A good rest is what everyone dreams of after a long day of activities. Sleep is important in every individual for a healthy and productive life. There are several factors to determine the quality of a mattress. They include the durability of the mattress which involves its lifespan. This is a key factor when buying a mattress since it helps an individual in budgeting for even other items in the house. Other inclusive factors are:
Your anatomy
A second factor is spinal alignment or support. This is dictated by factors such as sleep posture and body weight. This is very crucial since different people have different sleeping postures. Some side is sleepers others are stomach sleepers and others are back sleepers. Each sleeping posture has a different mattress recommended in order to ensure complication such as back pain or problems related to the spinal cord does not arise.
Active in bed?
An aspect to look at is the motion transfer is a very crucial factor to consider. It occurs very often that guests visit our homes and in the process, some of them end up sharing the bed with us or for a couple sleeping on the same bed, many movements may take place during the night. Either one partner is shifting position or getting off the bed. It is therefore important to consider buying a mattress in which even when motion occurs the movement does not transfer across the bed disturbing the sleep of the other partner involved.
The source
In addition, you should consider the customer service of the manufacturers you want to buy from. This is very important since it determines how they might handle complaints if they ever arise based on the quality of the mattress. In conjunction with that, one should also consider the responsiveness of the mattress so as to determine how it will adjust to changes in pressure in order to determine its durability. Lastly, one key factor to determine is the warranty/ trial period of the mattress so that in case anything does happen, one is able to return the mattress to the manufacturer and how long the warranty period lasts.
Varieties
The types of mattresses include Nectar, which is the best memory foam mattress. The second one includes dream cloud which ensures cool surface temperature, its price is low and it has a lifetime warranty. Another includes birch which is the best latex mattress. It is very eco-friendly and the components are naturally durable. The third one is saliva which is the best innerspring mattress. The other is Leesa which is the best mattress for side sleepers.
It cushions the hips and shoulders and helps align the sleeper’s spine and prevents pressure points from developing. It takes care of the motion transfer issue quite well, moreover, it does not produce any sound when bearing weight. Another is Brooklyn bedding signature which is the best mattress for back sleepers. It maintains the flat, sag-free surface and evenly distributes their weight. Another is Awava mattress which is the best mattress for stomach sleepers. It has a low price and keeps the spine aligned and prevents pressure points from developing. Also, there is an Avocado mattress which is the best organic mattress. It is naturally durable and is breathable.
Other kinds
To add on, there is a Casper Original which is ideal for sleepers who prefer soft surfaces. It is the best soft mattress. The Allswel supreme which is the best mattress for sex while tuft and needle which is the best mattress for couples and it’s low priced. Lastly, there is the loom and leaf which is the best mattress for hip pain.
The mattress types include foam or All-foam which employs memory foam or polyfoam in layers. Its advantages include limited noise and a wide range of price points with many high-value choices. Also, latex which has rubber material as its main component. It has limited noise, minimal heat retention, and moderate contouring. Just like anything with advantages, it has limitations which include it is heavier and harder to move and may have noticeable motion transfer.
Not to forget, there is the innerspring mattress that utilizes metal coils as their support system. It has limited heat retention; it often provides more edge support. Its limitations include it can be noisy and there is notable motion transfer. The fourth one is the hybrid which employs a thicker comfort layer that can incorporate materials like foam, latex, and even specialty polyfoam. It has been mostly made in order to retain the bounce and stability of an innerspring while it offers enhanced pressure point relief.
Its disadvantages include that it is heavier and it’s expensive compared to other mattress models. Finally, there are the airbeds that have an inflatable air chamber for support or is the main support core. Its significances include it has direct real-time control while disadvantages are fewer brands and models to choose from and can be noisy when deflating or inflating.
All in
Whenever someone is choosing a mattress, there are a few considerations that should be considered. They include the major factor which is the price of the mattress. The price is important since it dictates the options available for you or those within your range. Many of us may want a certain type of mattress but because it is outside the budget, we end up not buying it. The second important factor is the sleeping position of an individual. It is very important to discover the type of sleeping position an individual has.
The different types include side, stomach, back and combination sleeper. It influences the type of support you need hence the type of mattress one needs. Also, the comfort feel is another determining factor which is very subjective. This is because everyone has different tastes and preferences. It is also affected by body weight and sleeping positions. Hence everyone has a choice and should be able to choose a mattress that fits your idea of comfort. Another factor is the specific needs. Some people are a bit specific. This can be brought about by factors such as hot sleepers, people with above-average body weight and people with some difficulties for example back pain or hip pain. Lastly one should consider the sleep trial. We all should buy a mattress with a return policy of a particular set period so that if the bed or mattress is not up to our level of satisfaction, we can take it back.
