Helpful mattress shopping tips from our “Sleep Specialists”
It is very true that you don’t shop for a mattress too often. Here are some helpful tips to make your mattress purchase experience more successful and enjoyable.
1. Realize the important of sleep- The Better Sleep Council reports, “A good night’s sleep, just like diet and exercise, is essential to your mental, emotional, and physical health. Yet many people just do not get the recommended amount of sleep needed each night to perform their best during the day.” Lack of proper sleep often means difficulty concentrating, irritability, and lack of energy or drive at work, weakened immune system, higher stress, and even weight gain.
2. Know when it is time for a new sleep surface- Your mattress is the single most important piece of furniture in your home. In reality, it may be the single most important purchase you make. Many factors go in to determining the appropriate “shelf life” of a mattress. Initial quality, changing support and comfort preferences, whether the mattress has been properly protected, size and weight of sleepers, and if it was properly maintained.
According to The Better Sleep Council- Here are a few things to consider when deciding whether it’s time to buy a new mattress and boxspring/foundation:
• “Your mattress is 5 to 7 years old.”
• “You wake up with stiffness, numbness, aches and pains.”
• “Your mattress shows signs of overuse (it sags, has lumps, etc.)”

3. Know your options- Get educated on the various comfort and support options in the marketplace. Chances are that mattresses have drastically changed since your last purchase. Take the time to explain any individual needs, comfort preferences, or any possible back/neck/shoulder/hip pain to your sales consultant.
4. Clear your mind- What I mean by this is to be open to try out different styles and feels of mattresses. A mattress that a friend or relative likes may not be the right comfort or support level for you. Everyone is a different size, shape, weight, and has different sleeping styles and medical histories to take into account. Just because a certain bed is right for someone you know, does NOT mean it is necessarily right for you!
5. Comfort, Support, Durability- These are the three main things to focus on when selecting your mattress. Comfort is always a key component in decision making, so is support, but durability should be a focus as well. Once you establish your support and comfort needs, ask yourself how many years you want or expect your mattress to last with daily use. Often people fail to realize the difference between firm support and firm feel, which leads to them being unhappy with their new set once slept on. Luckily, today’s bedding manufacturers are great at ensuring that you can get a good firm back support, even if your preference is for a softer feel. Ideally, your mattress will provide you a good firm back support without being hard on your body.
6. The S.L.E.E.P. Test- When you are trying out beds in a store, it is always a good idea to follow the S.L.E.E.P test to ensure you are making a good selection.
S elect a mattress.
L ie down in your typical sleep position.
E valuate the level of comfort and support.
E ducate yourself about each selection.
P artners should test beds together.

Some other helpful tips are:
• Wear loose fitting clothing and remove keys, cell phones, and wallets from your pockets. This allows you to feel that mattress better.
• Fully lie on the mattress, and do so in the position you normally sleep in. If your feet are hanging off the end, it tends to pull on your lower back and you cannot get an accurate feel for the mattress.
• If you have a favorite pillow, bring it along to see how it feels with the mattress you are selecting.
• Ask questions! If you are engaged with your sleep specialist during the purchase, you will make a much more educated decision about the right mattress for you. Your sales associate is the expert on support and durability; you are the expert on comfort. Together you can ensure that you find the right mattress for your needs.