Choosing the best mattress for you
Why not consider buying a mattress like you buy a new pair of shoes? Skip the mattress review and rating sites and focus on talking to friends and relatives to find out what they’re sleeping on – and if they’re happy with their choice. And then get out to a brick and mortar mattress store and start testing.
Test for comfort
Take your time and lie down on a variety of mattresses. Spend several minutes lying in your normal sleeping position. If you have a sleep partner, make sure you shop for your new mattress together. Lie on the mattress at the same time, testing for partner movement and how it feels to each of you. Check for uncomfortable pressure points and the amount of surface cushioning.
Test for support
The old saying that the firmer the bed, the better for your back, has given chiropractors lots of business over the years. Firmness and support are not the same though. In order to keep your spine in correct alignment, a mattress must echo the natural contours of your body, supporting lighter and heavier areas equally. When a mattress is too soft or too firm, your muscles can’t rest and re-groove-N8.
To test a mattress correctly, you have to lie on it like you do at home. If you’re a side sleeper, you may need a mattress with more cushioning to support your hips and shoulders. A back sleeper’s weight is usually distributed evenly over the mattress surface. However, without proper support, regions of the back (such as the lumbar area) may undergo excess strain as it works to support the spine’s natural curves.
Consider size
Some couples are cuddlers while others prefer room to stretch out without touching each other. If you’re a light sleeper, a larger mattress will ensure you’re not woken when your partner rolls over. And if you’re tall, an extra long mattress will allow you to sleep comfortably. Think carefully about your sleep habits and body size before increasing or decreasing the size of your mattress.
Finding online resources – Not mattress review and rating sites
There are a lot of great online resources to help you sort through the amazing amount of information about mattresses and sleep health. Remember to bookmark and print off info you find helpful.
Better Sleep Council
The BSC (Better Sleep Council) is a non-profit organization supported by the mattress industry. It provides consumers with helpful buying guides and sleep better tips.
Better Sleep Council Canada
The BSCC offers tips for buying a new mattress, the importance of sleep and some fun trivia.
The Sleep Council
Mattress shopping tips as well as a library of sleep-related information.
National Sleep Foundation
A non-profit organization that supports public education, sleep-related research and advocacy related to sleep deprivation and sleep disorders.
National Center on Sleep Disorders Research
Focused on research of sleep and sleep-related issues.
Canadian Sleep Society
A professional association of clinicians, scientists and technologists to further advance the understanding of sleep and its disorders.
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