Mattress Matters

Does your mattress really make a difference to the quality of your sleep? We asked sleep experts for their verdict on whether upgrading your mattress is worth it.

Have you noticed? Mattress ads are everywhere right now. On TV, billboards, public transport, social media.

Companies like King Coil, Respa, Emma, Eve, Casper, Nectar, Simba… They’ve all got friendly-sounding names and they all promise, more or less, the same thing: amazing sleep or your money back. Clearly, these ads are working. I, myself, in the hope that a memory foam mattress would soothe the back pain I’ve suffered with for years, treated myself to an Emma Original (reduced €249.99). Emma is one of Ireland’s best selling mattresses and one of the leading sleep brands in the world.

Two months into the 200-night trial, I’ve no intention of returning it – I love how squishy yet supportive it feels when I sink into the memory foam – but my big ticket purchase made me wonder one thing: was Goldilocks right? Does your mattress actually affect how well you sleep?

In a bid to find out, I asked sleep specialists to answer these common mattress queries…

>> WHY IS YOUR MATTRESS IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF SLEEP? Mattresses have two essential functions – support and temperature control. “One-third of your life is spent lying in bed – that’s why it’s important to have a comfortable mattress,” says Dr Guy Meadows, co-founder and clinical lead at Sleep School (sleepschool.org). “Poor mattresses lead to night-time discomfort, pain and sleep disturbance.”

James Wilson, a sleep expert from Beingwell (beingwellfamily.com), adds that mattresses are also “very important for helping our body be the right temperature for sleep. If our mattress gets these two things right, then we will be more likely to get the sleep we need,” he says.

>> HOW CAN YOU FIND THE RIGHT MATTRESS FOR YOU? “When looking at mattresses, we need to consider two things,” says Wilson. “Does it offer the support we need, and does it feel right for us? Generally, a heavier person needs a firmer mattress, while a lighter person needs a softer one, in terms of support, but this is not always true.”

That’s why personal preference is such a big factor as well, and why staying in hotels or other people’s homes can affect your sleep: “Something that doesn’t feel like what we have slept on before can feel alien, and make us tense and stressed.”

Meadows says: “Ensure the mattress is the right size for you. Think about your personal sleep space, especially if you’re sharing a bed.” And in terms of temperature, he says: “Spring mattresses keep you cool (by ventilating air), while foam mattresses keep you warm (by trapping air).”

Wilson adds: “Buy as big a mattress as you can, as we sleep on very small mattresses here. A double bed gives both people less space than a baby has in a cot bed.”

>> IS IT WORTH INVESTING IN AN EXPENSIVE MATTRESS? “We spend more time on our mattress than pretty much any product we own, yet we often don’t give the time or money needed to ensure we get a mattress that is right,” says Wilson.

While he’s somewhat sceptical about the recent explosion in mattress brands – “the innovation has been in the marketing, as opposed to the product”, Wilson notes – he does recommend trialling your purchase thoroughly to decide if you’re really happy with it, which is where those 100-day or more money-back guarantees come in handy.

If you’re sharing your mattress with a partner, Wilson suggests to “consider one that allows you to have different support on both sides” – which is what he has at home. “My side of the mattress is designed around my sleep posture and body type, as is my wife’s. It is amazing and has been a real game-changer in my sleep quality and also preventing me from waking with aches and pains.”

If the mattress of your dreams is out of your price range, look out for Black Friday or end-of-season sales for big reductions. Meadows adds: “If you’re on a budget, a mattress topper is an affordable way to enhance night-time comfort.”

>> HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU CHANGE YOUR MATTRESS? “To ensure optimum support, you should ideally replace your mattress every eight years,” says Meadows. Signs that your mattress might need replacing sooner include: sagging or visible damage, noisy springs, and waking up with sore muscles or stiff ness.

Wilson says: “I do not believe in a prescriptive number when it comes to changing the mattress. If your mattress is not supporting you or making you too hot (and less commonly cold), then change it today.”

DOES YOUR MATTRESS NEED REPLACING?

Do you find yourself twisting and turning to get comfy, or sense the middle feels a bit saggy, or your bed has lost its bounce? Chances are, your mattress is nearing the end of its life. Richard Naylor, product and sustainable development director at bed manufacturer Hypnos, knows a thing or two when it comes to mattresses and sleep. Here, he outlines three signs your mattress needs to be replaced.

1>> SAGGING “Mattresses are built in a variety of different ways and with a variety of fillings and springs, but over time, these can naturally start to deteriorate and cause sagging to certain areas of the sleep surface,” says Naylor.

“This can often occur regardless of turning or rotating of mattresses, due to the natural sleep position, height and weight of the body or bodies on it over a long period of time.

“This sagging or collection of fillings in certain areas is the tell-tale sign that your product may need replacing, as having an uneven surface will lead to poor sleep support for your body, and a drop in comfort levels.”

2>> SUPPORT Another classic sign that your mattress needs replacing is if you or a partner are experiencing noticeable drops in sleep comfort, or are having back or neck problems, he notes.

“If you’re tossing and turning in bed on a regular basis, trying to get comfortable, then it may be that you need a new mattress – and you can alter the amount of support within your new product. If you’ve opted for a firm mattress for better back support, one way to tell if your mattress is still offering this is to lie on your back and see if somebody else can easily slide their hand under the small of your back. If this is easily achieved, then the mattress has lost some of its tension, softened and may no longer be offering you the necessary spinal support you require.”

3>> TIMING AND USAGE Whilst Hypnos guarantees all new mattresses for ten years, it is recommended that, on average, your mattress needs replacing every seven to eight years. However, this does vary naturally from person-to-person, depending on the usage and how the mattress is looked after.

“Over time, as our bodies adapt, grow and change, we need different things from our mattresses to protect our sleep comfort and ensure a perfect night’s rest,” adds Naylor. “As we’re all different, we advise that anyone looking for a new mattress tries them out in person, when it’s safe to do so, for 10 minutes in their natural sleep positions, to make sure it provides the ideal support for your joints, as well as true comfort.”

Finding the perfect solution for you

We spend around one third of our lives asleep, so it makes sense to invest the time in testing out and researching your mattress, to ensure you’re choosing the perfect one for your needs and comfort levels. More customers are now opting for an environmentally-friendly product, made with sustainable and traceable fillings like wool and cotton.

“Knowing they’ve got a bed that will help them get a comfortable night’s sleep, but which has also been made ethically, is great for peace of mind and – of course – drifting off to sleep.

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