How to Sleep Better - Tips for Getting a Good Night’s Sleep

If you're not sleeping well, you probably don't need anyone to tell you it's bad for you -- your own body lets you know loud and clear. But feeling crummy the next day is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the ramifications of poor sleep. Sleep, scientists now know, is one of the keys to healthy aging, helping protect your body from pretty much every major health threat. Studies show sleep protects your brain from Alzheimer's and dementia, while lack of sleep can shorten your life. And it's not called "beauty sleep" for nothing -- research shows that sleeping poorly can prematurely age your skin as well as boost appetite and slow metabolism, leading you to gain weight.

But knowing you need to improve your sleep isn't the same thing as doing it, right? Here are ten science-proven secrets to deep sleep.

1. Set a Sleep Schedule -- and Stick to It

There's a good reason why previous generations went to bed early and woke with the sun. Our bodies follow internal clocks known as circadian rhythms, and they don't like to be frequently reset. That's the conclusion from a spate of recent studies linking irregular sleep schedules with conditions including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and cancer. One study even found that irregular sleep patterns cause permanent changes to our genetic code, with the potential to trigger a host of major illnesses and conditions.

What to do: Work out a compromise schedule that you can stick to (at least without enormous variation) both weekdays and weekends. When you need to make changes to your sleep schedule, do it by changing your wake-up time gradually over several days -- your bedtime will follow naturally as you get tired earlier or later.

One more trick: Create a bedtime routine for yourself, just as you would for a child -- a series of steps that you do every night just before bed. (At least when your schedule permits.) These can be whatever works for you -- listen to music, straighten up your room, take a hot bath, read. Once they become habit, they signal to your brain that it's time to wind down.

2. Embrace the Darkness

We live in a bright world -- we stay up late under bright lights, then tumble into bed and expect to be asleep in minutes. But here's the problem: Light tricks your brain into thinking it's time to wake up, causing it to stop production of melatonin, the hormone that triggers sleep. Even very small amounts coming from, say, cracks in the blinds or a lighted clock can make it harder to fall asleep or can affect how deeply you sleep.

What to do: Start with a thorough room check. Are there streetlights outside your windows? Use blackout curtains or shades and make sure they fit the windows tightly so no light seeps in around the edges. Are you charging your phone, tablet, or computer in your bedroom? Move devices to another room or cover the charging lights. Use an alarm clock without a lighted dial, or turn it to face the wall. Never use night-lights -- instead, keep a book light or mini flashlight next to your bed and use it when you get up to use the bathroom or let the dog out, rather than turning on the overhead light. (Be careful to point it away from yourself so you don't look into the beam.)

One more trick: Make sure you're exposing yourself to bright light during the day. Get outside in the sun if you can, or at least sit in the light from a window. When that's not possible, try using a lightbox or light visor to supplement your exposure to bright light.

3. Make Bedtime Tech-Free

If the last thing you do before bed is check your e-mail, you're not alone. Bringing our laptops and tablets to bed with us has become a national habit. But not all habits are good ones, and this is one worth changing. The problem: Computers and tablets are designed with backlit screens, so the light shines directly in your eyes when you look at them. And that's not all -- the type of light used in electronic devices is a close relative of sunlight, so it's even more disruptive to circadian rhythms than other types of light.

What to do: Make the last hour before bedtime screen-free. If you must use a laptop or tablet, turn the screen brightness as low as you can tolerate and prop it as far away from you as your typing arms will reach. If you love eReaders, try a Kindle or other device with a screen that's not backlit.

4. Use Your Ears Wisely

No matter how sound your sleep, your brain continues to process sound through an area called the auditory cortex. And while some sounds startle us awake or disturb us into tossing and turning, there are other types of sound that can actually help you sleep more deeply.

What to do: If your bedroom lets in street noise or other loud, sudden sounds and can't be soundproofed, earplugs are going to be the best solution. But silence is not necessarily golden -- studies have found that "white" and "pink" noise promote deep, restful sleep. White noise occurs when sounds of different frequencies are combined into a muted blend; it's the type used in most sound machines. Pink noise, a more recent discovery, occurs when every sound is of a consistent frequency -- think of falling rain or a steady breeze in the trees. Test out different types of sounds and see what works for you.

5. Cool It: Lower the Temperature

Just as outside temperatures drop throughout the night, your body and brain want indoor temperatures to drop, too. In fact, feeling cool is so closely linked with restful sleep that the sleep hormone melatonin not only makes you feel drowsy, it lowers body temperature. (And of course becoming overheated during the night is an even bigger problem for women in the midlife perimenopausal and menopausal years.)

What to do: Don't overdress for bed, and choose natural fabrics that breathe, like cotton. If you're chilly when you first get into bed, wear socks or sweats but jettison them just before you drift off. Open the window nearest the bed for a fresh breeze, or use a fan, which has the additional benefit of creating white noise. If it's hot out, cooling your head with a cold washcloth or ice pack has been shown to help you fall asleep faster.

6. No More Late-Night Gym

Exercise raises your heart rate and boosts overall metabolism, which is the opposite of what you want before bed. In fact, sleep researchers have demonstrated that exercising within three hours of bedtime causes you to sleep restlessly, waking up frequently during the night.

What to do: If you prefer to exercise at the end of your workday, stop at the gym on the way home. Then enjoy dinner and a couple of hours of relaxation to let your system settle back down.

7. Cut out the After-Dinner Drink

Alcohol is deceptive when it comes to sleep. Because it's a central nervous system depressant, you may feel relaxed and even sleepy right after having a drink. But research shows alcohol interferes with the deeper sleep state known as REM sleep, causing restless sleep or middle-of-the-night insomnia.

What to do: Enjoy your glass of wine or beer with dinner, but put the bottle away several hours before bed. And make sure to drink plenty of water with alcoholic drinks, as dehydration amplifies sleep problems.

8. Skip the Smokes, Too

You may think of smoking as something you do to relax, but the fact remains that nicotine is a stimulant, just like caffeine.

