How to Compare Mattresses

One of the best things you can do for yourself and your body is to get a good night’s rest each night. One of the main ingredients you need for that is a great mattress. With so many options for mattresses on the market, the task of comparing mattresses may seem daunting, but with a few helpful hints in hand, it can be a simple process.While you can purchase mattresses online, I would never recommend doing so unless you are ordering a model you have already tested out in person.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Time
• Comfortable clothing
• Everyone present who will be sleeping on the mattress
• Paper
• Pen or pencil

Comparing Mattresses

1. Decide what type of mattress you want. There are water-filled mattresses, memory foam mattresses, air-filled mattresses and mattresses with coils. Each has pros and cons and the price range varies with each.

2. Keeping in mind your budget and the room available for your mattress, begin searching various furniture and mattress stores for the right mattress for you.

3. Have each person who will sleep on the mattress try it out. To try it out, climb onto it and lay down. Change position multiple times, so you can feel what it is like to lay on the mattress while on your back, on your left side, on your right side and on your stomach. Make sure to try out the position(s) you sleep in most, as well.

4. If you will be sharing the bed, be sure to have the other person climb onto the bed and off it while you are laying on it. Also have them lay down, change positions and move around a bit while you are still laying on the mattress. You want to test how much their movements disturb you while you are laying down. Take turns going through this process.

5. Take note of any special requirements for the mattress such as foundation, electrical outlets, care, maintenance and specially sized sheets. This is most typically found with California King and pillow-top mattresses.

6. Ask about financing plans if you need it, delivery and warranties that come with your mattress. Ask if the delivery includes setup and old mattress removal/disposal, too.

7. Rate each mattress you try out. Make notes about likes, dislikes and price.

8. Review your notes and compare notes with your sleeping partner, if you have one. Before you purchase, try out your top choice one more time to ensure that you have not changed your mind.

9. One you and your sleep partner (if you have one) have made a mattress choice, all you need to do is purchase it and prepare the room it will go into.

Tips & Warnings

• When mattress shopping, wear shoes that are easy to slip off and on. You don’t want to wear shoes while testing out mattresses.
• If you have a condition like acid-reflux or nighttime heartburn, be sure your mattress can be comfortably elevated at the top. Sleeping with your head and shoulders on an incline will help reduce your incidences of acid reflux and nighttime heartburn. Elevating your mattress can be accomplished with bricks under the legs, or a wedge under your mattress. Some people opt for a wedge pillow on top of the mattress, instead.
• If you have allergies to materials commonly found in mattresses and mattress ticking such as wool, be sure to check the label before you purchase a mattress. Do not take a salesperson’s word for it--check the label yourself.

Resources

• Tips from Psychology Today on how to get great sleep