Mattress and Achieve Your Best Sleep: Are you tired of tossing and turning all night? If so, it may be time for you to consider purchasing a new mattress. As it can be a significant purchase and one that may affect your health and well-being for years to come, it’s a choice that you should make after careful consideration.
We’ve put together some of the main factors for you to consider, whether you’re looking for a new mattress for your current bed or choosing a mattress for adjustable beds.
Table of Contents
Personal Preference
We’re talking about a mattress for you, so we’ll start with your personal preference. You may need to make adjustments once you’ve been through the recommendations, but we like to suggest what we call the Goldilocks approach, where you choose a mattress that’s neither too hard nor too soft but just right for you.
Your Body Type
Your body size and weight significantly influence the type of mattress that’s best for you. The broader and heavier you are, the more support you need. Heavier people should go for firmer mattresses to ensure their bodies are supported correctly. In contrast, smaller, lighter people can safely choose softer support unless there’s some other reason, such as an injury that requires more support.
Sleeping Position
Your sleeping position may not be an obvious consideration for mattress selection, but it influences what’s best as different positions require different support. Whether you sleep alone is also a significant factor.
Side sleepers put more pressure on their shoulders and hips and benefit most from a soft to medium mattress, especially small ones. However, larger, heavier people should choose medium firmness, as too little support will mean the spine is out of alignment, causing discomfort.
Back sleepers should choose medium to firm for the best spinal support. Stomach sleepers need a firm mattress for support with a slight comfort layer. Back and larger stomach sleepers should choose extra firm support. If you are still unsure about what type of mattress you need, learn more about hybrid mattresses and how they suit most body types and sleeping positions.
Special Requirements
If you suffer from overnight and morning aches and pains, are an athlete, a senior, or have joint injuries, you need a mattress that relieves pressure and provides correct spine alignment. It may need to be softer toward the head and foot and firmer in the middle.
Beware of the term ‘Orthopedic’ mattress, as this is often just used as marketing hype.
If you’re looking for endorsements, instead look for certifications and approvals from professional organizations such as the American Chiropractic Association.
Materials
There are various standard materials used, but you may have specific requirements. For instance, many eco-conscious people insist on all-natural materials.
You may need a special cooling layer if you live in a hot climate or have special requirements if you suffer from allergies.
Trial Period
These days most vendors offer a trial period for mattresses. As you’ll only really know you’ve made the right choice after you’ve slept on a mattress a few times, a trial is well worth it. If you’re not offered one, ask, especially if you’re buying a more expensive mattress.
Budget
Your primary consideration should be: how much is a good night’s sleep worth to you?
Final Thoughts
When in doubt, go for a firmer mattress as they tend to soften with age. If you find it too firm, you can add a mattress topper for extra comfort, but a mattress that´s too soft is almost impossible to correct.
Whatever your final choice, don’t forget your pillows – the wrong pillow could put your neck out of alignment, undoing all the good of your careful mattress selection.