What to do: Try to put as much time as possible between your last cigarette of the day and bed. Substitute a different relaxing habit, such as a warm bath. (Better yet, quit smoking, and add as much as nine years to your life.)

9. Eat a Midnight (or 10 p.m.) Snack

You've always heard you shouldn't eat a big meal close to bedtime, and that's true, experts say. But the same doesn't hold true for a small carb-heavy snack, which can actually help you sleep. Carbohydrate-rich foods trigger your body to produce insulin, which speeds up the release of tryptophan and serotonin, two brain chemicals that relax you and make you feel sleepy.

What to do: One of the best combinations for instant drowsiness is toast or a small bowl of granola or oatmeal topped with bananas or dried cherries. The whole grains in toast and cereal are easily digested complex carbs, triggering insulin production, while oats have the added benefit of containing melatonin, which many people take as a sleep aid. Bananas are rich in potassium and magnesium, which relax the muscles, as well as the amino acid L-tryptophan. And, like oats, cherries (both fresh and dried) contain significant amounts of melatonin.

One more trick: Avoid protein, which is takes much longer to digest and therefore keeps your metabolism active when it should be in shut-down mode.

10. Put Your Worries to Bed

You know the drill -- you wake up in the middle of the night and your mind starts going a mile a minute. It's a natural instinct to problem solve when you can't sleep, but it's extremely unproductive, experts say, because everything seems bigger and more urgent at night and yet we can't take anxiety-relieving action until morning.

What to do: Keep a pad and pen next to the bed so you can jot down a "worry list" of the things that are bothering you. But that's not the important part -- what's critical is to banish each worry from your mind once it's written down. As you list each item, tell yourself that it's now on the list and will be a top priority the next day. Then let it go, and let yourself get some much-needed zzzs.

Bonus tip:
Buy a good mattress. If too costly for you then buy a mattress topper. You can find a lot of memory foam mattress topper reviews online

Source: https://www.caring.com/articles/10-secrets-to-a-good-nights-sleep

Memory foam was developed in the late 60's by a group of chemists at NASA's Ames Research Center. The goal was to create a material that would relieve astronauts of the pressure generated by the g-forces they experienced during lift-off. Their challenge was to develop a material that would provide both support and cushion and prevent the creation of pressure points.

These scientists were successful in creating the first ever visco-elastic polyurethane foam. It had properties that would reduce the effects of g-forces by conforming to the shape of the astronaut’s body and act as a full-body shock absorber. This unique new foam returned to its original state once pressure was removed.

The new substance was temperature sensitive and pressure relieving. The foam softened as it absorbed body heat, distributed weight evenly and quickly adapted to any movements of the body.

1st Generation Memory Foam

Many versions of this 1st generation "memory foam" were extensively tested. The first versions were too brittle and tended to break down chemically after about 2 years. The manufacturing process released unpleasant fumes that were potentially dangerous in the confined areas of a spacecraft. These first generations of memory foam also lacked durability, flaking and breaking apart after only minimal use. Due to this and other issues, memory foam was never actually used inside space shuttles.

Next Generation Memory Foam

NASA lost interest in memory foam and sold the technology. Fagerdala World Foams of Sweden, one of Europe's largest foam producing companies, began experiments in the 1980s to perfect memory foam for consumer use.

In 1991, memory foam was introduced as a pressure relieving material in mattresses to the people of Sweden and received high marks. In 1992, the same products were launched in North America and experienced a similar response.

Because of the success of this material, many other foam manufacturers in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East and China began to develop their own visco-elastic memory foam material to create mattresses and pillows. Specialty bedding made from memory foam has now emerged as a major force in bedding and is a serious challenger to the innerspring mattress.

Innovation and the Future of Memory Foam

Innovation is key in the development of memory foam. Companies are addressing issues such as memory foam's sensitivity to temperature and its performance as a pressure relieving material. We have been fortunate to be able to position ourselves by representing one of the most respected manufacturers of polyurethane foam, not just in America but in the world. Thanks to the work of

BASF, our mattress has overcome issues of the foam getting too hard when it gets cool and too hot and gooey when it gets warm. You will love our mattress. It's "just right". We only offer one type of mattress but it is simply the best. Coincidentally, it is also very affordable and is certified made in the USA.

Source - https://www.bedinabox.com/history-of-memory-foam-mattresses.php

What to look for when buying a memory foam mattress topper

Here are the most frequent questions I have received on how to buy a memory foam topper. I hope they help you make a good decision.

Also, at the bottom of this page, you can ask your own questions. You can also share your own comments or experiences with memory foam.

So click here if you want to ask a question or make a comment about mattresses, memory foam, or memory foam toppers.

You can also see the questions other people have asked.

What is a memory foam topper?

All it is is a block of memory foam, anywhere from two to four inches thick, the size of your current mattress. It sits on top of the mattress you already have.

For example, if you have a queen size bed, you need a queen size topper.

To determine what thickness you should buy, here are some guidelines:

For the 2 inch memory foam topper:

• It will have a medium pressure relieving effect on your body while you sleep
• Therefore, in terms of comfort, it will be average
• However, if you buy a high quality topper, and you have a small build, this may be all you need
• As you might expect, this is the least expensive option 

For the 3 inch memory foam topper:

• This is the topper size most people end up buying
• Comfort level is excellent if you put it on top of a firm mattress
• Provides good pressure relief on your joints and back 
• Not as comfortable as a brand new mattress. But if it's all you can afford right now, go with this size

For the 4 inch memory foam topper:

• If you are over 250 pounds, this is the size for you
• It provides extra support, which also makes it ideal for camping if you sleep on the ground

Are memory foam toppers
good for your back?

Two questions people frequently ask are:

1. Does a memory foam topper help with back pain?
2. Is memory foam bad for your back? 

If you have a bad back, you have to be careful when buying a bed topper to make sure it has good support.

For support, the term you need to be aware of when shopping is memory foam density.