What it means
Mattress firmness generally refers to how soft or firm the bed feels to individuals. It has a scale, whereby the firmness scale refers to the way of rating the firmness of a mattress using the range of 0-10 Refers to extremely soft.
Whereby:
2-3 Refers to soft
4-6 Refers to medium
7-9 Refers to firm
10 Refers to extremely firm.
The range 1 is extremely rare while 2 and 3 are common. In terms of supporting the range, 1-3 has the advantage of helping relieve pressure points and keeps the spine aligned. On the flip side, there is too much sink and contouring and this can cause excessive curvature in the spine. It is best for side sleepers since they have pressure joints at the hips and even on the shoulders.
For the back and stomach sleepers, the amount of sink can dis-align the spine. The range of 4-6 represents the medium range. It has the best overall support. This is due to enough contouring to reduce pressure points. Its advantages include allowing spinal alignment and it does not permit excessive sinking into the mattress.
It favours sleepers in all positions and best for combination sleepers and even couples that differ in their sleeping positions. The range 7-10 represents the firm range. It offers sufficient support. Unlike the soft mattresses, it does not have contouring properties and has enough cushioning to prevent problems at pressure points. It is comfortable for sleepers in all positions. Side sleepers basically have a hard time on those mattresses. However, it may benefit back and stomach sleepers since they may help prevent their abdomen from sinking too deeply into the mattress.
What you need to understand
There are several factors to consider when determining the firmness level fit for an individual. They include comfort. Just like firmness, comfort is subjective. It is based on an individual and ones one perception of comfort. Once an individual determines where the mattress in which their comfort lies, they should know where it lies on the firmness scale and if after some time it is no longer comfortable, they can decide on something softer or firmer. Secondly, weight is an important factor since a mattress responds to the weight and pressure of an individual’s body.
The weight is responsible for determining how a bed feels. Generally, individuals whose weight is less than 130 pounds should choose a mattress near the softer end of the firmness scale. Individuals whose weights lie between 130-230 pounds should choose a medium-firm mattress at 4-6 range. While individuals whose weights are over 230 pounds should opt for a firmer mattress ranging from 6-8 firmness scale. The third factor when determining the firmness level is sleeping positions. For side sleepers, a soft-medium-firm mattress is best. It should range from 3-7 firmness scale.
For back sleepers, they opt for a mattress in the range of 4-7 firmness scale. Stomach sleepers also find support and comfort from mattresses in the 4-7 firmness range. However, they prefer mattresses towards the higher end of that range. For combination sleepers (sleepers with 2 or more regular positions), they have best results in using a medium-firm range in 4-6 range since they have the most flexibility and ability to provide comfort across a range of positions.
Other considerations
Other important considerations include sex whereby a medium-firm mattress is best for facilitating comfortable sex. This is because if a mattress is too soft, the partners may sink too much and if it’s too firm it may be difficult to comfortably assume most of the sexual positions. Another factor is sleeping hot. This refers to the heat buildup in the mattress and on the skin. It may be caused by excessive sink or contouring which limits airflow around the body. It is also important to consider motion transfer whereby a mattress that offers more contouring on the body have less motion transfer.
Verdict
Finally, edge support should be considered especially for individuals who regularly sit on the edge of the bed or sleep near the edge since most mattresses are weakest at the edge. Firmer mattresses are recommended since they have better edge support. For the individuals with mattresses which are either too firm or too soft and they can return the mattress if they are still on their trial period. If they are not on their trial period, they can settle for a mattress topper which is a layer of material you put above your mattress.
It defers from a mattress protector since the function of mattress protectors is to defend the mattress against spills and stains. The type of toppers includes the Viscosoft which has excellent contouring and motion isolation and has reduced heat retention. It is mostly for sleepers who want a topper that provides a medium-firm feel or to prevent any back pain. Secondly is the parachute down topper that employs high end down.
It is extra soft and has a dual-chamber design. It utilizes down and feathers to create a soft pillow top for your mattress. Also, there are plush beds natural latex topper which is for sleepers who want high-end materials. It is 100% Talalay latex and is conforming and bouncy. It is available in 2 thickness choices. Finally, there is the Lucid 2 ‘Gel memory foam topper’ which is fast and cost-effective hence has an accessible price point.
The advantages of toppers include enhanced comfort layer, affordability, makes your mattress last longer and mattress protection. In conclusion, firmness is important due to comfort which broadens sleep hygiene and for creating either a good or bad sleeping environment.