How to Choose a New Mattress

How to Choose a Mattress

The right mattress provides gentle support to your whole body while keeping your spine in a comfortable position. Sleeping on a comfortable mattress eliminates anxiety and stress, revitalizing you with positive energy. If you have no idea how to choose a mattress, it’s advisable to find an option that conforms to your body’s contours.

Conversely, an uncomfortable mattress causes you to sleep in unnatural positions that twist your back.

The following tips will guide you when shopping for a new mattress.

1. Evaluate Your Needs

Before you go shopping for a new mattress, it’s wise to determine your needs. If you are comfortable but want to replace the old mattress, you don’t want to make drastic changes. However, if the current mattress provides more fatigue than comfort, you might need a reliable alternative. 
 
The following are the signs that you need a different type of mattress:

  • You wake up with a stiff neck and a sore back
  • You struggle to get comfortable while you sleep
  • You often wake up with shoulder pain
  • You feel that you sink when you hop into bed

Some people prefer soft mattresses that give them the cushion to sleep comfortably throughout the night. Others need firm mattresses that hold up the body rather than sinking too far. If you experience problems with back pain, ask a chiropractor to recommend the best mattress for you.

2. Evaluate Several Types Of Mattresses

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Knowing the various options at your disposal will keep you ahead of the curve before you embark on the search. From versatile mattress types that suit almost everyone to special types customized to particular sleeping positions, you are spoilt for choice. If you are allergic to dust mites, you must do your homework before pulling out the credit card. 

Beware of the toxic mattresses made of synthetic petroleum products and vinyl that can pose some health risks. You will find your perfect match from: 

  • Raised air mattresses that provide customized support
  • Spring mattresses that distribute your weight evenly
  • Hybrid mattresses that soothe your back
  • Latex options that conform to the spine alignment

Latex mattresses are suitable for people who suffer from allergies and asthma. Hybrid mattresses comprise an array of materials that include foam, latex, and springs to suit various needs and preferences. 

3. Determine the Firmness

While a firm cushion provides your body with more support and resistance, a softer alternative can offer the comfort you need to sleep well throughout the night. The firm mattress keeps your spine in a neutral position and reduces the pressure on your internal system. It maintains a seamless flow of body functions and proper blood circulation.

If it’s too firm, you will experience too much pressure on various body parts, leading to discomfort and pain. Soft and plush varieties cause your body to sag or sink, leading to spine alignment problems down the road.

Chiropractors recommend:

  • Innerspring varieties that conform to your body’s contours
  • GhostBed 3D Matrix's soft yet supportive foam

How well you choose your mattress will determine your overall comfort. While searching for the best mattress, look at the thickness and density of the foam that will determine how comfortable you’ll be.

4. Decide on the Best Material

With so many materials to choose a mattress from, identifying the right choice can seem like a daunting task. Fortunately, you can simplify this task by getting your priorities right. Are you looking to soothe your back pain or the best luxury you can find?

Once you identify your ideal material, you can choose a mattress that suits your tastes and preferences easily. If you have special needs or health conditions, you might want a material that provides pressure relief. Choose the ideal material from these options:

  • The Winkbed mattress is made of foam and latex
  • The EcoCloud is a latex mattress that aligns naturally to the spine
  • Nolah is made of proprietary foam and it’s great for side sleepers

Most orthopedic doctors recommend either memory foam or latex to offer medium-firm comfort to your spine.

5. Know Your Sleeping Position

Whether you're a front, back or side-sleeper, the right mattress can make all the difference to your sleep quality. The trick when choosing a mattress is to find the option that suits your sleeping position. It’s best to ask for a catalog of options that suit all positions before you make a decision.

All hybrid mattresses are ideal for front sleepers as they combine the responsive properties of memory foam with the support of spring technology to align your spine comfortably. The DreamCloud Luxury Mattress suits the back sleepers as it provides support to the lumbar area and prevents back pain.

Side sleepers require soft to medium-firm mattresses that allow the sides of the shoulders and hips to sink in. The Amerisleep AS5 is ideal for side sleepers as it relieves pressure on the spine and alleviates pain.

Alternatively, you can choose the Saatva Zenhaven mattress that suits the combination sleepers. This innerspring mattress has a layer of foam, two sets of spring coils, and firm wire support for your spine.

6. Consider Your Weight

The hybrid and Innerspring mattresses are ideal for a heavy person. The coils offer extra support and increase the longevity of the foams found in all-foam mattresses. Reinforcing the mattress also helps to increase comfort significantly.

While the cushions don’t have a weight limit, memory foam mattresses are rated up to 150 lbs. Innovative reinforcements help to increase the threshold to 200 lbs without compromising your comfort.

The eco terra variety provides the best support, as it distributes the weight more evenly. Memory foam mattresses provide body-hugging comfort to light sleepers and are ideal for all sleeping positions.

Heavy people prefer firm mattresses that provide adequate support. A firm mattress may be uncomfortable to light people as they will sink less and experience pressure at various parts of the body. Since some mattresses can be uncomfortably hard, it’s best to strike the right balance when shopping for a new mattress.

Choose The Right Mattress

A firm mattress will suit you if you sleep on your stomach since it will keep the spine aligned. If you sleep on your back, a medium mattress is your best option as it will provide sufficient support to your spine, back, and neck. A soft mattress is best if you sleep on the side as it enables you to sink in and conforms to your body’s curves.

3 thoughts on “How to Choose a Mattress”

  1. My husband and I want to buy a new mattress to replace our current one. I like how you said to consider the firmness that you want for your bed to determine overall comfort. We will be sure to find a mattress that suits both of our comfort needs.

  2. I’ve been having a hard time sleeping, and I’m not sure what to do about it. It makes sense that a more comfortable mattress would be worth looking into. I’ll have to try out a few different kinds of beds to ensure that I’m comfortable.

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