Choosing the ideal mattress can be difficult, especially given the variety of models available today. Over a third of people’s lives are typically spent in bed. Finding a mattress that offers adequate comfort and support can significantly improve the quality of your sleep and help to ensure that you wake up every morning feeling rested and pain-free.
We’ll outline the key considerations for choosing a new mattress. We want to give you the information you need to choose a mattress wisely.
When Was Your Mattress Made?
You must provide an answer to this query right away. The age of your mattress can have a big impact on whether or not you need a new one, which is why. As a general rule, you should start considering purchasing a new bed if you have had your old one for more than 8 years. The ability to lull you to sleep! While by no means a rigid standard, this is a useful yardstick for assessing your mattress’s performance.
Do you experience new pains when you first wake up? Do you have a hard time getting comfortable at night? Have you noticed any new dips in your mattress that regular rotation can’t correct? If you indicated that you did in any of these situations, it might be time to leave your bed.
What Position Do You Sleep in?
It’s time to consider you, the sleeper, now that the age issue has been resolved. The first thing to determine is what position you sleep in, even though we’ll be digging into a lot of different aspects of you and your particular sleeping habits.
Though most people toss and turn in their sleep between various positions, some positions are preferred by most people. Perhaps you prefer to roll to your side after lying on your back at first. Or perhaps you lay on your side for the majority of the night and then finish it off on your stomach while pressing the snooze button in the morning. I’d advise you to pay close attention to your sleeping habits over the next week if you’ve never given your preferred sleeping positions much thought. Your preferred sleeping position is probably one of the following: back, side, stomach, or a combination of the three.
Because different types of sleepers respond favorably to different mattresses, this information is crucial. I’ll outline the types of beds that are most appropriate for each group of positions in the sections below.
Back Sleepers
Softer mattresses probably won’t offer enough support if you sleep mainly on your back to maintain proper spinal alignment. You might sleep better on a mattress made of firmer foam or a hybrid that combines coils and foam.
Side Sleepers
You should look for a softer mattress that cushions your body and helps relieve pressure at these crucial points because sleeping on your side puts pressure on your shoulders and hips. Memory foam and pillow-top mattresses are popular choices for side sleepers because they offer the perfect balance of comfort and support.
Stomach Sleepers
Most medical professionals advise stomach sleepers to switch to a sleeping position with better health advantages. Michael J. According to Dr. A. Longo of the Renaissance Chiropractic Center in Washington, sleeping on your stomach strains your spine. Back and neck pain may develop as a result over time.
That being said, if sleeping on your stomach is the only way you can get a good night’s rest, you should make sure your mattress is comfortable.
The spine should be supported firmly by the ideal mattress for stomach sleepers. You might experience pain and stiffness when you wake up if your mattress is too soft to sink into. The best mattresses are typically firm hybrid or foam ones.
Combination sleepers
Combination sleepers alternate positions frequently during the night. You should make sure that you can feel comfortable on your mattress in any position if you frequently turn over. The ideal balance of support and comfort may be found in a medium-firm mattress.
Memory foam mattresses may not be the best option for side sleepers because of how difficult it can be to switch positions and how immobile they can make you feel.
Latex and other foam types that react well to movement are alternatives to take into account. Since hybrid beds combine innerspring support with foam comfort layers, they also tend to be more responsive.
How Much Firmness Do You Need?
Since we’ve already begun talking about firmness, I figured it would be best to give the measurement its own section. Simply put, a mattress’ firmness describes how hard or soft it feels. Even though it may seem straightforward, figuring out how firm a bed should be (and how firm you, the sleeper, need it) can be challenging. That’s because your individual definitions of soft, medium, and firm as well as your particular body type, weight, and size all play a role in how a mattress feels and how firm it is.
Given that many consumers conflate support and firmness, this discussion may become even more difficult. It is possible to achieve a supportive mattress on a soft, medium-firm, or firm mattress by aligning the spine in a straight line without creating pressure points. Firmness refers only to the actual “feel” of the bed. In conclusion, mattresses of all firmness levels can be supportive.
Because of this, sleepers’ preferred firmness level generally ranges from 4 to 7 out of 10. As we previously discussed, depending on their preferred sleeping positions, some sleepers will want to tuck into the lower end or the higher end of that range.
