You and Your Mattress

Does the perfect mattress exist? I'm sure it does, I'm just not sure I've found it yet. I wonder some time if somewhere in the world there isn't a team of scientists who are researching the perfect mattress: they have dozens of subjects wired to some crazy contraption that is measuring how they respond to a variety of box springs and pillows. All the while spitting out reams of data that will enhance our sleeping experience.

Until that happens there are some basic guidelines to entertain before you invest in a mattress and the hopes of good night's sleep.

A Weighty Issue

You're height, your weight and the position you typically sleep in all play into what type of mattress you'll want to purchase. But weight distribution is key. According to an article on Webmd.com, the right mattress should be firm enough to provide good support to your back, neck, and legs, while still offering some cushion and recoil for comfort. In other words, if your mattress can't distribute your weight, you're going to wake up sore.

This begs the obvious question, "How do you know if your mattress evenly distributes your weight?"

Crazy as it sounds, you can have bad posture in bed. A poor mattress can cause your hips to sink and your shoulders to slouch and sag. The mattress needs to have a little play to it in order to play off your body size and weight. That's weight distribution.

Coils are King

Memory foam, latex, coils and even air mattresses all vie for the same consumer dollars. But at the end of the night, coil mattresses seem to be the mattress-of-choice for many individuals. The trick to coils and factor that can make or break a sale (and possibly your back) is the number of coils per mattress. Think of it this way: the more coils, the more flexibility and the better it is for you. Anything over 650 coils is good.

The Best of the Rest

If coils are king, then the prince and princess of mattresses may be memory or latex foam, both of which are extremely comfortable. Experts say however, not to confuse comfort with health. Memory Foam remembers your position and that's fine if you don't move around much, but otherwise you'll have difficulty moving around.

"Air" on the Side of Caution

Air mattresses have their share of supporters as well. An air mattress uses inflatable air chambers to provide back support. King-size mattresses that incorporate dual-chambers actually allow couples to adjust each side of the bed to their own preferences. Not a bed thing if positions differ.

Ultimately your mattress matters when it comes to getting a good night's sleep. And that scenario about scientists testing mattresses? There's actually some truth to that as experts recommend you devote at least 15-20 minutes on your back and in various positions before closing the deal on your mattress.

Not much of a compromise considering how much of our lives are spent in bed!