When shopping for a mattress follow these tips:

Tip #1: ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS AND TAKE YOUR TIME!!!  Ask for certifications for any claims about off-gassing or natural materials in the mattress.

Tip #2: COMFORT:  Wear comfortable clothes, and budget enough time to make an educated decision. Rushing the process, or feeling uncomfortable in a store can lead to hurried, or rash decisions.

Tip #3: TEMPUR-PEDIC AND OTHER FOAMS:  Be wary of foam.  It is a petroleum product.  It’s inexpensive to manufacture and it’s used in many mattresses.  Some sleep hot.  Most off-gas chemicals.  All have to use fire retardants.  Many do not disclose the ingredients in the fire retardants and they are not required to by law.  Most have one-sided sleeping surfaces.  The most common part of a mattress to fail is not the support system (coil, latex, air or water), but actually the foam(s) on top. Identifying the not only the depth of the foams but also if you can flip the mattress and change where you sleep can help you determine how long each bed will last.  For example, a high quality 10-12” thick no flip mattress with poly foam will have sag just under 1 inch within 5 years, but its two sided mattress counterpart will be flat as a packake if you flip it a few times a year.

Tip #4: COILS:  If you are selecting a coil mattress, the coil count is a general guide to whether the bed is built for an adult’s body weight. Any coil count over 500 in the full size, or 600 in a queen size can lead to a comfort life of 10 years or more. Further , the gauge of the coil plays an important role in the support, and if the gauge is to light(16 or higher) the count will not matter. Also, a heavy gauge wire (12.75) can support a lower coil count (roughly 400 in full) and still be very durable.

Tip #5: CHEMICAL SENSITIVITIES/NATURAL MATERIALS:  0dor from some new mattresses can be overwhelming. Additionally, research has indicated that the off-gassing from some mattresses can be harmful. If you have concerns about these chemicals, then you should avoid any mattress with vinyl air or water bladders, poly foams, soy foams, and visco or memory foams. Latex foam rubber, wool, cotton, or coil systems, or any combination of these, are all viable non-off-gassing options that may be better for your health.

Tip #6: DURABILITY:  For maximum durability natural latex foam is a great option. When used in combination with coils, wool, or all by itself, you will find that it can be used for an average of over 20 years. A good quality natural latex foam does not develop sags, and will not change feel significantly through the years. It will also not off-gas, and the mattress has no chemical odor. Latex is not an inexpensive product, and if you are trying to stay within a smaller budget, an eco-memory foam such as KEETSA or a two sided poly foam might be a durable alternative.

Tip #7: TEST AND TAKE YOUR TIME:  When testing the beds, narrow it down to a few favorites then give each mattress  a 10-15 minute test. Lay on each bed as though you were going to sleep, e.g. If you are a side sleeper, test it on your side.  Keep in mind there is no substitute for a month of sleeping on the mattress, but it will help indicate whether you will develop pressure points, or are not supported well enough.

Tip #8: BE AWARE OF TRANSITION TIME:  Regardless of how nice a bed feels in a showroom, it may not be the right choice. However, don’t give up on it until you give your body a chance to adjust. It takes roughly 28 consecutive nights and up to 90 days to get used to a new sleep surface.  Keep this in mind especially when you are transitioning from a coil mattress to a latex mattress.

Tip #8:  SAVE SALES TAX:  In Texas if you purchase a mattress for health reasons (allergies, asthma, etc.) and you present A PRESCRIPTION from your doctor (MDs and DO’s only) stating the diagnosis (i.e.  allergic rhinitis) and the recommended treatment (i.e. hypoallergenic mattress and bedding) your purchase will be exempt from sales tax.