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There is no proven scientific way of finding the right mattress, some say foam cushion is the key others say other mattress materials matter, so the best advice is to try it out.

Testing a mattress

The prospective buyer should lie on it at for least ten minutes, trying different positions to test the foam cushion.
Lying on the back If a user slides his/her hand under the small of the back, and it is very easy and his/her shoulders and hips are uncomfortable, the mattress is too hard. If there is no space between the user's back and the bed, it's too soft.
Rolling over If it takes a lot of effort, then the bed is too soft. If it is uncomfortable for the user's hips and shoulders, it's too hard.
The user should test the mattress on the type of base that it will be used on.
If the bed is for two people, both users should try it at the same time.

What to look for

The mattress should be designed to conform to the spine's natural curves and to keep the spine in alignment when lying down.
It should have perimeter edge support. Usually, this will be a heavy gauge border rod, however, in some high end models, a high density foam encased spring unit will provide firmer edge to edge comfort and support.
It should be designed to distribute pressure evenly across the body to help circulation, decrease body movement and enhance sleep quality.
It should be designed to minimize the transfer of movement from one sleeping partner to the other. The Marshall coil and viscoelastic memory foam designs achieve this better than traditional coil systems.
On a same size mattress, more coils of a lower gauge (thinner) may give better support and last longer than fewer coils with a higher gauge (thicker). A good warranty, 15 years being the best, will ensure your lower count-higher gauge coil mattress is of lasting quality.

Firmer or softer

There are three main sleep positions Back, stomach and side. During a night's sleep, most people use more than one position. The sleeping position determines which part of the body will interface with the foam cushion of the mattress, which in turn determines the amount of stress to the body.

It is a common misconception that a "firm" or hard mattress provides better support. Doctors used to say that when they were rather oblivious about people's sleep habits and thought that everybody slept on their back 100% of the time. Now that we know that a majority of Americans sleep mostly on their side, further research tells us that a mattress that conforms better to the shape of the body provides better support.

Firm preference

Orthopedic doctors tend to recommend a firm mattress because it will not allow back or stomach sleepers to sag into the surface at unnatural angles. Air, water or foam mattresses are not generally recommended because they do not provide this level of support.
Stomach sleepers probably need a firmer mattress to prevent spinal distortion that can result in back pain when waking up.
It is easier to soften up a firm mattress with the proper padding or bedding, than it is to firm up an overly soft one that is causing a backache. However, firm mattresses are designed to feel hard, so even when adding padding to a firm mattress it will not feel like a soft one, because the body will sink through the foam onto the hard surface underneath. A firm or very firm bed might be topped with a three-inch viscoelastic foam pad giving the user the best of both worlds — Good support and soft cushioned feel.

Soft preference

Side sleepers usually face the greatest amount of weight on the smallest areas of the body thereby creating pressure points, which reduce circulation and can be a cause of the tossing and turning during sleep.
A side sleeper will probably want a softer mattress, to minimize pressure points, especially if they have a very curved or rounded figure. A study of sleep quality and bed firmness showed that four of nine male subjects slept significantly better on softer mattresses and two on the harder mattresses

Not firm nor soft

Back sleepers need a mattress that offers enough support to fill in the gaps in the contour of the back, while at the same time providing enough comfort and foam cushion, according to the user's preference.

Firm AND soft

The brand Simmons currently produces King and Queen sized mattresses with a softer side and another firmer side, for the different tastes of the sleeping partners. The foam cushion helps in regards to firmness. Furthermore, there is a "Sleep number" bed that inflates and deflates inner air chambers to make it harder or softer, with separate controls and air chambers for both sides of the mattress, also to adjust to the different comfort preferences of the sleeping partners.

Fluff and sag

Fabric is the most expensive element of mattress construction. Wool, silk, foam and cotton all increase the cost of the mattress. Thick layers of padding are more likely than the springs to compress to the point of feeling like the mattress is sagging. The fabric, foam or cotton eventually become concave because thick plush or pillowtop components eventually break down even if the springs do not. Unlike an eggcrate or other forms of padding such as foam cushion, the mattress inner components cannot be removed and replaced when damaged.

Size

Twin & Double are 75 inches long; Queen & King are 80 inches long; California Queen & California King are 84 inches long. According to experts, a mattress should be at least six inches longer than the tallest person who will be sleeping on it. Be aware that the bigger the mattress, the more expensive the sheets.

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