Toppers are often purchased as a way to make mattresses more comfortable or to add some kind of health benefit. They come in many different forms, ranging from goose down pads to memory foam and convoluted "egg crate" foam toppers. Each has its advantages, but deciding whether a mattress topper actually works depends on what you want it to accomplish. In a way, these products work because they can provide a specific benefit. You shouldn't expect them to completely transform the quality of your mattress. Mattress toppers of various types come with claims of near miraculous benefits. According to the My Foam Mattress website, toppers made of memory foam or egg crate-style foam claim to help everything from sleep apnea and fibromyalgia to back pain. Still, doctors are not lining up to endorse mattress toppers as medical treatments. This is because most of the claims are biased, made by the producers of the toppers themselves. While there are certainly benefits to reap from adding a mattress topper to your bed, it is unlikely that it will always cure what ails you.
A mattress topper is not the answer for poor support from a mattress. The mattress itself must provide the support. The topper is not going to make it much better than it already is. If your mattress is worn out and unable to support the weight of your body, the topper is probably going to make your night's sleep a little less uncomfortable, at best. Adding a topper to a firm, supportive mattress, however, could make an otherwise hard feeling surface a bit more likable. Comfort is an important part of sleep. If you feel good, you often sleep well. A mattress topper can certainly help with that. As mentioned above, a hard mattress that offers good support can be softened by the addition of a memory foam or down topper. Heat is also a part of the overall comfort of a bed. If you own a foam mattress that tends to "sleep hot," then adding a convoluted egg crate topper to the mattress may help with airflow around your body, allowing body heat to be released into the air instead of being trapped under you.
This could make a significant difference in the quality of your sleep. When you shop for a mattress topper, you'll undoubtedly find many different options with varying prices. The toppers most likely to work best are ones that are dense, heavy and hold up under the weight of your body. Memory foam toppers are most effective if they have at least a 4- to 5-pound density and are 3 to 4 inches thick. Lighter weight or thinner toppers are less effective. Down or other foam toppers will be softer and more durable if they have 100 percent cotton covers with a high thread count. Do Memory Foam Toppers Work?Do Memory Foam Toppers Work?Memory Foam Topper Pads - The Good & BadMattress toppers are 2-5 inch slab of memory foam (visco elastic memory foam) placed on top of a mattress for added comfort.Memory Foam Mattress Topper for an Old Bed?Many of us may think that investing in a memory foam topper would be a great idea instead of opting to buy a new spring mattress or memory foam mattress.
It's natural to think that way if your bed is curved in the middle, giving you the hammock effect.Foam toppers cannot solve the hammock issue as the problem lies underneath, your springs or support foams are no longer supportive. 20% of People are not helped by Memory Foam ToppersDid you know that memory foam toppers don't work for nearly 20% of people? It is of no use to people suffering from acute back pain.Since toppers suit only hard mattresses, they become unsuitable for normal soft beds. In fact using a memory foam topper will make your bed softer and you may finally end up counting sheep till daybreak!Be Careful - Toppers May be Damaged Before They ArriveA major shortfall to foam toppers is that retailers like to store huge quantities for long periods of time.This affects the foam mattress toppers in two ways. - The packing system can damage the mattress due to compression and folding. - When stored for long periods of time, memory foam toppers develop compression areas.Note: Some higher quality memory foam toppers actually become flat after a bare minimum use because of low density manufacturing techniques.
With so many retailers flooding this business, be wary and do your research. If you're open replacing the mattress that's failing you, check out our top-rated mattresses here. For more information, please visit our Learning Center.Before you buy a memory foam topper or pad you'll hate or just don't need ask yourself the following questions: A memory foam topper can give you many of the benefits of a memory foam mattress at a much lower cost. A quality memory foam mattress top can almost eliminate painful pressure points that cause you to toss and turn all night. They will help you get to sleep more quickly, sleep more deeply and wake with fewer aches in joints and muscles. Sometimes doctors actually prescribe memory foam mattresses and pads for people with certain health and sleep problems. And once you buy the pad, you'll need something to cover it with. A good source is Faux Paw Furs; Fake Fur Throws, Comforters, Pillows, Stoles & Fabrics. Q1: Can you get by with just a pad, or do you need a new mattress?
Don't drive yourself crazy with frustration or confusion over how long you've had the bed or how much you spent. Buying just a pad instead of a whole new mattress will work if your mattress is basically in good shape. If your mattress is too soft, has compressed areas, or a hammock feel, get a new one. If your mattress just needs to be a bit more comfortable, maybe it's a bit too firm, then buy the mattress pad. Q2: How do you choose a good memory foam topper?A good memory foam pad has many of the same properties as the top layers of a visco elastic foam mattress: Thickness A good pad should be between 2" and 4" thick. Some people are happy with 2 inch pads. I don't like them, they're too skinny for me. I have a 4" topper. It has enough depth to cushion the wide shoulders of a 5'11" overweight side sleeper. If you're a smaller person you'd probably be happiest with a 3 inch thick pad. Density Between 3lb and 5lb. Most people seem to prefer 4lb pads. If you weigh over 200lbs you might want to go with a 5lb or higher density pad for more support.
ILD Indentation load deflection (ILD) is a measure of the foam's comfort, or how easily it deflects. Between 8 and 20 is an acceptable range. But many people prefer ILD measurements between 12 and 15 for that melt-into-the-bed feeling Temperature sensitivity Memory foam should soften at body temperature. That's how it provides the conforming support. The foam cells closest to your body soften and the ones further away stay firm. If you live in colder climates, a memory foam mattress top might feel a bit hard just as you get into bed. But it warms up quickly to contour itself to your body. Q3: How long do they last? 4 to 8 years with 4lb density foam. However, I've seen warranties up to 10 years. Q4: Who makes the best memory foam mattress top?Most of the major mattress manufacturers now carry a line of pads and toppers. Sealy mattresses, Serta, Simmons and even TempurPedic mattresses have them. In 2006, Sensus came out on top in an informal test conducted by a Wall Street Journal writer.