It is no doubt that, to maintain good health, we need to ensure an adequate sleep routine. Quite often, this sleep routine or our quality of sleep is affected when we are not comfortable with the sleeping environment. Key parameters of our environment such as lighting, temperature, bedding and pillows affect our sleep to a good level. This is why your bed’s mattress is an important choice that needs to be made, considering your needs and requirements. Companies like Wakefit have various types of mattresses in their product range that come in all sizes.
There are various points in the checklist which need to be ticked off before making the final selection of your mattress. To form your checklist, make sure these aspects are considered: age of mattress, position of sleeper, firmness needed, weight of sleeper, type of mattress and allocated budget.
Most often, the only criteria people consider while buying a mattress is its size- whether it’s a king size mattress, queen-sized or a single mattress. However, make sure to expand your checklist with the following points:
1. Age of your Mattress
It is necessary to know the average lifespan of the type of mattress you’re using to determine its efficiency. According to mattress experts, airbed and latex mattresses last for as long as 8-9 years, while innerspring and hybrid mattresses last for up to 6 years. Although the lifespan of each mattress varies, depending upon the material it is made of, as a general thumb rule, 8 years is the ideal lifespan of most mattresses. This means if your mattress is older than 8 years, it’s high time you switch to a new mattress; therefore, if you’re looking for a long-lasting variant, it’s best to opt for a good mattress.
2. Position of Sleeper and Firmness of Bed
It may sound funny, but it is essential to understand your sleep pattern while choosing the right mattress. This is because the type of sleeper you are decides the firmness of the bed you would need to be most comfortable while sleeping. On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 is the softest type of mattress and 10 is the firmest mattress. The firmness of your mattress needed can be correlated to the type of sleeper you are. Some are back sleepers, while some side sleepers. A good percentage of people also sleep on their stomachs. And a majority of people sleep in a combination of these positions throughout the night.
Back sleepers require a medium-firm feel, not too soft nor too hard. If back sleepers sleep on beds that are too firm, they will risk tension at their shoulders and lower back. On the contrary, sleeping on very soft mattresses can result in improper alignment of their hips and cause sharp pains along their spine. Therefore, back sleepers are best suited for mattresses that are 6.5 on the firmness scale as they help lift their spine in a neutral alignment.
Side sleepers tend to risk their shoulder and hips on the side they tend to sleep the most. A harder or firmer mattress can tend to exert unwanted force and pressure over these areas causing chronic aches. Therefore, a softer mattress that aligns with their curves, preferable between 4-6 on the firmness scale, is most suited for such side sleepers to provide ample pressure relief for their joints.
Stomach sleepers have needs opposite to that of back sleepers. Because of their position, they require a mattress that ranks higher on the firmness scale, somewhat between 7-9, so that their hips are alleviated and aligned with their shoulders.
As for combo sleepers, they require a mattress that provides comfort across all areas of their body- back, size and stomach. A medium-firm mattress, which is 6.5 on the firmness range as per industry standards, is ideal for combo sleepers as it provides them with the right balance of support and pressure relief. In addition to the firmness, the buoyancy and mobility of the mattress are important for combo sleepers as they tend to keep shifting positions throughout their sleep.
3. Weight of Sleeper
As the sleeper’s weight determines the mattress sinkage, feel, support and cooling, it should be considered by while buying a mattress. For example, light sleepers would not sink easily in soft feel mattresses, while heavy sleepers tend to sink easily in softer mattresses unless supported by thick layers of foam over a sturdy coiled frame.
4. Type of Mattress
Broadly classified, mattresses come in these varieties- memory foam, latex, innerspring and hybrid. Each type has its own set of associated pros and cons. It is important to understand these while picking your ideal mattress.
- Memory foam mattresses are ideal for pressure relief at the shoulders, hips and lower back as they are made of memory foam which has a hugging effect. If you look up memory foam mattress online, you may come across different varieties that use cooling agents.
- Latex mattresses have a quicker response to pressure and are therefore bouncy and allow ease of mobility. Being able to cool naturally, they are also ideal for sleepers who heat up while sleeping. On the contrary, they might not be ideal, like ortho mattress, which provides pressure relief.
- Innerspring mattresses combine buoyancy, support and firmness on their coiled body and are best for heavier sleepers.
- If you are looking for an overall balanced feel, you may best opt for the hybrid mattresses, which offer bounce, support, and mobility.
Lastly, the mattress price or your budget is an important factor to decide your pick. But consider this a long-term investment and pick the right mattress for your need without compromising on its quality.
