Getting a good night’s sleep is one of the most important things that we can do. Logging the proper amount of hours of sleep is important, but getting comfortable enough to reach rapid eye movement or REM sleep is the key to felling truly rested. Choosing the right mattress for your body type and sleep position is paramount.

Most people feel overwhelmed when they walk into a mattress sale store. There are hundreds of models to choose from. Choosing the right one specific to your needs can be a difficult task. Most people get lost and begin to walk around the showroom pushing on the corner of every mattress in the store. They have a preconceived notion that there are really only three kinds of mattresses; hard, firm and soft. This is true of the feel of the mattress’s however there are several other considerations that can make or break your restful night’s sleep.

There are 3 basic types of mattress materials which are spring, foam and latex. Let’s look at the pros and cons of each of them.

Spring – This is the most common type of mattress of the market. Spring mattresses are made up of many independent springs that are connected together and encased in wide variety of materials for comfort. Support on this type of mattress can vary. The down side to this type of mattress is that motion can be passed on from one sleeper to the other. The benefit is that this type of mattress tends to sleep cooler due to the free air flow within the mattress.

Foam – Foam mattresses are made up of memory foam. This product is a great for people who generally sleep in the same position. The mattress conforms to your body. Moving around while you sleep can be difficult. It can feel like you are trying to dif yourself out of a hole. Foam mattresses do offer little to no motion transfer.

Latex – Latex mattresses act or behave similarly to foam. Latex is made of natural and synthetic materials. Just like the foam mattress this material conforms to the body. It also helps to shed heat away from the body.

For personal options a heavier person would feel more comfortable with a softer mattress, while a lighter person might feel more at ease on a firmer one. Other considerations that can come into play are what position you generally sleep in. People that sleep on their back prefer a softer mattress so they do not flex their spines in the wrong direction.

Take your time and do not be afraid to lay on the mattresses in the show room. Your final decision has a great effect on your life.