Memory foam mattress topper? March 31, 2012 Subscribe Is a memory foam mattress topper a good idea? In looking for ways to improve my quality of life in small and cost-effective ways, I've been thinking about my sleep habitat and the fact that I have pretty relentless lower back and hip pain that's worse in the morning. In reading responses to other questions here, it seems like a fair number have found some relief by sleeping on either a memory foam mattress or topper. Since my current mattress is just a few years old and very firm, I'm looking at toppers -- but I have zero experience with memory foam. Is this a good idea at all? A similar question was asked previously six years ago. Hopefully, there's more experience and new information since then. I am tall, large and generally a side sleeper, but tend to shift around a lot. Could I ask your recommendations for a decent thickness and firmness? Is 4" thick with 5 pound density appropriate? Can I do better?
Where's the best buy as far as quality for the buck? Are there any specific eBay sellers that are highly regarded for memory foam? Our local Costco only has a 2.5" topper, so I am probably looking at buying online. I have allergies to dust etc. Best way to handle this with a topper that is basically open-cell foam? A certain type of cover? Any additional instructions regarding large dogs sleeping on memory foam (aside from the fact that they will likely love it beyond measure) -- special care tips?Business Insider’s Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you’ll like. And full disclosure: Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we may get a share of the revenue from your purchase. There’s nothing better for your health than a good night’s sleep. People who sleep well have fewer heart problems, are less likely to make risky financial decisions, and are in better shape. So in order to sleep better at night, we recommend getting a mattress topper.
We picked four of our favorites (that are all super discounted right now.) Memory foam conforms to your body perfectly, which reduces pressure points that cause you to toss and turn at night. Pro-tip: These toppers come in various widths (from 2″ to 4″). If you’re a bigger person we recommend selecting a thicker model. Memory Foam Solutions: $659.99 $113.99 If regular memory foam isn’t enough for you, go for the latex mattress topper. It provides 33% more pressure relief than conventional foam and fiber cushioning materials. Plus, it won’t bunch, flatten, or sag. Ultimate dreams Talalay latex soft mattress topper: $599.00 $354.00 Another option is the gel infused memory foam topper, which is known for its therapeutic qualities and orthopedic support. This gel mattress topper specifically helps relieve neck, back and shoulder pain. And because the foam curves around your body, it helps relieve stress, joint and muscle pain and even arthritis.
The Milliard gel infused memory foam mattress topper + ultra soft removable bamboo cover: $369.00 $84.99 And if you want the best quality for a lower-priced model, this mattress topper is your go-to. “High-quality yet super affordable; I was initially worried it was going to be cheaply made, but not at all — it’s just as nice as the more expensive toppers I’ve owned in the past, if not better,” one reviewer wrote. Best Price Mattress memory foam mattress topper: $265.00 $122.76 Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Business Insider’s Insider Picks team. We aim to highlight products and services you might find interesting, and if you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners, including Amazon. Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, is an investor in Business Insider through his personal investment company Bezos Expeditions. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback.Have something you think we should know about?
NOW WATCH: 6 Crazy Things Revealed In HBO’s Explosive New Scientology Documentary ‘Going Clear’ A mattress made with special Talalay latex foam combined with our exclusive Intelli-Gel® material is the best mattress for relieving your hip pain. The exclusive honey-comb design used in our beds provides both support where you need it (your hips in this case), but also continuously provides cushioning that is needed for you to get a good nights rest. The ProblemIn recent months I’ve suffered from pain in my right hip and mid to lower back. I attribute this to age, having a sedentary job (writing), having put on some pounds and lack of exercise to lubricate my joints. I sit on a high density cell foam donut as I write this. The donut relieves pressure from the coccyx, something I learned when I was pregnant many moons ago. I’ve learned to contort my body to the left when I rise from a sitting position in order for the pain in my hip to not bring me to my knees. Having this condition checked out by a doctor is out of the question.
When I retired from the corporate world I also relinquished my rights to company paid health insurance. So I make do. However, sitting is not my only uncomfortable position. Although I bought a new mattress recently, I awaken with a sore back and my right hip screams with every movement. Do I need to tell you I’ve not been sleeping well? Oh, I guess I just did. The fact is I sleep in 3-hour shifts because my body wakes me up. Oh, what I would give for just one night of uninterrupted sleep! Something had to be done. I can’t afford medical diagnosis or treatment. Going through Advil like candy is not good for my innards and doesn’t fix the problem anyway. Buying one of those high end mattresses that “have your number” is also out of the question. So, what does a not-so-young-but-not-so-old struggling writer do to alleviate the pain? Ingenuity is the answer, my friends; that and watching the paper for sales on mattress toppers. The SolutionSometimes commercialism comes in handy.
It seems everything under the sun goes on sale just before holidays. Memorial day is one of those holidays. My local Big Lots had a flyer in Sunday’s paper. They advertised a ‘famous maker’ 3” gel memory foam mattress topper for queen beds at a doable $99.99. The next day I went to Big Lots in hopes I wasn’t too late. Sure enough, they had plenty in stock and the ‘famous maker’ turned out to be Serta. Well, shoot, if the sheep on TV fear Serta because the public no longer has need to count them (the sheep) in order to go to sleep, that’s enough reason for this little girl to give the brand a shot. Not only did I make the purchase, but I treated myself to a new set of sheets (in my favorite color, although it doesn’t match my bedding!). I came home excited that, perhaps, I can now get a good night’s sleep. I rolled out the Serta Rest 3” gel memory foam topper and encapsulated it in the accompanying fitted cover (thank you Serta!). I spent the rest of the day washing bedding, including my comforter.
I was really looking forward to bedtime! Although, by the looks of my freshly-made bed, I’d need a step stool to get my 5’2” body up on the bed and under the covers! FeaturesUpon reading the instructions (yes, I read the instructions. My name is Shauna, not Shaun!) I was a little disconcerted to discover it may take up to 72 hours for the mattress topper to conform to my bed. I was absolutely delighted when it rolled out flat and fit my bed perfectly! The comfort gods were definitely on my side. In addition to that, I was elated when I read that the gel in the foam is formulated to be cool and regulates itself to your body temperature. As a post-menopausal woman, I still suffer from night sweats. Well, not really night sweats so much anymore as night heat. That’s another reason I don’t sleep comfortably. I need to have my bedding cold in order to sleep well. It’s a good damn thing I sleep alone; my queen size bed allows me to switch sides when I become too hot – which is another reason I don’t sleep well.
By the way, when does that shit end?? Oh, I almost forgot to mention that this product is made in the USA. Way to go, Serta! My rating of this product Do you suffer from back pain? What do you do to alleviate back pain? I take drugs, man! I suffer with it. I exercise and never sit for too long. Nothing yet, but I'm going to try a gel memory foam mattress topper. I prefer to bitch about it. The ResultI’ve only spent two nights on my new set up, but I am tickled to death with the results. I have awakened just once each night - which is a blessing - and I’ve been able to go right back to sleep. Unfortunately, my body puts out some heat when I’m trying to sleep. Nevertheless, the gel memory foam topper is living up to its promise. The verbiage on the box reads “adds support and comfort – eliminates pressure points”. I can attest to that. In a mere two nights, my pain is at a much lower level. I no longer have to contort my body when I get up from the couch in order to avoid pain in my right hip.