4 TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT MATTRESS AND GETTING A GOOD NIGHT’S REST
1. GET YOUR DOCTOR’S ADVICE
While your doctor won’t be able to recommend a specific brand of mattress, he or she can give you advice as to which features you should look in for. For example, you may be considering a pillow-top mattress, when what you actually need is an inflatable bed to reach the softness your doctor recommends.
Alternately, if you suffer from night sweats, your doctor may be able to shed some light on whether it’s your mattress causing you to overheat or a hormone imbalance that’s to blame.
2. DO YOUR HOMEWORK
Sellers do their best to get you to buy their products. They lay claims to features like back support and anti-overheating properties, but do the mattresses really do what they say? Take the time to visit websites like Sleep Junkie to read reviews of specific mattresses to find out what real people have to say. Just because a mattress claims to limit motion when your partner rolls over doesn’t mean you’re not going to be shaken awake the very first time your partner turns on his side.
3. TEST THE MATTRESS BEFORE YOU BUY
Many people sit on the side of a mattress and bounce up and down a little to test its firmness. This isn’t nearly enough testing to find out if a mattress is right for you. Instead, lie down on the mattress and lay in your normal position for at least 10 minutes. If you’ll be sleeping with a partner, have them lay with you.
By lying on the mattress for at least 10 minutes, you give your body time to sink into it so you know whether it provides the right amount of support for you. If your partner’s movement during the night is a problem for you, be sure to test that out as well.
4. CONSIDER THE REST OF THE BED
If you’re buying an entire bed, be sure to look at the other features of it before you commit. For example, if you’re buying an adjustable bed, don’t take for granted that the head raises to a sitting position just because it says it does. Lie down and use the controls to see how easy they are to manipulate and whether the bed actually rises to a sitting position or not.
Choosing a mattress can be a daunting task, but it pays to spend the time and effort to find the best one. Use the tips listed above to make sure you get a mattress that’s just right for you.
