Memory Foam Mattress: Should I Get a Firm or Soft Bed?

The most important criteria for selecting a mattress is personal comfort. If a bed feels good to you, then it will largely contribute to better sleep and a healthful sleeping position. But many shoppers go about searching for a new mattress with preconceived notions about what they “should” be looking for.

One common misconception is that they should be looking for a particular firmness level - based on advice from the medical community. Some doctors say a firm mattress is better and some say a softer mattress is better. But this advice is often too simplistic to be helpful.

Firmness level is not directly related to proper support or comfort, so the advice is not as helpful as it could be. Better advice would say to get a mattress that:

• Reduces pressure points – evenly distributes pressure across the whole surface of your body, not just the heavy parts of your body.
• Keeps your spine in a neutral position – supports your inward body curves (neck, lower back) as well as your outward body curves (hips, shoulders), keeping your body positional natural.
• Feels comfortable to you – Your body is smart; it knows that personal comfort will naturally contribute to healthful sleep and body position.

Among a long list of health benefits, latex and memory foam mattresses are renowned for their ability to reduce pressure points and give proper support. Foam beds contour to the shape of your body, reducing pressure points better than any other type of sleep surface.

Latex and memory foam mattresses are made up from 2 or more layers. The top layer is soft, contouring to your body and offering gentle support. The lower layer or layers provide a firmer support, keeping your body in a healthful position. The one you chose should make you look forward to going to sleep at night and say, "ahh….just right."