a couple of nights.
6. Waterbeds: These mattresses contain water-filled bladders, conforming perfectly to your body shape. However, they can be cumbersome to fill and maintain, and their movement can be disruptive for some sleepers. They are not ideal for couples, heavier folks, or those requiring support.
7. Innerspring Mattresses: We are adding this one to the list, as you may be sleeping on one today, if your mattress is older. It is the traditional mattress, which is no longer popular in manufacturing, unless you are purchasing a very very cheap mattress. Innerspring mattresses feature a core of intertwined metal coils with various comfort layers above. They offer good ventilation and support, but can be bouncy and susceptible to sagging over time.
It’s crucial to note that the “best” type of mattress depends on individual requirements and preferences. Research each type, considering its pros and cons in relation to your needs, as you choose a mattress that works best for your unique needs.
How To Choose A Mattress - Other Things To Consider
There is so much to choosing a mattress that is right for you, that it would be hard to fully cover it all in one article. However, a few more things to consider include:
- Fiberglass: fiberglass is often used in mattresses, to meet flammability requirements. Unfortunately, with time and/or during transport, the fiberglass layer can break and if the mattress layer is tempered with, or unzipped, fiberglass will be released into your room, getting into virtually everything, including your lungs. Mattresses using fiberglass can be very dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. We have compiled a list of the best fiberglass-free mattresses for you, which we highly recommend reading as you choose a mattress!
- Organic: If organic is of importance to you (hint: it should!), check out our list of best organic mattresses. They don’t have to be overpriced, but they surely are better for your health, and the health of our planet. If you can go with a MADE SAFE mattress, even better!
How To Choose A Mattress
Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, so prioritize comfort, support, and your personal preferences to find the mattress that allows you to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day. Opting for an online mattress brand, is usually the safest way to go, as those manufacturers include at-home sleep trials of up to 365 days, allowing you to sleep test the mattress in the comfort of your own home, and often over the span of multiple seasons.
Sweet dreams!
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
Not necessarily. While firmness is crucial for back and stomach sleepers, it can be detrimental for side sleepers who require pressure relief. Choose a firmness level that offers adequate support yet allows for proper pressure point distribution.
These mattresses are designed to minimize dust mite allergens and other irritants, making them ideal for allergy sufferers. They often utilize materials like dust mite-resistant covers, breathable fabrics, and antimicrobial treatments.
The average lifespan of a mattress is 7-10 years. However, factors like usage, quality, and body weight can influence this. If you experience sagging, discomfort, or waking up with aches and pains, it might be time for a new mattress.
Many online mattress retailers offer trial periods, typically ranging from 30-100 nights. This allows you to test the mattress in the comfort of your own home and return it if you’re not satisfied, usually with free shipping and returns.
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Is a firm mattress always better?
Not necessarily. While firmness is crucial for back and stomach sleepers, it can be detrimental for side sleepers who require pressure relief. Choose a firmness level that offers adequate support yet allows for proper pressure point distribution.
What are the benefits of a hypoallergenic mattress?
These mattresses are designed to minimize dust mite allergens and other irritants, making them ideal for allergy sufferers. They often utilize materials like dust mite-resistant covers, breathable fabrics, and antimicrobial treatments.
How often should I replace my mattress?
The average lifespan of a mattress is 7-10 years. However, factors like usage, quality, and body weight can influence this. If you experience sagging, discomfort, or waking up with aches and pains, it might be time for a new mattress.
What is a trial period, and should I consider it?
Many online mattress retailers offer trial periods, typically ranging from 30-100 nights. This allows you to test the mattress in the comfort of your own home and return it if you're not satisfied, usually with free shipping and returns.
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Laura Georgieff
Laura is a mother of three who did not sleep through the night for the first 5.5 years of her kids' lives. She is passionate about sleep quality and loves sharing her experience and knowledge of all thing bedding! It is her mission to help you make the best decisions when it comes to sleep and help you get the best deal on the market!