High quality toppers will have a density of four pounds (4lbs) or five pounds (5lbs to 5.34lbs).

If you have a bad back, your best bet is to get a bed topper that has a density of at least four. A density of five or more would be even better.

As for the second question, is memory foam bad for your back? I wrote a detailed article about this called What is the Best Mattress for Back Pain?

You can read my article by clicking the Best Mattress for Back Pain box you see on the right up above. If you have any kind of back, neck, or shoulder pain, you're going to want to read that article.

Are memory foam toppers any good?

You may read comments on websites that have memory foam mattress topper reviews about how a topper can turn any mattress into a luxury bed. This is simply nonsense. That's like saying you can put a fake fur jacket on a pig and turn it into a purebred dog.

See, in order for the topper to work, you have to have a good mattress already that the topper can sit on top of.

If your mattress is getting into that seven to ten-year-old range, a topper may not help you get a better night's sleep. You may need to be thinking about replacing the entire mattress.

Just take a good honest look at the mattress you have. If it's seven years old and still decent, you might be able to keep that mattress going for a few more years if you put a topper on it.

However, if your mattress is already worn out, and sagging in the middle, the foam topper will sag too. It's a waste of money because the topper will conform to the underlying foundation.

What situations do memory foam
toppers work best for?

It's probably safe to say you're looking into a topper because you want memory foam... and you also want to save money.

Perhaps you just can't pony up the substantial money (often up into the thousands) needed to buy a memory foam mattress.

Fair enough. Just keep in mind that along with what I said above about back pain, a topper is best for the following:

1. You have a good bed already, but it's too firm and you want to soften it up with a topper.
   
2. You have a hideaway sofa bed with those awful bars that crack your back. Slapping a good foam topper on top is a good way to go.
   
3. You need an extra bed you can simply throw on the floor for guests. As long as the guests are young...perhaps grand kids or friends of your own children...a good topper works great. (For us middle age and older folks, it's tough to get up off that ground!)
   
4. It could be used to make a camper or RV more cozy for sleeping. Toppers are great for camping.
   
5. Get one to dress up a dorm room mattress with memory foam comfort.
   
6. You can take it with you on the road when traveling and put it on top of the hotel or motel mattress.

How long do memory
foam toppers last?

If you buy a cheap memory foam mattress topper, you'll be lucky to get a couple years out of it. Poor quality memory foam will quickly lose its support. In fact, you might find the foam is not expanding and remains indented.

On the other hand, top quality mattress toppers may last up to about ten years if you take good care of them, although ten years is a stretch. It all depends on how often the topper is used. If you get five years out of your topper and use it all the time, consider it a good investment. 

Also keep this in mind: a foam topper with a density of at least four pounds will usually last longer. However, they are slightly more expensive.

In my part two article, Where to Buy the Best Memory Foam Topper, we'll look at one very important health question about memory foam—toxic chemicals. And I'll give you three short memory foam mattress topper reviews.

However, if you just want to jump in and go shopping right now for a memory foam topper, see below.

My recommended foam topper
company...and a special mention below

Nature’s Sleep sells four different topper thicknesses so you’re sure to find something that suits you. These are all certified pure by CertiPUR-US.

Their 3-inch 4lb density topper is especially nice. And all toppers ship for free.

I recommend reading the topper comments from buyers on their website. Click here to check out Nature's Sleep memory foam toppers.

A hidden Amazon
memory foam topper tip

Let’s face it. The Nature’s Sleep toppers I just told you about are plush, top-of-the-line toppers.

They cost a little more too because they are first-rate. For example, on the Nature’s Sleep website their best seller is the 3 inch, 4 pound density.

But what if you have a limited budget, yet still want a really good topper and can’t afford their excellent best seller?

Well check this out.

If you go to Amazon.com and type in memory foam topper into the search box, Nature’s Sleep does not come up (at the time of me writing this in 2015). Not unless you go to the much deeper pages.

However, Nature’s Sleep has put two toppers on Amazon that are not listed on the Nature’s Sleep website. These two toppers are typical superb Nature’s Sleep quality, yet priced to sell big time.

I’m not sure why Nature’s Sleep is doing this. And I don’t know if this is a limited promotion to get people over to their website. I do know however that you can get a great price on these toppers if you grab one of them today.

You can get a 2.5 inch topper with a density of 3.5 pounds. Or you can opt for the 2.5 inch memory foam topper with 4.5 pounds of density.

Both of these are a fabulous bargain. For those with a smaller budget, finally, a top-notch memory foam topper you can afford.

Here are the links to Nature's Sleep at Amazon:

2.5 inch 4.5 pound density

2.5 inch 3.5 pound density

Now for that special mention

A good topper will run you several hundred dollars, depending on what size you buy. However, for just a little more money, you can get a complete luxury mattress that has memory foam in it.

For example, you can get an ultra deluxe queen, online, for only $899! And from a great company that won an award from the Better Business Bureau for marketing excellence.

A premium mattress of this quality would cost you at least $2,000 in a mattress store.

Before you spring for a topper, do yourself a favor and read my article, Maverick Mattress CEO Answers the Question, What is the Best Mattress for You? You can read this article by clicking on the What is the Best Mattress box you see on the right up above.  

You'll also learn what mattress stores don't want you to know. And, why a top sleep doctor replaced his $2,800 Tempur-pedic with this luxury discount mattress online.

Best memory foam mattress comparison 2015

What Is a Memory Foam Mattress?

Most people looking to buy have probably asked themselves this question before. In its simplest and most common form, memory foam mattresses are generally manufactured using viscoelastic foam and consists of a three layered design.

