Memory Foam Mattresses & Beds

Consumers use to just have a few choices when it came to buying a bed. They could go with a full, queen, or king. The only difference would be whether or not they got a firm mattress or a soft one. Now though, things are a lot different. Not only do you have about a thousand different choices for mattresses when it comes to pillow top or firm, you also have the choice of buying a memory foam mattress.

Memory foam was first developed by NASA in the 1970's, and became popular for beds in the 1990's. First came the memory foam mattress toppers, and then later came the foam mattress. Since then, they have become the fastest growing mattress on the market. Each year another company comes out with yet another type of memory foam mattress or topper, and it has become increasingly difficult to know which one to choose.

Memory foam was first marketed to people that had trouble sleeping because of bed sores or other medical problems. As compared to other bedding materials made of latex, cotton, or wool, there is just nothing like memory foam in the way that it conforms to your body. It reduces the pressure points that naturally bother people when they sleep, but it is a soft material and isn't necessarily very supportive.

Memory foam is very unique though as compared to other mattresses. The material conforms to your body rather than just sinking when you lay down on it. This is why medically it helps so much with the pressure points that may be bothering you such as your hips and shoulders. Not only does it take your shape, but it doesn't want to bounce back while you are sleeping, which is essentially putting pressure against your body while you sleep. The foam has holes in it that are called memory foam cells that compress fully and spread the air around to the adjoining cells.

This foam is very temperature sensitive which means that at lower temperatures it is harder, and when it is hotter it gets softer and bouncier. This is why you have a “melting” feeling when you lie down on it. It is accentuating the molding effect of the foam that customizes to your body. Certain memory foam mattresses are more sensitive to temperature than others so when you are shopping for a mattress, you should find out at what temperature it gets firmer. This is especially important for people who need either softer or firmer mattresses because of their back.

Not all foams are created equal, and recently more mattresses and toppers have come out that are considerably less quality. These are usually products that are produced in Asia. As a general rule, you should avoid any products that are considerably less than what you see through the established brands such as Tempur-Pedic and Sleep Aid. A memory foam mattress can cost up to $2,400 for a King Size, but a memory foam mattress topper should only cost about $150 to $300. Which ever one you choose should conform to your body properly, and make sleeping more enjoyable for you.