How to Buy A Mattress

How to Buy A Mattress for Any Sleeper

Sleep is vital. It is the fuel that powers our work, play and everything else in between. Without a good night’s rest, you are a car running without oil. Sure, you can get away without quality sleep for a few nights, but eventually, it catches up to you. Believe it or not, researchers think that quality sleep is key in avoiding cancer!

However, getting a good night’s sleep is harder than simply crawling into bed and turning out the lights. There are a variety of factors that determine the quality of your Zzzzs, a mattress being at the top of the list. Yet, that too, begs a few questions: how to choose a mattress, how to buy a mattress (online or in person), and what is the best mattress for side sleepers, back sleepers or stomach sleepers.

Thankfully, at REM-Fit we understand the importance and difficulty in finding the right bed. Therefore, if you’ve ever had any mattress related questions, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will cover how to choose a mattress, different types of mattresses: memory foam, hybrid and so much more!  

How To Choose A Mattresses:

The first rule of mattress buying is knowing the type of sleeper you are. There is a best mattress for back sleepers, just like there is a best mattress for side sleepers and a best one for stomach sleepers. It all comes down to the firmness of the mattress and, this is crucial: the weight and size of the sleeper. The reason why each sleeping position has an optimal mattress is that each position puts pressure on different parts of your body, in different ways. In regards to weight, the heavier you are, the more support your mattress will need to provide.

According to Arya Shamie, associate professor at UCLA Medical Center, “The mattress needs to support your body in a neutral position, one in which your spine has a nice curvature and your buttocks, heels, shoulders, and head are supported in proper alignment.” Based on your weight, if you have too soft a mattress, your pressure points will move out of alignment. If your mattress is too hard, those same pressure points won’t have the support they need. Either way, you’re likely to have a poor night’s sleep and an unappreciative sore body.

Best Mattress for Side Sleepers:

The best mattress for side sleepers is soft. On a scale of 1 to 10 (where 1 is the softest), side sleepers should be between a 3-6, depending on your weight. The heavier you are, the closer to 6 you should be. Side sleepers need a mattress to contour the shape of their body, giving in at the right places while providing proper support in others. Generally, side sleepers move more than back or stomach sleepers, which also lends itself to a softer bed.

Best Mattress for Back Sleepers:

The best mattress for back sleepers is slightly harder than those for side sleepers. A soft mattress for a back sleeper will put your spine out of alignment because the bed fails to produce the level of support needed. Back sleepers tend to fall within the 4-7 range, again partially based on weight.

Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers:

The best mattress for stomach sleepers is a slab of rock. We kid, but stomach sleepers do need the firmest mattress out of the three sleepers. It is important that the mattress has equal support throughout the body. Any discrepancy of firmness can cause stomach sleepers discomfort in the spine, midsection or other areas. Stomach sleepers tend to fall in the 5-7 range in terms of firmness.

Types of Mattresses:

We’ve come a long way since the days of simple spring mattresses. Today there are more mattress sizes and compositions than you can shake a stick at. However, there are two non-traditional styles of mattresses that have risen above the rest: hybrid mattresses and memory foam mattresses. Each has their own pros and cons that we’ll briefly discuss here. Just remember, regardless of what type of mattress you choose, match it to your weight and the type of sleeper you are.

Hybrid Mattresses:

Hybrid mattresses are essentially a mix of traditional spring mattresses and foam mattresses. The idea is to combine the two concepts to create a bed that takes the best aspects of each. Hybrid beds are known for providing quality support while balancing bounce and firmness nicely. If you are shopping for a hybrid mattress, be sure that it actually is one. Many companies are selling traditional spring mattresses and passing them off as hybrids. Hybrid mattresses also tend to be more expensive than traditional mattresses.

Memory Foam Mattresses:

Fun fact: memory foam mattresses weren’t originally developed for beds but rather seats for NASA. Eventually, someone decided that the material would make a good mattress. Hallmarks of memory foam mattresses are incredible support and contouring of the bed to your body. Heavier people who struggle to find beds that provide enough support will especially like memory foam mattresses. Another benefit for anyone with allergies is that they are hypoallergenic. However, there are some downsides. One is weight. They can be very hard to move. Another is heat. Memory foam along doesn’t breath particularly well, so a cooling memory foam mattress is essential if you sleep hot. Lastly, is their lack of bounce. Memory foam is exactly as it sounds and doesn’t bounce at all.