A typical 4 tier design

The topmost “Comfort Layer” is made of special materials which molds to the body shape when it comes into contact with body heat. By molding to the body shape, the downward pressure and stress on joints created by gravity are eliminated. When the foam cools down, or if parts of the body are not in contact, the surface will turn to its original horizontal form.
The second platform is usually referred to as the “Support Layer.” It’s designed to be more rigid so the overall shape of the mattress is retained, and offers support to the softer and thinner comfort layer.
Then you have the “Base Layer” which is the bottom platform of the design. The base supports the top two and is usually the thickest and most rigid of the three. Each layer mentioned can have sub-layers depending on manufacturer, design and innovation, but generally that’s how it is made up.

Things To Consider When Buying

– Thickness

The most common sizes or names in the U.S are Twin, Twin XL, Full, Full XL, Queen, King and California King. In the UK and other countries sometimes the sizes are referred to as different names like Double Sized, Single, King Size and Super King. Aside from the various mattress sizes, the most common feature you’ll see advertised when buying memory foam mattresses are their thickness. Each can range anything between 7 inches all the way up to 16 inches thick, and sometimes possibly more. Generally the thicker ones are more expensive as they offer more than the conventional 3 layers. For example there may be an extra ventilation layer, or an extra comfort layer. There are generally 3 platforms which make up the design. Each one is generally different in thickness and serves its own purpose. One thing to note though is that just because its thicker overall doesn’t always mean its better quality. Be sure to check the thickness of each layer, and to check what combination, materials and foam type have been included in its design.

– Foam Type: Viscoelastic

Viscoelastic internals

First on the scene, since 1992 the visco elastic memory foam mattress has probably become the most established and the most popular. You may see this type referred to as Standard, Traditional Polyurethane, or Petroleum Based. As the name suggests this type uses petroleum-based polyurethane foam and was invented by NASA, and was originally commercially released for bedding purposes by a company named Tempur-Pedic. Sometimes you may see the Traditional also referred to as Tempurpedic but it’s important to remember that this is the brand, not the technology.

Pros – The viscoelastic is great for motion isolation, silent usage, joint aches and back pain relief, durability, and availability. Being one of the most popular technologies adopted by entry level and expert manufacturers makes this type of mattress widely available in almost every local showroom and online retailer. Due to the extensive ranges available there is something available for everyone; prices range from $200 for a cheap memory foam mattress all the way upto $10,000 for a top end product; so depending on your budget you can have exactly whatever suits your needs. In terms of durability you generally get what you pay for, but should expect your new mattress to last over 7 years even for a budget brand. The great motion isolation derives from temperature reactive technology; this means your partner may be 3 inches away but can be tossing and turning without disturbing your side of the bed.

Cons – Although the viscoelastic type has been a consumer favorite for decades and is far better than innerspring or pocket sprung, it has stiff competition now with alternate designs such as gel-infused or natural plant based models. The main issues of concern are complaints of toxic off-gassing, voc’s, heat retention, slow response times and sleeping hot. Viscoelastic foam reacts with temperature which means body heat will mold the shape around contours of your body, however this technology often excessively retains heat and can lead to the sleeper feeling uncomfortably hot throughout the night, which isn’t great for hotter climates but can be a bonus for colder ones. As well as sleeping hot due to heat retention, slow response times from the mattress when moving around are common due to slower reactions to the temperature. The most common complaint however is the toxic off-gassing (also known as out gassing) which is the release of odor that can last anything from a few days to a few weeks. Off-gassing is the process of a chemical release which occurs in a new mattress due to its chemical composition and packaging. Recent surveys show that 15% of people complain of off-gassing.

– Foam Type: Gel-Infused

A common gel structure

The gel memory foam mattress is the latest addition of the three types. Essentially this is the traditional viscoelastic foam version but infused with millions of gel beads. The idea behind this technology is the gel will not trap heat like its predecessor; trapped heat can lead to poor response times when someone moves around and can also increase the body temperature. Big brands such as Serta and Brentwood have established a foothold online and in showrooms with popular models of the gel mattress.

Pros – They tend to sleep cooler and dissipate heat at a faster rate, which leads to faster response times when moving around throughout the night. There is also minimal motion transfer which means you can move around freely without disturbing your partner. Also, because this is the latest hype many manufacturers have begun to utilize this technology, so buying a gel memory foam mattress is very easy in terms of availability.

Cons – Although generally the gel mattress sleeps cooler to begin with, if two people are sharing, throughout the course of the night the gel can tend to warm up. Also, like the traditional memory foam mattresses the gel models also let off VOC’s and so the “new odor” is quite common, however this shouldn’t last more than a few days.

– Foam Type: Plant-based / Natural

An aloe vera mattress

Also known as an eco or natural memory foam mattress, this is quickly becoming one of the most popular and best rated mattress choices amongst consumers. The plant-based solution replaces a portion of the gel or petroleum-based substances for plant extract as its filling. Such extracts could be soya, aloe vera, tea or bamboo; each manufacturer may use different plants but will generally make it clear in their specifications what they are using.

Pros – When it comes to comfort, joint pain relief and support, these products generally offer the same benefits as its predecessors (the viscoelastic and gel mattress). However they are far superior when it comes to motion isolation, heat dissipation, good joint support, back pain relief, odors, off-gassing, eco-friendliness and health consciousness. They are cooler to sleep on and dissipate heat up to 10x faster than a polyurethane foam mattress due to the extreme open-cell technology. These are widely accepted as the best mattress for allergies and sensitive skin due to the natural substances used, offering a healthy alternative to chemicals found in the previously mentioned products. The eco-friendly innovation means they are manufactured with zero emissions and contain zero toxic VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) which have previously been cause for concern with traditional petroleum-based models. Also, unlike the visco memory foam there is no toxic off-gassing resulting in bad odor from the mattress.

Cons – Like any new and innovative technology this type is generally more expensive than a viscoelastic or gel mattress. Some people have sensitive skin and allergies so will unfortunately have to pay the premium for natural products. You may also struggle to find showrooms locally which stock or deliver these products; however if you want a plant based item you’ll find plenty online at Amazon.com.

