How to choose a mattress? What is the best mattress? We know choosing a mattress can be daunting – especially since it’s probably been a while since your last trip to the mattress store. We’re here to help make sense of it all and provide you with everything you need to know so you can find the best mattress to buy for your lifestyle and budget. It’s time to buy a new mattress if: You wake up with aches and pains that dissipate throughout the day. Your arms or shoulders fall asleep throughout the night, or you wake up tossing and turning. Your mattress shows visible signs of wear and tear, such as sagging or the sides breaking down. You feel the coils when lying on your bed. You hear noises/creaks on your mattress when moving around. You roll toward the middle of the bed at night, or you easily roll off the edge of the bed. No matter what the temperature in your bedroom, you always seem to feel too hot in bed. Your mattress is more than eight years old – check the tag to determine the age of your mattress.
You’ve outgrown your current mattress size or are in need of a larger one. (Tip: If you’re an expecting parent, check out these tips to sleep for pregnant mothers!). Complete this checklist before your visit to the mattress store and bring it with you to help narrow your search. Don’t be afraid to ask questions – that’s what the sales representatives, known as sleep consultants at Mattress Firm, are there for! SIZE: To identify the correct mattress size for your space, consider the following: The mattress should be longer than the tallest person sleeping on it. The bed width should allow enough space to fold your arms behind your head without going beyond the mattress edge or touching your partner’s elbows (for two adults, we recommend either a queen or a king). Full size bed / Double mattress Not sure which size is right for you? Click here for a little more info on choosing the right mattress size. Do you need a box spring or foundation for your mattress?
☐ Yes ☐ No BUDGET: Determine a budget you’re comfortable with and let your salesperson know so he or she can direct you to the best mattress options in your price range. Not sure how much you should spend for a good quality mattress? As a general rule with mattresses, you get what you pay for – the higher the quality, the better the comfort, support and durability. However, it’s important to choose a model that suits your needs and your pocketbook. We recommend the “eight days of pay for eight years” model: Take one day’s pay and multiply it by eight. That’s how much you should spend on a mattress that will last eight years. If you don’t plan on keeping your mattress that long, or it’s going to be a guest mattress that will be used less often, you may consider spending less, but consider using this equation to find your ballpark price range. The least I will spend is $___________ The most I can spend is $__________ I [am / am not] willing to consider floor models and and other clearance options.
TEST-DRIVE: Once your salesperson has shown you some different mattress brands within your size/budget range, test out your mattress options by laying on each side (back, stomach, left side, right side) for about five minutes per side (20 minutes total). We know what you’re thinking, “I don’t want to lay on a bed in front of my fellow shoppers?” Don’t worry – we see it all the time, and it’s an important step in the shopping process. Some questions to ask yourself as you test drive each mattress include: Do I prefer a firm or soft mattress? Refer to this five levels of comfort guide if you’re not sure. Which mattress brand do I trust the most? Check out this list of our most trusted mattress brands if you need more information. What features can I live without? What features can I NOT live without? (For example: hybrid mattress only, must be memory foam, etc.) Take any relevant notes about what you liked/didn’t like about each one here: Is shipping and/or delivery included?
☐ Yes ☐ No, it costs $________ Will they dispose of my old mattress for me when they bring the new one? Is there a charge for that? ☐ No ☐ Yes, it costs $________ Is recycling my old mattress an option and can they recycle it for me? How long will it take to get my new mattress delivered to me? RETURN POLICY / WARRANTY: o What is the return policy? Is there a return fee, restocking fee or any penalty fees? ☐ No ☐ Yes, it will cost $________ What does the warranty cover? Will it be voided due to stains or tears caused by use? (Tip: To protect against regular wear and tear and extend the life of your mattress you may consider purchasing a quality mattress cover.) Make sure you understand what your warranty covers and take any relevant notes here: Once you have found the perfect mattress you are more than half way there! Here are some essential bedding accessories to help complete your sleep sanctuary. If you find you’re too hot at night, or your partner wakes you up with his or her tossing and turning, check out today’s high tech sleep products that have set out to solve these common issues:
Remember the waterbed craze of the 70s and 80s? Sit ‘n Sleep does. It’s hard to believe that many people actually preferred to be sloshing around on a rocking, roiling wave of water for a third of their lives. But as with all fads those days have passed, and the tide has turned back in favor of a good old-fashioned firm mattress. These days, people seem to be more concerned about their health and less concerned about having the latest in trendy bedroom furniture – especially if that furniture leads to back problems and night after night of restless sleep. So it’s not surprising that more and more Americans are opting for a firmer sleeping surface to carry them comfortably through the night. It used to be that if you wanted a firm mattress, your only choice was an innerspring coil mattress sitting on top of a sturdy box springs. Depending on the mattress, this often required sacrificing comfort in order to get firm support. But with today’s advanced sleep technologies, there are many different types, makes and models of firm mattresses that offer both firmness and comfort.
These include memory foam, memory foam, latex and hybrid mattresses. Firm is Good for You! People who have migrated to a firm mattress can usually offer a long list of reasons for doing so. But chiropractors, doctors and other medical professionals also tout the benefits of spending seven or eight hours a night resting on a firm mattress. Getting the Right Firmness for You Believe it or not, a mattress that is too firm can also cause sleep and health problems. The mattress needs to support your body in a neutral position, one in which your spine has a nice curvature and your buttocks, heels, shoulders, and head are supported in proper alignment. If your mattress is too firm, it will push on those key pressure points and actually take you out of alignment. Conversely, if the mattress is too soft, those pressure points won’t be properly supported, so your whole body flops back. So it’s important to get the right level of firmness for your body. According to sleep experts, a mattress with less cushioning is more likely to support a neutral-spine position during sleep.
When you sleep on a firm mattress with minimal cushioning, your bones bear most of the pressure. This frees up your muscles and allows the arteries and veins to relax. This, in turn, improves circulation, which also helps you sleep better. The right mattress also prevents your lower back from collapsing when you lay on it. This stops your airway from becoming constricted, allowing the lungs to inhale more oxygen – another important factor in getting a good night’s sleep. For the best night’s sleep, choose a level of firmness based on the following factors: For example, if you tend to sleep on your side, a surface that provides a lot of pressure relief while conforming to your shape may be the best option. If you sleep on your stomach, a firm top surface will provide the best support and prevent that “smothering” feeling that can occur when you sink down into the mattress. If you tend to sleep on your back, look for a mattress that provides firm support but has a little “give” so your spine stays in proper alignment.