Before Buying A Mattress Review Consumer Reports on Mattresses

When you look over consumer reports on mattresses you may find a lot of diversity but if you think about it, it only makes sense. If you consider how a couple may review it versus how an individual might rate one. There are a lot of different pieces to consider but broken up into segments consumer reports look a little bit like this.

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Keep in mind that this is an unbiased source that took the consumer reports and what they found was most couples prefer the Simmons Beauty rest line is the best innerspring mattress. To be more specific, the Beauty rest World Class line has a no-flip design and the Simmons Triton Foundation make for a bed set that never starts to sag. This set has edge to edge support and has the inner pocket coils, which are individual coils rather than coils that are all attached. This is a great concept in keeping the motion in control. Depending on where you make your purchase and exactly which type you decide on you can expect to pay anywhere from ,000-,500.

Consumer Reports

Heavier people do need to make special considerations when purchasing a mattress as they need extra support from sagging. If you sleep alone then it is not mandatory to buy it with inner pocket coils, according to consumer reports. The continuous coils on the Sealy Posturepedic work great if only one person is sleeping on the mattress. It has heavy gauge coils and offers extra support so this is the model of choice according to consumer reports. Consumers report that you should expect to pay somewhere around 0-,300 for that type of mattress.

Consumers rate the viscoelastic Tempur-Pedic as the choice for anyone who suffers from spine or back injuries and this claim is supported by chiropractors and doctors alike. Consumers do report that there is an adjustment period with this one before you will achieve maximum comfort and satisfaction. There also were some minor discrepancies regarding temperature. Some consumers claim that in cold weather, the mattress became much more firm and others reported that it trapped body heat. This one is around ,800 including the foundation in a queen size.

The Sleep Number mattress uses inflatable air chambers to adjust firmness with a remote control. Consumer's reports on it were not as good as expected. Many consumers claim that this bed is overpriced and not as comfortable as they thought it would be, especially after all of the fancy commercials claiming that both sleep partners sill have maximum comfort as each side of the bed can be adjusted according to their own comfort. It is always best to read consumer reports before making any purchase so you can see what other people who have purchased the same product have to say about it.

Before Buying A Mattress Review Consumer Reports on Mattresses

Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports: Crib Mattresses

There are two general types of crib mattresses: foam and innerspring. Both tend to keep their shape well. There are differences, of course. For one, foam is lighter. The densest foam mattress is usually no more than 10 pounds, compared with 20 to 25 pounds for some innerspring mattresses. So changing your baby's sheets may be easier with a foam unit. Foam is also less springy and therefore less apt to encourage your baby to use the mattress as a trampoline. Still, innerspring crib mattresses remain the most popular.

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If you're considering a foam mattress, keep in mind that low-priced models tend to be mushy and flimsy, with a thin vinyl covering and vinyl edging. They may also be unsafe. Putting a baby to sleep on a soft mattress increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Higher-priced models tend to be firmer (and therefore safer), with thicker, reinforced vinyl or cotton coverings.

Consumer Reports

To assess foam density (which has a direct relation to firmness), compare the weight of different foam models. That's not always easy to do in a store, but if you're able to lift several different mattresses, do it. In general, the heavier the foam mattress, the denser the foam. You can also give the mattress a squeeze test in the center by pressing your palms into both sides of it at once. A dense mattress won't allow you to press very far. A denser foam mattress is also likely to have firmer edges, which is another important performance factor.

To judge the quality of an innerspring mattress, don't go by the sales gimmick of "coil count." While the cheapest innerspring baby mattresses have about 80 coils and the most expensive can have 600 coils, a high coil count doesn't always mean a firmer mattress. In fact, a model with 150 coils can be firmer than one with 600. You can judge by picking up mattresses to compare their weight and by squeezing them to test for firmness. Innerspring models generally have firmer edges than foam mattresses, but squeeze the edges to do a comparison. You may also feel border rods at the top and bottom perimeter, which provide extra edge support for safety and durability.

The number of layers of padding, what that padding is made of, and the quality of the covering add to the price and increase comfort. The cheapest innersprings, like low-end foam mattresses, have thin vinyl coverings and edgings, which can tear, crack, and dry out over time. As prices go up, coverings become thick, puncture-resistant reinforced double or triple laminates, and edgings have fabric binding, which is a sign of quality. Beyond that, reversibility, the presence of ventilators, and thickness are factors that differentiate one model from another.

The mattress you select should also be in compliance with a new flammability law that went into effect on Jan. 1, 2004. Though this is a state law applying only to California, crib mattresses sold in other states are expected to comply with it.

SHOPPING SECRETS

Compare mattresses in the store. Do this by squeezing them.

Confirm store return policies. And keep your receipt. A store's return policy is more important than a mattress maker's warranty. The store should be willing to exchange a mattress that doesn't fit properly, which is a major safety concern.

WHAT'S AVAILABLE

The major brands of foam and innerspring mattresses are, in alphabetical order: Child Craft, Colgate, Evenflo, Kolcraft, Sealy, and Simmons. Prices range from to about 0.

RECOMMENDATIONS

You don't have to spend the most to get a good quality mattress, but don't skimp, either. A budget somewhere between and 0 will generally serve your baby well. A good, firm mattress may also promote proper posture and is more likely to be durable, which is important if your baby will be using the same mattress as a toddler bed or you'll be passing it down to future siblings.

In the case of innerspring models, look for a firm mattress with good support from border rods. Border rods provide extra firmness, durability, and edge support. A mattress with reinforced or embossed vinyl is leakproof; it is also less likely to tear on the metal edge of a mattress foundation and should hold up better over time. Also look for air vents along the sides of the mattress, which not only help keep the mattress ventilated but may prevent seams from splitting when your tot inevitably starts jumping.

When selecting a foam mattress, go for one with high-density foam. Do the squeeze test for firmness in the center and at the edge. Pinch the mattress covering or ticking; it should feel thick, not flimsy.

Make sure any mattress you buy passes the two-finger test for fit in the crib. That is, if you can place more than two fingers between the mattress and the crib, the fit isn't snug enough. Check that fitted sheets fit snugly and securely, overlapping the corners so that you can't easily pull them up at the corners. Ill-fitting crib mattress sheets are a strangulation and suffocation hazard. And never use an adult sheet as a crib sheet, not even in a pinch.

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Consumer Reports: Crib Mattresses

Consumer Reports