What is the best mattress?
Do you wake up feeling sore from your mattress? This soreness could be from the mattress itself or it could be from how you are using it. The good news is that both problems are very easy to address.
Sleep Posture
Your body and spine is amazing. You really deserve proper care! Proper spine care includes:
Good nutrition
Regular and frequent movement
Removal of tension and interference (that’s where chiropractic care comes in)
Good posture during both the day and night
Good sleep posture means that your spine is in relatively the same position as it is when you stand up straight. What you want to avoid is curves and twists in your spine while you sleep. To achieve good sleep posture:
Select a great head pillow. (See my pillow article for tips.) A great pillow allows for a neutral cervical spine, instead of causing a flexed or curved neck.
Sleep on your back or side. (Note: side sleepers usually need a second pillow; see my pillow article.) Laying on your back or side allows for a neutral thoracic and lumbar spine, instead of sleeping with a twist or curve from sleeping on your belly. It’s definitely okay to move around and change positions during the night.
Use a supportive mattress.
Supportive Mattress
A supportive mattress is one that moves and bends just enough to provide your body with support. A mattress that is too firm will not curve enough for a side sleeper. A mattress that is overly soft will allow for too much curve and bending of the spine.
Medium firm or firm is usually a good place to start when testing mattresses; it of course differs from brand to brand. As with pillows, it is helpful to have someone else look to see if your spine is neutral while laying down.
Note the supportive cushioning of the mattress, two good pillows, and neutral spine.
My Recommendation
I recommend natural latex mattresses because they provide proper support and are made of a healthy and earth-friendly material. The only downside I have experienced is that these mattresses are more difficult to move due to their heavier weight; you do need a second person to move them around.
Here in the Netherlands, I have been surprisingly happy with Ikea’s natural latex mattress, the Mausund. For our American friends, I used and would recommend Sleep on Latex. There are many, many mattresses available that provide good support, but seek natural materials when possible. With how much time we spend in bed, it’s really worth it.
It’s this simple! No feathers from a flamingo needed. No core made with 14k rose gold. Just ensure that you have a mattress that gives you enough support and then practice good sleep posture. Sleep well!