So you’ve noticed you have been tossing and turning more and more at night. Maybe your back twinges a bit more in the morning time when you wake up. Ultimately you realize it’s time for a new mattress! However, when you start your search for a new mattress, it quickly becomes overwhelming. With so many different mattress brands out there it can be hard to know where to start. Then on top of that you add all the different types of mattresses there are. Then on top of that you have to figure out what materials your mattress should be made of. It can be a lot to process and take in. So we’ve put together a nifty list to help you feel like you’re well prepared for the mattress hunt.
Step 1: Know Your Preference
To start your search, you’re going to want to figure out what to look for. Mattresses come in many different feels, ranging from firm to soft. The feel of your mattress will be dependent on what materials it’s made of. Is it an all foam mattress? Count on a firmer feel. Is it a hybrid mattress? Ie: made with both innerspring coils and foam. Hybrid mattresses will probably give you a softer, but more supportive feel..
So step one to your mattress hunt is easy, would you rather have a mattress that is firm or is soft?
But what if you’re not sure what feel you really like best in a mattress? That’s where step 2 comes in.
Step 2: Make Sure Your Mattress has a Trial Period
We’ve all seen a mattress store before. Dozens and dozens of mattresses lined up in rows as far as the eye can see. These setups can be great for comparing mattresses side by side and getting valuable information on what the mattress is made of. Each mattress is paired with a little foot covering at the bottom, encouraging potential customers to hop up and see how they like the feel of the mattress then and there.
While first impressions are important, they can be deceptive. Testing a mattress for a few minutes can be handy for testing out the edge support or feeling the firmness level, but it’s hard to really gauge how much you will enjoy sleeping on a mattress by spending only a couple of minutes with it. For that we really recommend spending real a decent amount of time with the mattress and that you actually sleep on the mattress. This is why finding a mattress with a trial is ideal. It gives you the proper time you need to really gauge how you’re feeling on the new mattress and if you don't love it, you can send it back.
You can also test out how the mattress feels temperature wise. At Bear, we ensure all of our mattresses are built with cooling technology, but that is not the case for every brand. This is why it's important to try your mattress out at home with your own bedding because that’s the only way you’ll really know how your mattress will do in that environment temperature wise. Does the material of your bedding absorb the heat and redistribute it in a way that leads to a cool, cozy sleep? Or does it overheat with you sleeping on it with your partner? Does the mattress protector you picked affect the cooling specs of the mattress? These are questions that cannot be answered fully after trying out a mattress for a few minutes at the store. So while shopping at a mattress store is great, keep in mind you might not be getting the full picture of what life with that mattress will look like until you sleep on the mattress at home for multiple nights.
At Bear, we offer a 120-night FREE trial. This means once you receive your mattress, you have 120 nights to really check in with how you feel about it. Take note of how warm you’re sleeping with your new mattress, are you comfortable? Is the firmness level right one for you? If you don't love it, send it back!
Step 3: Avoid Mattresses Without Clean Certifications
All mattresses are not created equal. This is especially true when it comes to the materials your mattress is made with. Since mattresses are typically a more expensive product, there are many companies who will try to create a cheaper alternative by cutting corners that lead to mattresses made with unsafe materials. This is where you really want to pay attention to the materials listed.
At Bear, all of our mattresses are GREENGUARD Gold Certified by UL for low emissions. This means our mattresses have been proven to meet the world’s most rigorous, third-party emissions standards for chemical exposure and pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde and phthalates. On top of the GREENGUARD Gold Certification, our mattresses’ foam is CertiPUR-US-certified. This means they meet standards for content, emissions and durability, and are analyzed by independent, accredited laboratories. For foams to be certified they must be free of harmful substances like ozone depleters, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and phthalates. They also have to have a low volatile organic compound (VOC) emission. To put it simply, we put in the work to ensure our mattresses are made safe. Rest easy knowing you’re getting a clean sleep. This is especially true on our next point.
Step 4: Make Sure Your Mattress is Fiberglass-Free
This is a big one. One of the biggest mistakes you can make when mattress shopping is buying a mattress that is made with fiberglass. Fiberglass is often found to be used in a mattress’ fire barrier. Fiberglass is a very dangerous component to put in a mattress because when things go wrong, they can go very wrong. If your mattress is damaged, the fiberglass can leak out. Fiberglass is made from fiber-reinforced plastic material and takes the form of extremely fine fibers. Because the fiberglass is so fine, it’s quite difficult to spot. It can be invisible to the naked eye unless you catch it in the right light.
When fiberglass leaks from your mattress it can become very hazardous to your health very quickly. It is very easily to accidentally inhale fiberglass, causing damage to your lungs. It is also very difficult to clean up after a fiberglass leak. Again because the fibers are so tiny and the material is clean, it’s very hard to spot. This means cleaning is time consuming and not to mention potentially expensive if you need to bring in outside resources to help with the problem. Having a safe sleeping environment is paramount.
At Bear, we take pride in the fact that our mattresses are fiberglass-free.
Step 5: Make Sure Your Mattress is Compatible with Your Bed Frame
The last step we want you to take is to double check that your bed frame is actually compatible with your mattress. Different mattresses have different needs. At Bear, your mattress must be paired with a bed frame that provides a hard, flat surface. A bed frame with slats close together. Our mattresses are not compatible with a box spring. Different brands of mattresses will have different needs depending on if they are made from innerspring coils, foam, or otherwise. So when buying a new mattress, double check that the bed frame you have is compatible.
