Memory Foam Mattress

Information current as of

What is memory foam?

This is all the rage for bedding and mattresses lately. You've probably seen hundreds of commercials for Tempur-Pedic mattresses. The basic thing about it that everyone recongizes is that when you press on it with you hand, the impression of your hand stays molded in the foam bedding for a few seconds and then slowly comes back to its regular flat shape. The idea behind it is that when you sleep on this the mattress will curve directly around every part of your body and cushion you as you sleep. It certainly sounds heavenly, doesn't it?

You can choose to get a full mattress or just get a mattress topper. Generally the toppers are less expensive, but they also offer less cushion since they aren't as thick. There are also memory foam pillows available. I started with the pillow first, but didn't get a good enough brand because it actually hurt my neck after a few nights. The foam didn't sink enough and it was too thick for comfort.

How does memory foam work?

It's made up of tiny cell like structures that are temperature sensitive. Always get a good density foam and never compromise on the price. Memory foam is a material that is designed to be visco-elastic. This causes the foam to soften in those areas and allows your body to sink into it at that point. Memory foam is too soft to be used on its own in a mattress so a firm supportive core is always used.

Where to buy foam mattresses?

Generally you'd start with your local furniture store and compare their prices to various online companies. Of course you'd have to factor in shipping costs, although some online sellers offer free shipping now. If you're only needing the mattress and not a full bedframe or surrounding bed furniture then you have more flexibility in your shopping options. Be careful of really cheap options, "you get what you pay for" is a good rule. If it seems too good to be true; probably is. Infomercials can be misleading, so be sure you're buying from a reputable company if you can't test drive the product for yourself before purchase. Also be sure you get a money back guarantee or some kind of free trial period since you never know what you'll think. Sleep is important, you don't want to invest big dollars only to be disappointed.

Are they really good for you?

Of course some people will love them, some will hate them. For every medical professional who says they're healthy for you, there's another one who would dispute it. It really is something you just have to try for yourself, especially if you have particular medical conditions. Some people with bad backs think these foam mattresses are the cat's meow, others have said they actually made the pain worse.