Poor sleep can
be caused by many things. It could be a result of eating or drinking too much
before you retire for the night, from being too hot or too cold, or it may be
because your mattress needs to be changed.
As mattresses
age, they tend to provide less support and, depending on the type of mattress,
may develop lumps and bumps. If you’re finding that, even with though it’s
topped with a woollen
underlay, your mattress is causing you problems, it could be time to
buy a new one.
There are many
different types of mattress available from traditional pocket sprung types to
more modern memory foam mattresses. We take a look at how to choose a new
mattress.
Understanding
the Different Types of Mattress
Although there
are many different types of mattress on the market, the four most popular
mattresses are:
1.
Open-spring. Probably the most popular and most affordable, the open-spring
mattress contains steel wire springs to offer support while you’re sleeping.
2.
Pocket-spring. These mattresses are more expensive as each spring is fully
encased within a fabric pocket. Filled with either wool or synthetic fibres,
they provide more support than an open-spring mattress.
3.
Latex. This type of mattress distributes your weight more evenly and thus
offers a high level of support. It’s often chosen by people with allergies.
4.
Memory Foam. An increasingly popular choice, this type of mattress moulds
itself to your shape. However, they do tend to make you feel quite hot, which
is one of the reasons why many people prefer to add a wool underlay on
top to regulate their temperature.
Soft, Medium
or Firm?
If you choose a
sprung mattress, you’ll find that they come in soft, medium or firm options.
While this is often a personal choice, it is advised that the heavier you are,
the firmer your mattress should be. If your mattress is too hard or too soft,
it can cause problems.
Always Try
Your Mattress Before You Buy
The best way to
ensure that your mattress will be comfortable is to try it out before you buy.
And that means more than a quick sit on the bed; you’ll need to lie there for
at least ten minutes. When lying down, try the ‘hand test’ – if there’s a gap
between your hand and the small of your back the mattress is too hard, and if
you can’t fit your hand between your back and the mattress, it’s too soft.
Remember, if you
share a bed with someone, you’ll both need to try it out.
Invest in the Best Mattress You Can Afford