– Density / Firmness Level

One of the most important things to consider is how soft or hard the molding experience should be. When we say molding, we mean how the mattress firmness reacts to weight and pressure, adjusting to the contours of the body, thus producing an even, comfy, firm or soft platform. The lower density type means you will experience a deeper, more plush and cozy sinking sensation; whereas the increased density type means that although the sinking sensation will still occur to an extent, it will feel more firm and padded. One isn’t better than the other, its down to personal preference.

You will commonly see density measured in pounds (lbs). A foam density of 2 – 5lbs is most common, and anything over 5lbs is considered high quality. Just remember that a lower density figure means soft and plush. A higher density figure means it will be firm and supportive, which is usually considered the best mattress for side sleepers and back pain.

IFD Ratings are another way of identifying how soft or firm the foam is. The ratings range between super soft (IFD 10) and semi-rigid (IFD 120). The most common are generally an IFD 12 to IFD 16, but this measurement isn’t very widespread in the mainstream market.

Memory Foam Mattress Reviews

LUCID – Plush 14

The Plush 14 by LUCID is probably one of the best memory foam mattresses when it comes to value for money in our opinion. It is a generous 4 layer bamboo charcoal plant-infused best seller that has been around for a while and making its name amongst comfort seekers. The bamboo charcoal is good for sensitive skin and hypoallergenic, the foam is 100% CertiPUR-US® certified, and it comes with a 25-year warranty!

DreamFoam – Ultimate Dreams 13

Yet another great value product from a leading American manufacturer. This 13″ thick gel memory foam mattress has a 3″ 4 lb comfort layer, followed by 2″ of 5 lb support layer, and a 8″ of high density base layer. A great design and a very popular choice amongst buyers.

DynastyMattress – Luxury Grand 15

This is a fairly new model but is quickly establishing itself as a popular best seller. At 15″ thick, the traditional polyurethane foam mattress is wrapped in a luxurious brown suede side fabric with a stretch knit on top. The 5 lbs density rating gives it a comfort rating of medium-soft. It also comes with a 20 year warranty and 120 day in home trial!

Sleep Innovations – SureTemp 12

This model of memory foam mattresses is great for people on a tighter budget. The extremely popular 2 layered 12″ visco mattress comprises of a traditional polyurethane 2.5″ comfort and a 9.5″ support base. The 3 lbs density rating means this one will be luxuriously soft and cozy, but still offering that all essential therapeutic and orthopedic support. It comes vacuum packed and with a 20 year manufacturers limited warranty.

Brentwood Home – Bamboo Gel 13

This is another smart, innovative, multi-layered design from the all American Brentwood Home. The medium density 13” gel mattress comprises of four levels of different materials which combine to make a cool and comfortable sleeping surface. Proudly manufactured in Los Angeles, California, it comes available in all the common sizes. The removable natural bamboo cover is washable too, and with an above average warranty period, this is a safe and recommended buy.

Amerisleep – Revere

The Amerisleep Revere is probably the most popular eco-friendly natural mattress around. It has a 12″ overall height with a 3″ premium 4.5 lb comfort layer which offers medium firm support. Manufactured using its innovative and unique Bio-Pur material means this a great value 12″ plant-based product.

Conclusion

There is no such thing as the worst or best memory foam mattress. It all depends on personal preference, requirements and budget. However, considering that a good mattress can easily last over 10 years, plus factoring the original cost involved, it’s wise to make the right choice from the outset. Consider it more an investment than anything else; after all this purchase will bring you health benefits as-well as comfort.

Our personal recommendation is to spend a little extra and purchase a plant-based natural product. These are generally more expensive than a traditional or gel mattress, but there are valid reasons for the extra cost.

Of the 6 memory foam mattress reviews our number one choice is the Lucid Plush 14. The 14″ overall thickness is relatively thick compared to others and that’s not the only good thing either. Made up of a 1″ quilted bamboo charcoal top, 3″ comfort layer, 2″ support layer and a 8″ high-density base, it offers a medium-firm support which is recommended for most people from both a health and comfort point of view. The breathable, open-cell technology means this one stays cool and offers a temperature-neutral comfort. It’s perfect for different sleeping positions which means whether you’re a side sleeper or back sleeper you’ll always have maximum support. It’s also certified made in the USA (not China like some other major brands) which means guaranteed compliance with strict manufacturing and environmental guidelines; and for added peace of mind it comes with a 25 year warranty.

Reference: Choosemattress.com, gel memory foam mattress topper

How to buy a memory foam mattress topper?

While memory foam was developed for NASA in the 1970's, it didn't hit the consumer market until the early 1990's - first as memory foam mattress topper pads, and later used in memory foam mattresses.

Since then, memory foam mattresses have become the fastest growing segment in the mattress industry. With every year, you see more and more companies selling memory foam mattresses and topper pads, and it is very difficult, even for those of us in the industry, to keep up with all the new memory foam products being introduced. What is a consumer to do?

In this guide, I'm going to do my best to give you the straight story on what memory foam is, how it works, and what to look for in memory foam (density and quality, memory foam toppers versus memory foam mattresses, etc.).

Armed with the information, I hope you are able to find just the right memory foam mattress, topper pad, or other product that fits your needs.

For those looking for memory foam mattresses, we offer The Healthy Foundations 10" Memory Foam Mattress. As you will see on this page, our 10" Memory Foam Mattress stood head and shoulders above the other memory foam mattresses we tested -- with an amazing 95%, of our over 330+ customers who have posted a review, saying they would recommend our 10" Memory Foam Mattress to a friend.

Why Has Memory Foam Become The Fastest Growing Segment In The Mattress Industry? Comfort -- In A Survey Of Over 135,000 Mattress Reviews, Memory Foam Received The Highest Overall Satisfaction Rating At 81% vs Just A 68% Satisfaction Rating For Innersprings.

Where the mattress industry so often sells on hype about latest greatest technology, I wanted to concentrate on actual, verifiable information when putting together this guide.

So before we go into the details about memory foam, I thought it was important to first look at the bottom line -- how does memory foam compare to standard innerspring mattresses for comfort.

