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Dealing with an old, sagging mattress that doesn’t leave you feeling well rested can be challenging. If you’ve decided it’s time for you to purchase a new mattress, then you’ve come to the right place!
Here at WakeUpSleepyHead, we’ve put together a buying guide that takes the guesswork out of mattress shopping. From determining what type of sleeper you are to considering various mattress specifications, here’s a rundown of what you should keep in mind when making the best mattress purchase.
What Type Of Sleeper Are You?
Sleeping Position
We all tend to settle into our favorite, sometimes unimaginable, positions at night that a third person could very well mistake us for stunt performers. Jokes apart, it’s important to note that different sleeping positions require different kinds of support.
Identifying the kind of sleeper you are (side, stomach, back, and combination sleeper) is the first step in selecting a comfortable mattress with adequate support. Usually, stomach, back, and combination sleepers opt for firmer mattresses, while softer mattresses are ideal for side sleepers.
We reviewed the 5 best mattresses for side sleepers. Check out our results.
Weight
A heavier sleeper would most likely prefer a firm mattress with less conforming to prevent sinkage. While, on the other hand, light sleepers would choose a softer mattress.
For example, a light side sleeper often goes for a latex or foam mattress, while a heavier stomach sleeper would find an innerspring or hybrid variety to be more suitable.
Temperature Regulation
Softer mattresses that easily conform to your body shape tend to trap body heat due to their snuggling effect. On the other hand, firmer options are better for allowing air circulation, and you can sleep considerably cooler with an innerspring or hybrid mattress type.
Of course, there is no rigid-one-size-fits-all guidance because what matters, in the end, is whether you’re getting optimal quality sleep.
Mattress Specifications to Consider
Material
The bulk of mattresses out in the market comprise five common material types—innerspring, foam, latex, hybrid, and airbed.
Innerspring mattresses have been around since the 19th century and provide an even, comfortable surface. They are made of steel coils that support a layer of polyfoam.
The memory foam mattress is known for its characteristic quality of conforming close to the body to relieve pressure and other chronic pain. Motion isolation is another excellent quality of memory foam, so you can sleep undisturbed if your partner tosses and turns.
Much like memory foam, the latex comfort layer provides adequate support to the core, but unlike memory foam, you sleep much cooler.
Hybrid combines the finest of features of different mattress types to bring about a balanced sleep experience. For example, a hybrid can integrate pressure-relieving latex foam with a longer lifespan of innerspring coils to get the best of both mattresses ’ worlds.
Lastly, we have airbeds made of air chambers, and you can inflate and deflate these to suit your needs. Airbeds are often a preference of sleepers who have fluctuating choices when it comes to firmness.
Size
Generally, you can find mattresses in six standard sizes— Twin, Twin XL, Full/Double, Queen, King, and California King. Mattress size and dimensions go as follows:
Firmness
Sleep position and sleeper weight (as mentioned above) are directly linked to the firmness of a mattress. Side sleepers typically purchase soft mattresses for added support, while back and stomach sleepers find firm mattresses most comfortable.
Light-weight individuals generally go for softer mattresses due to their pressure-relieving ‘hug’ experience; heavier individuals often opt for firmer mattresses to avoid sinkage.
Comfort Layers
The top layer of upholstery that is crucial in bringing to life the optimum feel of a mattress is known as the comfort layer. This layer can be soft, medium, or firm. As a general rule, the more the upholstery, the more you’ll find yourself at ease while you nap.
Mattress Performance
Durability
Durability translates to the period a mattress will continue to perform without excessive deterioration. On average, a mattress will perform for about 7-8 years, after which the user must replace it.
Motion Isolation
Motion isolation is a true blessing for people who know the struggle of waking up in the middle of the night because of a slight movement from their partner’s end of the bed. Shifting positions can be the ultimate sleep disruptor, especially for light sleepers.
But adaptive comfort layers isolate the motion transfer, preventing it from being felt across the entire mattress.
Pressure Relief
The more the mattress conforms closely to the body, the greater the pressure relief for the sleeper. Close conformity keeps pressure points from developing by maintaining a balanced alignment of the spine. Mattresses with thicker comfort layers are typically known to provide the best conforming.
Sex
We simply could not, in good conscience, let this factor go unacknowledged. A great mattress can take one’s sex life to a whole different level. Ideally, a bouncier and responsive mattress is a top choice that facilitates sex. Trust us, you don’t want to experience a situation where you’re sinking into the layers and “fighting the mattress.”
Temperature Neutrality
Some mattresses absorb body heat and trap it, significantly reducing air circulation for hours, and perhaps even disrupting sleep. It’s crucial to select a mattress that allows easy breathability.
Off-gassing
It is not uncommon for mattresses to emit harmless off-gassing particles when they first arrive. Usually, foam and latex models carry an off-putting odor the first few days, but the scent will not persist for too long if kept in a well-ventilated room.
Edge Support
Believe it or not, you might be spending a lot of time sitting on the edge of your bed, and that’s why your mattress must be equipped with good edge support. Apart from reducing dips around the perimeter of the bed, a mattress with stable edge support also eliminates the risk of you rolling off the bed at night.
Noise
With even the slightest movement, some mattresses make squeaky noises that can negatively impact your partner’s sleep. The last thing you want is to wake up from a sweet dream because of a noisy bed.
Support
You know you’ve got yourself a standout mattress when one fine morning you don’t wake up with those unbidden aches and pains. The perfect model aligns the spine and pelvis without excessively sinking underneath heavier body parts.
Mattress Shopping Tips
Necessary Certifications
In the hunt for pricing and comfort, we often tend to ignore harmful chemicals that leak out of some kinds of synthetic foams. Sleeping on such a mattress will do you no good and could be detrimental to not only your but your entire family’s health.
There are three important certifications cleared by government agencies that indicate high-quality and healthy mattresses—Certi-PUR, Oeko-Tex, and Greenguard.
Mattresses that are certified in these areas means harmful chemicals (formaldehyde, azo colorants, cadmium, and nickel) have not been utilized in any stages of production. Be sure to look for mattresses that are free of ozone-depleting chemicals, and heavy metals, such as mercury and lead, and are entirely out of the picture in the manufacturing process.
Check Sleep Trials and Return Policies
Generally, it takes about 30 to 90 nights for a mattress to break in and adjust to your body fully. On average, brands offer a 90-night trial window within which mattress owners can put their models to the test. If they are dissatisfied with the product, it can be returned for a full refund. When purchasing a mattress, be sure to check out their trials or return policies.
Check the Warranty
Warranty timelines for mattresses usually fall somewhere between 10 to 20 years, and they provide peace of mind in case your product turns out faulty. Therefore, if your mattress happens to have a defect, the manufacturing company must cover you. But, here’s the catch—not all warranties are equal.
Check Customer Reviews
Sometimes checking what other people have to say is a deciding factor whether or not a mattress will make it to your online cart, especially when it comes to the newly pioneered bed-in-a-box model. Customers are hungry for information that only other fellow mattress owners may be able to provide, such as: whether the mattress truly lives up to all the hype, whether it’s firm enough for a heavy sleeper, etc.
You can find many reviews on the WakeUpSleepyHead website or other e-commerce websites that sell the mattresses.
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