Which mattress? (merged threads)

Tim_Deegan

brianm729 wrote: »

Hi Tim,
I wonder if you could help me. I am looking for a single mattress to go on a cabin bed (wooden base). It is for my 14 year old daughter who weighs about 9 stone, and she has trouble sleeping. Budget would be up to about £150. If you could reccomend the spec. and the types rather than the manufacturer. Many thanks in advance.

You can get a top of the range, medium, open coil sprung mattress for well under £150.

Tim_Deegan

KaySamuels wrote: »

Hi I am new here so I hope this post works and ends up in the right place!

I need two mattresses for a bunk bed, it is rarely used so just looking for budget types, as money is very tight for us at the moment.

Does anyone know of any good offers anywhere?? TIA

Don't go for the cheapest available, as you will probably feel the springs. For not much more you can get a deep quilted mattress that you won't feel the springs through.

Tim_Deegan

e102gamma wrote: »

I forgot to say, when I was buying my bed I was told that Staples were discontinuing models to make way for 'new technology'. They didn't know what this consisted of but I can't help thinking it may herald a downturn in Staples' quality. I am a natural pessimist though. :rolleyes:

With the economic climate, and the trend for manufacturers who have been taken over by big chains you could very well be right, only time will tell.

sleepymy

Tim_Deegan wrote: »

Anyone who has been in this forum for a long time will know about my hate of pillow top mattresses, which are one of the bed industry's worst sales gimmicks. Most pillow top mattresses have loose fillings in them that feel really comfortable when they are new. However after a while the fillings can move about leaving you sleeping in a hollow.

Another problem with pillow top mattresses is that they are usually non turn, so they won't last as long as a two sided mattress.

I would avaoid buying an own brand mattress from the big chain stores, as they are often made to a lower spec.

It isn't the memory foam that gives off the chemical smell, it is the fire retardents that are used on all upholstery. The reason the smell lasts longer with memory foam is due to the high density. The smell does go away quite soon (if you get the smell at all).

I would say that this mattress is way over priced.....sorry.

Thank you so much Tim :beer:

Would you mind recommending what type of mattress might be suitable for someone who spends a lot of time on bed rest. It needs to be soft to lie on and support the lumbar area (due to a back condition) while still being supportive whilst sitting up for periods of time. I was hoping to find a good quality mattress without memory foam if possible.

Tim_Deegan

sleepymy wrote: »

Thank you so much Tim :beer:

Would you mind recommending what type of mattress might be suitable for someone who spends a lot of time on bed rest. It needs to be soft to lie on and support the lumbar area (due to a back condition) while still being supportive whilst sitting up for periods of time. I was hoping to find a good quality mattress without memory foam if possible.

Is there any reason you don't like memory foam?

The reason I ask is because memory foam spreads your weight out, supporting you evenly without pressure points. This can help prevent bed sores that are often caused by long periods in bed.

Is the reason you want a soft mattress due to pain from pressure points?

sleepymy

Thanks for getting back to me Tim. I don't dislike memory foam, but I already have a good topper and would rather just use it again. I'm hesitant to get a mattress with it because I have chemical sensitivities and would be worried about getting one that reeked the house out (we have a tiny house so I wouldn't be able to avoid it easily until it settled). I should have said a medium to soft mattress, it's more to do with my back condition, if I lie on a firm mattress for even a few minutes it starts to throw itself out (I can't sit on straight backed chairs either). I'd just like to find a good quality mattress that I could put the topper on while I needed to use it but take it off if I ever decided I could do without it.

myaccount08

sleepymy wrote: »

Thanks for getting back to me Tim. I don't dislike memory foam, but I already have a good topper and would rather just use it again. I'm hesitant to get a mattress with it because I have chemical sensitivities and would be worried about getting one that reeked the house out (we have a tiny house so I wouldn't be able to avoid it easily until it settled). I should have said a medium to soft mattress, it's more to do with my back condition, if I lie on a firm mattress for even a few minutes it starts to throw itself out (I can't sit on straight backed chairs either). I'd just like to find a good quality mattress that I could put the topper on while I needed to use it but take it off if I ever decided I could do without it.