And what is great about the internet is that these days you can cut through the hype to see the actual data on this -- real reviews, by real folks, trying out the mattresses in their own homes.

And while it was hard to get this kind of objective information back in '94 when I was first starting out selling memory foam after it helped me with my back pain, in 2014 all this information is now at your fingertips, literally.

While comfort is subjective, what is no longer subjective is that certain types of mattress are just more comfortable than others.

And you don't have to take my word for it, or any other mattress retailer. The numbers don't lie.

Based on over 18,000 real people's mattress reviews, the meta site Sleep Like the Dead [1] found that in analyzing this information that memory foam mattresses received the highest level of customer satisfaction of any mattress type at 81%.

In contrast, only 63% of innerspring owners said they were satisfied.

That is a huge difference, and shows the simple reason why memory foam has gained such popularity -- it delivers comfort in a way that far surpasses the standard innerspring mattress.

Where did memory foam come from and what gives memory foam its unique comfort properties? It is an interesting story and starts with the space program.

Brief History of Memory Foam

After memory foam was developed as part of a NASA project, some saw the promise of memory foam for use in the medical industry to relieve pressure sores. Over the years, memory foam was shown to be unique in the way it responded to temperature and also in its ability to spread pressure over a greater surface area (and thereby reducing pressure points significantly). While the initial version of the foam developed for NASA (called T-Foam) did have a great deal of promise as a bed topper or wheel chair cushion material, it did have issues with wear over time. This first generation of material wasn't very durable, and would often compress or crack over time.

The first company to realize the potential of memory foam for the consumer market was Tempur-Pedic ®. They had worked on creating their own version of memory foam, and developed foam they called Tempur ®, that was much more durable and still had the pressure reducing benefits of memory foam. Initially, this Tempur ® foam was used in medical settings, but soon they began to hear that patients who used the foam slept better, had less back pain, and felt more refreshed in the morning. A light bulb switched on over someone's head in Sweden, and Tempur-Pedic ® began to sell the products to consumers.

Due to its origin as a medical device, Tempur ® foam was very expensive, and has stayed that way to this day. After a few years on the consumer market, other foam manufacturers saw the potential of memory foam and began to produce their own memory foam product lines. Because these manufacturers came from the consumer foam industry, rather than the medical industry, their cost structure for memory foam was much lower and they priced their products at a fraction of the Tempur ® foam. As the years went by, memory foam became more and more popular, and now manufacturers all over the world are making their versions of memory foam.

Not All Memory Foam Is The Same -- Some Are Just More Comfortable Then Others

What you need to remember is that not all memory foams are equal. They differ a great deal in quality - density, hardness or softness, response to temperature, and also durability and longevity.

Just by looking at the technical specs, though, of a particular memory foam, you can't determine the overall comfort of that memory foam. I hear from people all the time that get immersed in the technical details -- they want to know the different densities and ILD (or IFD -- which is a measure of how hard the foam is) -- as though these specs are they keys to buying a memory foam topper or mattress.

And while density and ILD do carry some import -- I've found memory foams 4 lb density and higher offer better support and comfort than less dense memory foams, and having a low ILD means the memory foam has a soft feel -- I've seen in my real world testing that memory foams with identical specs for density and ILD got very different ratings for overall comfort.

That is why it is really important to understand not only the quality issues that go into making a memory foam, but also why I focus so much on our products on real customer reviews to gauge how comfortable a particular type of memory foam or layered memory foam mattress configuration really is.

Just a quick example to illustrate this that I will go into more later. In the test I did to pick our latest memory foam mattress, there was a gaping difference in comfort ratings by our testers of the lowest rated mattress and the top rated (which is now the mattress we carry).

Again, these mattresses had almost identical specs in terms of density and overall construction, but the lowest had only 75% say they would recommend it to a friend, while our current mattress got an overall 87% rating in the test.

And since then, with a few tweaks to its design, our 10" Memory Foam Mattress is getting a 95% rating. That is a huge difference in overall comfort from the 75% of the lowest, and something that you could never have determined solely from the specs.

So not all memory foam is created equal -- some really do offer a different level of comfort, and only by looking at real world results, not specs, will you be able to get a feel for the comfort of a particular type of memory foam.

Memory Foam Really is Unique, and Has Unique Benefits

While specific types of memory foam do differ in the level of comfort they offer, looking at the broader picture, overall memory foams in general are unique in many ways versus other comfort products used in bedding.

I've looked at many bedding materials, from latex to cotton to wool. And nothing compares to memory foam in the way it conforms to your body and reduces pressure points.

Why is memory foam so different? There are a couple of reasons that memory foam is so unique.

First is the way memory foam cells deform when weight is applied. Unlike standard foams that compress and want to spring back to their original shape immediately, memory foam cells (open cell foam, which means the individual cells in the foam have holes in them) compress fully and spread their air pressure to adjoining cells.

This spreads the pressure through a greater number of cells of the memory foam - which decreases the pressure you feel in the cells of the memory foam that you are laying on. This accounts for the way that memory foam actually reduces pressure points.

This ability of memory foam to deform also allows it to really conform to your body's shape and weight bearing areas, thereby reducing these pressure points. No other material has this ability to shape to your body - this is unique to memory foam.

However while memory foam's characteristics offers unique comfort benefits, you wouldn't want an entire mattress made strictly of memory foam. Memory foam is too soft a material and isn't meant to be supportive. So it works best when layered over a firm, supportive material.

That is why you will mainly find memory foam as a 2" or 3" topper to be used on your existing, firm mattress, or as a 2" or 3" topping layer in a new memory foam mattress.

Second, memory foam is temperature sensitive. Which means that at lower temperatures it is firmer (more viscous), and at higher temperatures it is softer and more conforming (more elastic). This is the reason memory foam is known as visco-elastic memory foam.

This temperature sensitive quality accounts for the melting feeling that you get lying down on memory foam, and also accentuates the custom molding affect of the foam. Certain memory foams, such as Tempur-Pedic's ® Tempur ® foam, are fairly temperature sensitive and can get firm even near room temperature.

