Time for a New Mattress? How to Select the Right One for You

You spend a third of your life sleeping, so it’s essential to have the right mattress waiting for you in your bedroom when it’s time to call it a night. A good mattress can help you sleep more soundly and refreshed in the morning. As anyone with an older, tired mattress can attest, the right mattress also helps to protect and support your joints, muscles, and spinal column while you’re sleeping, which can go a long way in preventing back problems or pressure point pain down the road.

With so many mattress options to choose from myisense.com, it’s difficult to know what to prioritise when it’s time to select a new one. This guide is here to help with the selection process.

Mattress Type

Even if you plan to top your mattress with a cushy mattress topper, your mattress type is an important foundation for your sleep experience. Mattresses have evolved over the years, and today’s mattresses can be divided into these five main categories.  

• Spring: A popular, enduring mattress type, these mattresses gain their responsiveness from rows of coiled supports hidden within. 
• Latex: These mattresses are made primarily with layers of latex rubber. Latex mattresses are generally bouncy and respond quickly to pressure, and because they repel heat, they’re a great option for sleepers who heat up while they sleep.
• Foam: Coilless and great for pressure relief, these mattresses are made with soft foam that responds well to pressure and even compresses and contours the body’s form.
• Hybrid: These mattresses combine the best of popular mattress types: a mixture of springs with either foam or latex layers. Hybrid mattresses are great for those who enjoy some bounce and responsiveness with their mattress with more body support than a typical spring mattress.
• Airbed: At the centre of airbed mattresses is a chamber filled with air to adjust the firmness and fullness of the mattress. Many of these mattresses can even be controlled by a smartphone, and couples can adjust their own side of the bed to their desired firmness. 

Firmness

Some prefer softer mattresses, while others require the support of a firm, sturdy mattress. When shopping at mattress stores in halifax ns or other areas, you can try the mattresses in-store, allowing you to get a good feel for the firmness of them before you make a purchase. Mattress firmness ranges from extra soft to extra firm, and whether your bed is soft or firm depends on several factors, including sleeping position, any current body pain, weight, and personal preference.

Sleeping Position

Make a note of the postures you find yourself in when you fall asleep and wake up, as different mattresses best support your body to avoid waking up with unpleasant body aches or pressure point pain. 

• Back sleepers should steer clear of mattresses that are too soft or too firm. Look for a medium-firm or firm mattress, as other mattresses won’t provide the necessary support for your lower back. 
• Stomach sleepers, like back sleepers, are prone to lower back pain when their mattress is too soft. Firmer mattresses are best to support your lumbar spine and restrict motion that puts too much strain on the spine.
• Side sleepers are best suited by mattresses that are in the middle of the spectrum. Side sleepers need support where their body touches the mattress, namely the hips and shoulders, so a medium-soft or medium-firm mattress is the best choice.

Body Type

The shape of your body and how much you weigh will dictate which mattress is ideal for you. Regardless of your sleeping position, heavier people will dip further into the mattress and will need to choose a mattress just firmer than what is recommended for your sleeping position. Lighter people may need to search for a mattress adequately responsive to their body weight so that softer mattresses could be a better option than others. 

Ultimately, it’s best to visit a mattress store to run some tests on different mattress types. With as big a decision as a new mattress, it’s important to purchase one that you’re certain will support you for years to come.