I also have a back condition and spend considerable time on bedrest, and cannot sit upright in a chair. I also have chemical intolerance/sensitivities! So i can totally understand your dilemma!

I was put off a memory foam mattress because i use an electric blanket for pain relief - the heat really helps with severe muscle pain, and you cannot use these with memory foam.

At least with a pocket sprung mattress it is turnable, and you can also further extend the life with a topper - especially if you find one which really suits you. Pocket sprung are also cheaper than one with added memory foam.

However, i can see the benefits to memory foam especially to those of us who have to spend a large amount of time in bed.

I hope you find something suitable.

Tim_Deegan

sleepymy wrote: »

Thanks for getting back to me Tim. I don't dislike memory foam, but I already have a good topper and would rather just use it again. I'm hesitant to get a mattress with it because I have chemical sensitivities and would be worried about getting one that reeked the house out (we have a tiny house so I wouldn't be able to avoid it easily until it settled). I should have said a medium to soft mattress, it's more to do with my back condition, if I lie on a firm mattress for even a few minutes it starts to throw itself out (I can't sit on straight backed chairs either). I'd just like to find a good quality mattress that I could put the topper on while I needed to use it but take it off if I ever decided I could do without it.

If you speak to anyone who has owned a memory foam topper, but then bought a mattress with memory foam built in, they will all tell you that the toppers just don't compare. This is because a lot of research and development goes into designing new mattresses, and making sure that all the components work well together. A topper is just like adding a bolt on extra.

As for the chemical smell, most sellers who deliver straight from a smaller manufacturers would probably be able to arrange for the mattress to be made a few days in advance, then aired. The smell (if it is there at all) would go within a day or two leaving the mattress hypoallergenic.

Do you prefer a mattress that contours to your body, or one that means that you are on a level sprung platform?

Also what does your doctor recommend for your condition?

Tim_Deegan

myaccount08 wrote: »

I also have a back condition and spend considerable time on bedrest, and cannot sit upright in a chair. I also have chemical intolerance/sensitivities! So i can totally understand your dilemma!

I was put off a memory foam mattress because i use an electric blanket for pain relief - the heat really helps with severe muscle pain, and you cannot use these with memory foam.

At least with a pocket sprung mattress it is turnable, and you can also further extend the life with a topper - especially if you find one which really suits you. Pocket sprung are also cheaper than one with added memory foam.

However, i can see the benefits to memory foam especially to those of us who have to spend a large amount of time in bed.

I hope you find something suitable.

You are right that you can't use an electric blanket with memory foam, but due to the way that it moulds to your body your muscles would be less likely to be tense.

Remember they use memory foam mattresses in hospitals for a reason.

sleepymy

Tim_Deegan wrote: »

If you speak to anyone who has owned a memory foam topper, but then bought a mattress with memory foam built in, they will all tell you that the toppers just don't compare. This is because a lot of research and development goes into designing new mattresses, and making sure that all the components work well together. A topper is just like adding a bolt on extra.

As for the chemical smell, most sellers who deliver straight from a smaller manufacturers would probably be able to arrange for the mattress to be made a few days in advance, then aired. The smell (if it is there at all) would go within a day or two leaving the mattress hypoallergenic.

Do you prefer a mattress that contours to your body, or one that means that you are on a level sprung platform?

Also what does your doctor recommend for your condition?

That's great to know, I did wonder if any of them would agree to 'air' the mattress before delivery :cool:

I would prefer one that contours (which I know the memory foam does) so that it supports my back.

I haven't asked my doctor, my back problem isn't usually a problem unless I sit or lie the wrong way i.e. on a firm mattress.

I'm interested in a natural latex mattress with pocket spring base but not sure if anywhere in NI sells them for me to try out before buying.

Thank you so much for your post myaccount08, it's good to know I'm not just being awkward