The memory foam used in our toppers and mattresses, in contrast, have a broader range of temperatures where they stay nice and soft, so they are soft and responsive at common room temps.

How To Choose Between Different Memory Foam Options

While memory foam was hard to find 20 years ago, these days there are lots of options -- both US manufacturers and also worldwide, notably a huge amount of inexpensive memory foam coming in from China.

As I discussed earlier, memory foam is not a commodity, and not all memory foams are created equal. But how are you to sort this all out?

I'm going to share with you how I do it -- the actual criteria I've used for sourcing the memory foam I use in our mattresses and toppers. Hopefully, by explaining what I look it when evaluating memory foams, it will help you sort through the options when you are buying a memory foam mattress or topper

Here's what I look at:

First, I want the memory foam in our mattresses and toppers to be at least 4 lb density.

What does the density of a foam mean? All that a particular density tells you is how much the foam weighs. So, for example, a 5 pound density foam simply means that a cubic foot of this material (a cube of this material measuring one foot in height, length and width) would weigh 5 pounds.

Typically, when you buy memory foam, you will pay more for a denser foam. It simply costs more to make denser foam - more raw materials go into making a denser substance.

And while density isn't the end all or be all for memory foam, I've just found over the years that memory foams below 4 lb density just don't have the cushion and conforming feel that I expect from memory foam.

A lot of the inexpensive memory foam products out there do use lower densities, some a lot lower (the leading brand offers 2.5 lb densities in their most inexpensive line).

Since my goal, however, is to offer the best overall value, not the cheapest, I've stuck with the 4 lb memory foam in our toppers since I believe it offers the best combination of cushion and pressure relief along with a soft feel.

And I've gone with a layer of 4 lb memory foam on top of a layer of 5 lb memory foam in our mattress to offer the soft feel of the 4 lb as you first lay down, and the more supportive feel of the 5 lb as you then sink into the mattress.

Next, I only consider foams made in the US, Canada and Europe. Why? Because I'm comfortable with the quality control of the major foam manufacturers from in these areas.

I don't consider foams made in China, despite their lower price. And the price difference can be really huge -- some of the mattresses using Chinese foam are sold for a few hundred dollars. Which, to give you some idea of how this compares to US, Canadian, or European foam, means their price to the public is much less than the wholesale price I pay for a US foam produced bed.

It isn't that the lower prices aren't seductive, they are, especially since US foam costs have more than doubled since Hurricane Katrina. So why won't I consider Chinese foams?

The reasons I've stuck with the US foams I currently carry is because I don't feel comfortable that the cheaper Chinese foams would have the same quality of ingredients, not use cheap fillers to falsely up their density, or somehow substitute unsafe chemicals in the foams to save costs.

There have just been too many stories I've seen of these sort of quality control issues with all sorts of Chinese products (drywall, lead paint in kids toys, toxic ingredients in toothpaste), so I don't feel comfortable using them.

In addition, I don't believe that these Chinese foams offer the same level of comfort due to these quality issues, but I will address that in the next section.

I understand if you want to go in a less expensive direction. The only thing I would say, without trying to sound hard salesy, is do you really get ahead in the long run saving a bit now on this sort of purchase. Not only because of the comfort and quality of sleep you might be missing out on, but also in having to perhaps spend more in the long run replacing the cheaper mattress much sooner than something using higher quality ingredients

certipur sealI only consider memory foams that meet Certipur-US® or similar standards for testing of foam for certain chemicals or toxins.

It is really important to me that the foam I sell, and people sleep on, have met these strict criteria and testing.

Here is what Certipur-US® standards mean:

CertiPUR-US® approved foams are:

• Made without ozone depleters
• Made without PBDE flame retardants
• Made without mercury, lead and other heavy metals
• Made without formaldehyde
• Made without phthalates regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions for indoor air quality (less than 0.5 parts per million) [2]

In addition, I require that no additional fire retardant be used in the foams in our products as well.

I've had to work hard to get all the foams I use compliant, but it has been worth it given the importance of these issues.

Next, I focus on the comfort of that particular memory foam.

And while this used to be just my subjective test of different memory foams -- and so explains my big collection of foam I have around the house -- these days I do objective testing.

That is, I get a bunch of folks to try out different memory foam options, and then use their reviews and ratings to see which foam got the highest overall scores.

For my mattress test, this meant getting samples from lots of companies, then testing out 6 different memory foam mattress using a variety of foams -- US, Canadian and European.

Some of the memory foams used in these mattresses also used memory foams that had some portion of their chemicals coming from plant based sources. Which I found appealing from an eco perspective, although overall the actual % used in any memory foam is still pretty small (20 - 30% max)

At that point I let the chips fall where they may, and unfortunately the eco-foams tested much lower for comfort. So while I hope that this will be something that does get better as we go forward, for now these foams just didn't rate as high for comfort as the more traditional memory foam.

As I said before, the memory foam used in our 10" Memory Foam Mattress just got much higher ratings for comfort than the other memory foams I tested.

I know it may not be as easy for you to compare memory foams by this sort of objective tests. But if you can, look for objective reviews on the memory foam mattresses you are considering, and try to get a feel for both the overall ratings for comfort and also people's sense of the feel (firmness and support) offered by that particular memory foam mattress.

Finally, I look at the durability of the foam. I know how important it is to people, given the investment in a good mattress, that it lasts.

In our particular case, since there wasn't a track record for our mattress, I had the manufacturer do extensive tests in the lab to document its durability. And it performed so well the lab said it was in the top 10% of all the mattresses, across all types, it had tested.

When you are looking for a mattress, see if the manufacturer has long term data on its durability. And if not, then has it done these sorts of tests to document its durability.

I hope this detailed look at what I look for when I am researching memory foam products is helpful.

