Mattress Buying Guide - Where to Start & What To Consider

The mattress buying process is polarizing.  For many, researching and locating the perfect mattress can seem daunting and stressful.  Others zip in to a store or on to a website, breeze through the main points, and pick a mattress without a lot of consideration.  No matter the time spent looking, finding the appropriate sleep surface can be difficult, but if you take your time and ask the right questions, it doesn’t have to be so bad.

Where to start?

If you’re able to find a store in your local area that carries safe, healthy mattress options be sure to give yourself enough time to try out multiple options.  We find in our local showroom that many people come in anxiously, sit on the edge of a mattress, pat it with their hands, and then pass judgement. 

You really need to lay on a mattress as you would in your own home and spend some time on it; take off your coat, kick off your shoes and stay a while.  Most people don’t fall asleep sitting on the edge of the mattress, so going about it this way isn’t really going to help much.  Try bringing your pillows from home!

Be mindful of your natural sleep position(s)…

The biggest misconception is that a firm mattress is required for proper back health.  True, some pure stomach or back sleepers will find their best comfort on a firm sleep surface, but if you’re a side sleeper or someone who struggles with pain issues, you’re going to want to find a mattress that in the very least contours to your pressure points.

For a side sleeper, a mattress that cradles the hips and shoulders in a way that limits over-compression will help to combat numbness in the extremities as well as soreness which, over time, can result in persistent pain in the back and lower neck. If you’re someone who suffers with pain due to inflammation, sleeping on a mattress that is too firm can actually exacerbate your condition.

To be clear, we’re not recommending that anyone find a “marshmallow” mattress.  Rather, a mattress that contains contouring latex and a supportive spring system (like our Natural Escape) can cradle your body while supporting it properly and keeping your spine in a more natural alignment.  If you’re concerned with a mattress containing springs, then an all-latex solution (like our Hope mattress) would be the next best option for you in providing adequate support for your back.

What to do for the kiddos?

If you’re a parent buying for your child, a firm sleep surface is preferred.  This will promote proper growth and development.  We offer our Pure Echo as the solution for transitioning toddlers in to their first “big kid bed”, and it should serve them well for years to come.  The Pure Echo has a thinner comfort layer of organic cotton pads and batting, which provides a comfy, yet safe, surface.  When your child gets older and starts to develop their own sleep profile, if they request or require more contour you can apply a Plush Latex Mattress Topper.

Free Shipping and Sleep Trials and Warranties, oh my!

If you’re buying online, most companies will offer you free standard delivery.  In-home services may also be available, but at an additional cost.  Be sure to get an explanation from the company you’re working with on exactly what is covered by each tier level of shipping.  In most cases, two able-bodied adults will be able to handle bringing the mattress package in to the home and setting it up with some ease.

Sleep trials, or comfort guarantees, are another common feature of buying online these days.  At My Green Mattress, we offer our customers 100 nights from when the mattress is delivered to experience it and decide whether or not it’s a proper fit for them.  If the mattress is not for them, we give a full refund (minus any shipping charges applicable to our customers in Alaska, Hawaii and Canada) once the mattress is donated to charity and documentation is provided.

Warranties can be tricky.  For honest companies, it’s a matter of standing behind our products’ durability and protecting our customers through out the life of the mattress.  Most manufacturer warranties on materials are for 10 years or more.  Prorated warranties upwards of the manufacturer’s warranty provide a replacement at a discount.  Read more on our warranty here.

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