How to Choose a Mattress for a Poor Sleeper

Poor quality sleep can generally be characterized by several measurable symptoms. The three most obvious -  not getting the recommended 8 hours of sleep per night, waking periodically throughout the night and waking the next morning and still feeling tired – often result from a poor mattress. Since so much time is (or should be) spent on a mattress, exploring the best options to improve sleep quality should be a priority for most people. But for those who are prone to poor sleep for reasons not associated with the mattress itself, there are some things they should consider that can make the eight-hour stretch from dusk until dawn less of a strain.

According to leading mattress reviews and ratings website, qmattresses.com, there are twelve key considerations to make before purchasing a new mattress. What these considerations fail to take into account, however, is that not everyone is a regular sleeper. If you are a poor sleeper, the list needs to underline several key areas. The following considerations are an absolute must when it comes to choosing the right mattress product for poor sleepers.

Comfort Above All Else: Many people will opt for a mattress that is not comfortable if they feel the health benefits outweigh their comfort needs. In fact, more and more people are choosing firm mattresses thanks to the reams of literature that point to the chiropractic benefits of firmer sleep surfaces. This seems particularly true for back sleepers. However, a poor sleeper may never get to enjoy those benefits because they are unable to fall asleep. This makes a strong argument in favour of a comfortable mattress above all else; support, for poor sleepers, should be a secondary consideration.


Proper Temperature Control: A mattress that retains heat is bad news for someone who hates to be too warm during the night. Although memory foams, latex, gel beds and luxury coil mattresses that come loaded with foams and gels may feel comfortable, many of these products alter the mattress's sleep surface temperature as your body temperatures rises during the various sleeping stages. If you are a poor sleeper to begin with, temperature control takes a higher priority for you than for anyone else, so choose a mattress with temperature attributes that will not add fuel to the fire, so to speak.

Motion Isolation: Poor sleepers often toss and turn throughout the night. If they do not sleep alone, their restlessness undoubtedly interrupts their partner's sleep, which is problematic. Beds with superior motion isolation also provide benefits for poor sleeper because these highly engineered mattresses are less likely to squeak or cause the bed frame and entire mattress to move disruptively. This decreases the chances that a poor sleeper who has finally fallen asleep is not wakened by a sudden leg jerk or a partner who shifts position throughout the night.

Many mattresses known for their motion isolation qualities also offer specialized zoning, which reduces pressure point aggravation. Unfortunately, the mattresses that offer the best motion isolation often come loaded with foams and other materials that can alter the surface temperature of the mattress. Therefore it is important to understand the product, your needs and how the two will interact during the night.

For many chronic poor sleepers, the sleep problems will not get fixed with a new, high-tech and "perfect" mattress. In severe cases, even medical assistance may not help. However, even poor sleepers can enjoy improved night-time rest with a mattress that is not only comfortable, but also conducive to good sleep. The added criteria above will help poor sleepers find that perfect mattress and with some luck, these people may eventually enjoy the sleep they deserve.