In terms of a general rule of thumb based my research methodology, you should avoid the noticeably inexpensive pads or pillows you will find on the market. They are generally made of either low density memory foam or layered with other, cheaper foam products and ingredients. These inexpensive memory foams just won't give the same comfort as higher quality pads and will wear out relatively fast.

So What Specifics Should You Look For In The Memory Foam Used In A Particular Mattress Or Topper Pad?

This issue is somewhat different depending on whether you are looking to buy a memory foam mattress or a memory foam topper pad to put on your existing bed.

This is because the memory foam in a mattress is bonded to the "mattress core", and as such, can't be replaced, so it must not only be comfortable, but durable as well.

A topper pad, on the other hand, is less expensive and can be replaced if it wears out after a few years.

So when you are researching a memory foam mattress, you need to look for one that uses memory foam which is both comfortable and durable. With a topper pad, comfort alone is the main issue since you can easily replace the topper.

For A Memory Foam Mattress Look For ...

look for a mattress with at minimum of  3 inches total of memory foam. With a mattress, you should look for at least 3 inches of medium to high density memory foam. 3 inches of memory foam gives you a proper amount of material to cushion and conform to your body.

While you could get by with 2 inches of memory foam in a mattress, 3 inches is plusher and a more comfortable feel for most people. It's a nice depth of foam where you wouldn't sink uncomfortably into the bed or lose the support of the base foam.

I've seen memory foam mattresses that offer much thicker memory foam layers and they feel too cushy - you get sucked in, and adjusting from side to side can be a real problem. And you just don't have the same support for your body and back as you would with memory foam mattresses that are 3 inches or so of memory foam depth.

Our 10" Memory Foam Mattress offers 4 inches of memory foam, and we've had a great response from customers on their feel and comfort.

As for densities of memory foam used in a mattress, for a long time I've often heard from customers that they liked the feel of the "less dense memory foams" (memory foams 4 lb density or so, or what I refer to as medium density memory foams) better than that of the high density memory foam of the "leading brand" (memory foam of 5 lb or greater density).

That was because people felt these "medium density memory foams" had a softer, more user friendly feel while the higher density memory foams could feel stiff and could be difficult to move around in.

Lately, I've been seeing some memory foam mattresses coming out with even lower density memory foams in their layering (by this, I mean memory foams of 3 lb density and lower). Personally, I still like the feel of the 4 lb density memory foams over the 3 lb memory foam. And also at these lower densities I think you need to ask about that particular foams durability and comfort.

For A Topper Pads' Memory Foam Look For ...

If you are looking for a memory foam topper pad to put on your mattress, you have many options.

In general, you will pay more for a higher pound density memory foam pad - it just costs more to produce denser memory foam.

Which ones do we recommend? We've looked at many topper pads, and we feel the 4 lb memory foam we decided to use in our Memory Foam Topper Pads just had the nicest feel and get great ratings and reviews from our customers.

Often a 2" pad is sufficient for making a mattress much more comfortable, but we decided to offer a 3" version, as well, for those looking for a plusher feel. We've tested the 5 lb density pads, but decided not to carry them because they really didn't offer any more comfort than our 4 lb pad - in fact, the 4 lb pads were softer and had a nicer feel to them.

We've found that our 4 lb memory foam pads perform very well and really offer a softer feel than denser memory foam pads. In our experience, they really do offer the best value for the money.

Can I Get By With Just a Topper, or Do I Need a Whole New Mattress

This is a question we get all the time, and not an easy one to answer. In general, though, if your mattress is basically in good shape -- still firm and supportive, no indented areas or dips in the mattress, etc. -- but not as comfortable as you would like (looking for a softer feel, less aches and pains in the morning, etc), then a memory foam mattress topper pad may well do the job.

To get a better feel for how a memory foam mattress topper pad can give you a better quality of sleep, see our Memory Foam Mattress Topper Page and Buying Guide.

On the other hand, if your mattress is too soft, rock hard, or has compressed areas, dips or a hammock feel, etc., then you are better off buying a new mattress - a topper pad just can't help with these problems.

Questions, and want to talk with someone to help you sort out whether a memory foam mattress topper pad or mattress might make the most sense for you? Call us toll free at 1-800-607-0340, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST, Monday - Friday.

For Those Needing A New Mattress, Our 10" Memory Foam Mattress -- 95% Of Our Customers Say They Would Recommend It To A Friend, And I Believe In It So Much I Offer It With Our Unmatched 1 Year money-back Guarantee.

Healthy Foundations Memory Foam Mattress
Our 10" Memory Foam Mattress
A few years ago when I was looking at memory foam mattress options, I sorted through all the different options and found 6 memory foam mattresses that met all my various criteria (as I set out in detail above).

But that was just the start. I knew that this meant that these memory foam mattresses offered superior quality and construction, but you never know comfort till you actually test it with real peopel in their homes.

So I recruited 300 testers, 50 for each mattress, then compiled their reviews to see if any of the mattresses could offer the comfort of the leading brand, but at about 1/2 the price.

And after all the results were in, one mattress stood head and shoulders above the rest -- our 10" Memory Foam Mattress. The quality and comfort of this mattress really made it stand out from all the other mattresses we tested.

The results, which I share in detail on our Memory Foam Mattress page were really surprising. Because while all the specs for the mattresseses were very similar, this particular mattress' ratings were 5% - 12% higher than all the other mattresses.

And now with over 330 reviews, the ratings have kept getting higher till now 96% of our customers say they would recommend our mattress to a friend, and 95% give it a 4 or 5 star rating.

Remember, memory foam mattresses overall had the highest rating of any mattress group averaging an 81% satisfaction rating.

How does our mattresses' ratings go so far above this average?

I attribute it to the quality of the memory foam we use -- all US made foams, all Certipur-US certified -- as well as the testing that demonstrated that this particular memory foam mattresses' design and construction was much more comfortable than the average memory foam bed (and leagues beyond the innerspring satisfaction of 63%).

Source: http://www.healthyfoundations.com/memoryfoam.html