How To Choose The Right Futon Mattress for Your Home or Apartment Choosing the right futon mattress is easy once you understand how the filling materials cause the mattress to react differently to the weight of the human body and other criteria. The following explanations should help you determine which futon mattress will perform best for your personal needs and application. Trying to graph the different configurations is subjective judgment at best. For weight, shorter is better as long as the minimum (6 inch) futon thickness is maintained. Firmness, rigidity, and flexibility are relative to the desires of the mattress user. Please use this guide wisely. It is meant to help you understand how the product will perform, not judge its quality or value. Futon Life recommends a minimum six-inch thick futon mattress for use on Tri-Fold futon frame and a minimum eight-inch thick futon on any Bi-fold (2 fold) convertible futon frame. A thinner mattress is acceptable, but only as a rolled-up, closet-stored, floor or tatami mattress.
The six-inch measurement applies not only to the new product but also to how thick it remains over its usable life. To measure thickness of your futon, go to the middle of the side, place a hand on the top and bottom of the mattress, and squeeze your hands together gently. Measure the distance between your two palms. If it is not a solid five inches, the mattress does not meet the minimum. Please remember that this method is not scientific since each person’s concept of “gentle” is subjective. Close to five inches is good. Three inches is not. Make sure the futon store offers a written guarantee for their frames against breakage under normal use. Also, educate yourself as to how a specific frame works. Proper use of the mechanism will insure a long life for your new futon sofa sleeper. Testing conversion mechanisms, by putting them through the same kinds of rigors they will experience in your home, can be accomplished right in the store. If the conversion is difficult at the store, it will probably be difficult at home.
Be sure to convert the frame with a futon mattress on it. If it looks and feels weak and sloppy in the store, don’t buy it. Slip Stoppers aka Gripper Pad or Non Slip Pads Futon mattresses have a tendency to slip and move around on a frame. A Non-Slip Gripper Pad eliminates this problem. Non-Slip Gripper Pad is placed underneath the futon mattress, on the seat deck and keeps the futon mattress from moving, slipping and sagging. Most frames come with some kind of slip stopper pad attached to the frame so the mattress won’t slide down and off the front of the frame. Futon Life recommends using a slip stopper that covers the entire surface of the seat and backrest. Double / Full Love Seat Full Lounger (top portion) Queen lounger top (top portion) Double / Full Ottoman Full Lounger (bottom portion) Queen Lounger (bottom portion) Single / Twin Loveseat Twin Lounger (top portion) Single / Twin Ottoman Twin Lounger (bottom portion)
The sizes listed here for futon mattresses are the standard sizes for all mattresses as designated in the standard recognized by ISPA (the International Sleep Products Association)The lowdown on crib mattresses Types of mattresses What to look for when buying Important safety notes What it's going to cost you The lowdown on crib mattressesA good mattress not only makes bedtime cozier – it supports your growing baby and keeps her safe. Consider cost, comfort, and durability, as your baby will probably sleep in a crib for up to 3 years.Browse dozens of cribs.Types of mattresses“Breathable” mattresses, made of materials that are supposed to allow a baby to breathe freely even if his or her face is pressed up against it, are getting more popular. Experts haven’t yet weighed in on their efficacy.What to look for when buyingDensity: You want high density so it’s firm enough to keep your baby safe while sleeping. Most foam mattresses don't list density on the packaging, but weight can be a good indicator.
As for innerspring mattresses, manufacturers often equate the number of coils with firmness, but the gauge of the wire is just as important. Lower gauge means thicker wire, which is stronger and therefore firmer. Look for a mattress with 135 or more coils and a gauge of 15.5 or lower.Weight: A typical foam mattress weighs about 7 to 8 pounds, although mattresses made of memory foam (an especially dense form of polyurethane) can weigh close to 20 pounds. Innerspring crib mattresses are heavier in general, weighing in at about 15 to 25 pounds. Keep in mind that you'll be hoisting up a side of the mattress, or lifting the whole thing, when changing your baby's sheet.Cleaning: Most traditional mattresses suggest spot-cleaning only. Some have removable covers that can be machine-washed. The innards of at least one crib mattress on the market can be hosed down in the tub once its washable cover is removed.Certification seals: Crib mattresses for sale in the United States must meet safety standards defined by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the American Society for Testing and Materials.
(The Juvenile Products Manufacturer Association does not test or certify crib mattresses.) A manufacturer's claim that a product is organic can mean a variety of things, but look for an Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification (a worldwide uniform certification), which assures you that certain flame retardants and heavy metals were not used to make the mattress.Important safety notesNo matter what mattress parents choose, they should continue to follow the American Academy of Pediatrics’ safe-sleep guidelines and put babies to sleep on their backs on a firm, bare surface.What it's going to cost youCrib mattresses start at about $40 and can range to more than $350. Organic mattresses start at about $80 and can reach $400. Download our illustrated guide to crib mattressesAmerican Academy of Pediatrics. /English/ages-stages/prenatal/decisions-to-make/Pages/Choosing-a-Crib.aspx [Accessed May 2016]Consumer Reports. Crib mattress buying guide. /cro/crib-mattresses/buying-guide.htm [Accessed May 2016]Consumer Reports.