What Kind Of Mattress Do You Need?
Now that we’ve discussed some of the most crucial elements to think about when searching for a new mattress, it’s time to determine precisely what kind of bed you require. I’ll introduce you to the most well-liked choices down below. I’ll outline their characteristics, feelings associated with them, and potential fans.
Memory Foam
Most memory foam mattresses are made of this material, which is renowned for its slow reaction time to pressure and intense contouring hug. As a result, they greatly relieve pressure on delicate areas like the shoulders, hips, and lower back.
The dense material does tend to trap and absorb body heat, so that is a minor drawback. For people who naturally sleep hot, this can be a significant problem. However, most brands today use cooling agents like copper, gel, or graphite to impregnate their memory foam materials, avoiding this annoying issue.
Best For: In my opinion, memory foam is best for sleepers who want to feel more “in” their mattress than “on top” of it. Particularly side sleepers may benefit from the material’s deep contouring hug as they press into the structure.
Worst For: Since memory foam is such a soft material, it probably won’t be firm enough for stomach sleepers. You should completely avoid the memory foam if you prefer an ultra-firm feel from your mattress.
Latex
Latex foam, in contrast to memory foam, responds quickly to pressure and is therefore springy and lively. It’s also made entirely of natural materials, making it a great option for those looking for an organic mattress who are also eco-friendly. It is also naturally cooling, making it a good choice for those who have trouble cooling off while they sleep.
Best For: Latex can be useful for a variety of sleepers, but combo sleepers are the ones I like it the most. The natural bounce of latex foam should be advantageous for these people since they need to be able to move around and change positions with ease. And as was already mentioned, those who are eco-friendly sleepers will probably appreciate its organic construction.
Worst For: You might not be a good candidate for latex if you require significant pressure relief at the shoulders or hips. Although the material is cozy and soft, it won’t hug you the way a memory foam mattress would.
Innerspring
Innerspring mattresses, one of the most well-liked and frequently used mattress types, are firm, bouncy, and supportive. Featuring tall sections of steel coils, these beds work best for those after a traditional, “old-school” vibe.
Best For: I frequently advise innerspring mattresses to people who require significant support, particularly back, stomach, and heavier sleepers. They might also be useful for people who prefer a structure that is incredibly springy.
Worst For: If you suffer from hip, shoulder, or back pain, you may want to think about switching to a different type of mattress because innerspring mattresses don’t offer much in the way of pressure relief.
Hybrid
One of the most recent mattress designs is the hybrid mattress, which combines top foam layers with coils or springs for support and pressure relief in one. These mattresses differ from innerspring models in that they have a more “balanced” feel.
Best For: Hybrid mattresses can accommodate a variety of sleeping positions, but I tend to suggest them for back and combo sleepers. These people ought to value the extra support, bounce, and mobility that these beds offer.
Worst For: Because there are so many varieties of hybrid mattresses available, I wouldn’t say that anyone should avoid them. Focusing on the types of foams used in the top layers is key in this situation; side sleepers will want a hybrid with memory foam, whereas back sleepers might want a hybrid with latex, for instance.
Support
A foam mattress can typically provide good support for people with lighter body weights. However, heavier people might prefer the additional stability provided by coils under the foam.
Support can also mean whether you sink into the bed. Some people prefer to rest on top of the bed and feel cushioned by it, while others prefer to lie flat on it. The support offered by coil-system mattresses is typically stronger, keeping you on the mattress rather than in it.
If you sleep alone, you might not give your bed’s edges much thought. But if you share your bed with a partner or pet, move around a lot, or sit on the edge of your bed to get dressed, good edge support can make all the difference.
If your bed has frail edges, you might experience instability when sitting on it. In the event that your partner rolls you to the edge and you feel as though you are about to fall to the floor, this could be bad news.
Look for mattresses with reinforced edges if you want strong edge support. Customer reviews frequently paint a more accurate picture of how much edge support a mattress has.
Final Word
Keep your search for the mattress of your dreams focused on what YOU specifically need, if I could give you one piece of advice. The factors that are most significant to you and how you sleep should be taken into consideration because this is a personal journey. I have no doubt that if you follow that advice, you’ll find the perfect mattress for you.