subject: Should You Invest In A Memory Foam Mattress? [print this page] Most people value getting a good night's sleep. Sure, there are some who are freaks of nature who live off of 3-4 hours of sleep a night. But for the rest of us, we need on average a good 7-8 hours of sleep to be productive in school or at work. Sleeping on a comfortable mattress is important because that's where we spend nearly 1/3 of our day.
In a perfect world, we could all sleep on a Tempur-Pedic memory foam mattress and live happily ever after. These are the best mattresses in the business. If money is no object, then you can't go wrong with a Tempur-Pedic. They do cost thousands of dollars, and not everyone is willing to make that type of investment. Whether or not they are worth the money depends on your values and beliefs.
Memory foam mattresses in general tend to be hit and miss. If you randomly chose 100 people to sleep on the same mattress for 2 weeks, you would probably get 100 different opinions. Perhaps there would be some consensus, but you would get varying opinions.
A handful of people will claim that it's too firm. Others will say that it doesn't provide enough support. About 5% of so will say that the chemical smell bothers them after two weeks. You will get some who experience pain relief, and others who experience pain because of it.
While lying down on some mattresses at a store in your area may provide a bit of insight, it won't tell the whole story. On average, you'll have to sleep on a particular mattress for several weeks before getting a good feel for it.
They will often feel hard at first, but soften overtime. If you lie down on a mattress for only 5 minutes, you might conclude that it's too firm. But it might feel just right in a week or two.
Any mattress, whether it's an innerspring or memory foam, is a good investment if it provides the comfort and support you seek. End of story.
The challenge however is to find one that fits that criteria. It's a tough process mattresses are not comfortable and supportive for everyone. We all react a little differently to memory foam.
Check out mattresses that have a 4 pound density or greater. For those who suffer from joint pain, a 5 pound one will offer greater support.
Consider buying a topper if you feel uncomfortable spending hundreds of thousands on a new mattress.
