How to Compare Sealy Mattresses

With all the choices, buying a new mattress can be tiring in itself. But picking the right mattress is crucial to your overall health. A mattress that is suited to your sleep pattern can increase your comfort, reduce tossing and turning and allow you to achieve more restful sleep. And just as Mom always told you: a good night's sleep is rejuvenating, puts you in a better mood and improves productivity. Here are some pointers for choosing the right Sealy mattress set.

Things You'll Need

• Pen, paper for notes

Instructions

How to compare Sealy mattresses

1. Think about your dominant sleeping position, and your partner's too. Do you sleep on your side, back or stomach? Your sleep position is the key factor in deciding how firm or soft---the comfort feel---your next mattress should be. By matching the comfort feel of the Sealy mattress to your sleeping pattern, you will pick the right bed.

2. Pick the firm or cushion firm set if you are a stomach sleeper. The mattress keeps your body straight and keeps your back from caving in during sleep.

3. Choose a plush or ultra-plush mattress if you are a side sleeper. The extra cushioning relieves pressure on areas that support your body's weight while you sleep---shoulders, hips, knees, even ankles. This comfort feel also works for people with more than one sleep position and couples with different comfort preferences.

4. Select a pillowtop mattress if you sleep on your back. A too-firm mattress won't support your lower back (lumbar region) or distribute body weight evenly. You will toss and turn and may get backaches. Pillowtop mattresses work for side sleepers too.

   Pillowtops are mattresses with an extra inch or more of cushion material added to the mattress. On most models, it resembles a self-encased "pillow" added to the mattress. A euro pillowtop is sewn into the bedding and resembles a mini-mattress on top of the main mattress.

5. Sealy has three quality categories: "Good," "Better" and "Best."

   The Better and Best categories have about 50 more coils (innersprings) and a reinforced perimeter. This stronger edge extends the sleep surface, meaning you won't roll off the bed while you are sleeping. Also, the mattress won't break down if you often sit on the edge of the bed.

6. All Sealy mattresses have a "Pressure Relief" layer for extra support. The layer consists of alternating bands of foam fused together. Good and Better categories each have three zones. The Better category upgrades the middle zone to memory foam. The Best category upgrades to seven zones with alternating bands of memory and latex foam, which has even more support and comfort.

7. Purchase the set; don't try to pinch pennies by not buying the foundation (box spring). Sealy mattresses are "no-flip." The foundation supports the added weight of the one-sided mattress and absorbs movement. In some cases, using an old foundation or one from a different manufacturer will void the warranty.

Tips & Warnings

• These are guidelines, not set-in-stone rules. If you are the rare stomach sleeper who loves the contouring softness of an ultra-plush or pillowtop mattress, buy it. Some well-known hotels have Sealy mattresses in their rooms. If you get a great night's sleep on the road, take a peek under the sheets. You will be able to find a comparable model (under a different name) in a store or online. The mattresses have a 10-year warranty.

• Manufacturers change the names of their mattresses with each retailer, making an apples-to-apples comparison difficult. Matching the specs of the bed will help you know if you are making a smart buy. Sealy does not use memory or latex foam in its pillowtop layers.

Resources

• Provides information for improving sleep.