10 Facts You Need To Know When Buying A Bed

• Flat uniform mattresses do not contour to your individual body shape. This means they cannot provide quality support for your neck, shoulders, hips, and lower back
• A uniform mattress can be made from any number of materials including pocket springs; bonnel/box springs; foam; memory foam; latex or a combination of these materials
• Only an ergonomic bed can provide real and adjustable support to give you the best rest your body needs

• Comfort refers to the padding layers of the mattress and is usually referred to as soft, medium or firm. As good as they feel, comfort layers do not provide support
• Support is how the mattress contours and adjusts to the shape of your body
• Don’t be fooled by the comfort layer when testing beds, it’s the core of the bed which provides support

• Box spring mattresses are generally a firm spring and can cause shoulder and hip soreness
• Normally called orthopedic, chiropractic or Posturepedic, box spring mattresses are not ergonomically designed to provide real and adjustable support your body needs

• Memory Foam, Visco and Tempur are of a similar basic composition
• They are a man-made synthetic product first developed by NASA
• Contrary to claims, memory foam does not reduce pressure or provide proper support

• A flat uniform mattress doesn’t have the ability to reduce partner disturbance which can be caused by the different height and weight of each person
• Getting in and out of bed, tossing and turning, snoring, neck, lower back & hip issues creates restlessness
• A bed that can be customised to suit the needs of both partners, or has independent adjustability on either side is recommended for couples experiencing disturbance

• Our bodies create heat and this can be trapped by the mattress and bedding, making it hotter
• The design of your mattress can determine how hot your bed becomes:
  • The thicker the comfort layer the hotter the bed
  • The plusher or softer the comfort layer the hotter the bed
  • Euro tops and pillow tops can trap more heat
  • A tight top mattress does not trap heat

• Natural latex provides an organic mattress with allergy free properties
• The interconnecting cell structure of latex provides a natural ventilation system that allows heat and body moisture to dissipate
• Many latex mattresses are made firmer by the addition of synthetic hardening compounds
• If you suffer allergies insist on all natural products within the latex

• A flat uniform mattress can obstruct your wind pipe due to incorrect support which places pressure upon your head, neck and/or shoulders
• An ergonomic mattress which adjusts to the contours of your body to accommodate your unique size and shape reduces stress upon these areas and reduces the likelihood of snoring and sleep apnoea

• Young growing bodies need proper support and comfort for a good night’s sleep
• Poor quality sleep can cause reduced performance at school, poor decision making and a greater tendency toward moodiness and low concentration
• A combination of a lighter responsive spring mattress, or supportive foam or latex mattresses with an ergonomic base forms a supportive bed that can be adjusted as your child grows

Single versus Double sided mattresses

Single sided mattress:

• A single sided mattress is where the comfort layer only appears on one side of the mattress
• They will not last as long as a double sided mattress, which can be flipped
• Are easy to rotate as they are lighter
• Generally more cost effective as they use less materials

Double sided mattresses:

• Have a comfort layer on both the top and bottom of the mattress.
• Can be rotated and flipped extending life of mattress
• Generally heavier and may be difficult to flip
• Can have a side for winter and a side for summer
• Generally more expensive than single sided mattresses

Box-Spring Mattresses

• Typically referred to as orthopaedic, chiropractic or posture-pedic mattresses
• Generally a firm spring
• Better for medium to robust body types
• Can cause shoulder and hip soreness due to its firmness
• Can cause partner disturbance
• Does not provide contoured support

Pocket Spring Mattresses

• Has individual springs each encased in fabric, creating a pocket
• Generally a softer spring
• Better for light to medium body types
• Reduces partner disturbance, due to the pocketing of each spring
• Can cause back soreness due to hammocking effect
• Does not provide contoured support

Latex Mattresses

• Produced from natural rubber
• Can be soft, medium or firm
• Is suitable for all body types
• Reduces partner disturbance
• Can include chemical compounds to change its feel
• Provides better support than most other mattresses
• Does not provide contoured support

Foam Mattresses

• Man made using synthetic materials
• Can be soft, medium or firm
• Is cost effective and can have shorter lifespan
• Includes chemical compounds that may cause allergies or reactions
• Does not provide contoured support

Memory Foam Mattresses

• Man made using synthetic materials
• Memory foam, visco and Tempur are all the same product.
• Can be soft, medium or firm
• Reduces partner disturbance
• Includes chemical compounds that may cause allergies or reactions.
• Does not provide contoured support