A good sleep is hard to find — even harder when you’re sharing the bed.
If you’re a side sleeper with shoulder and/or hip issues and your sleep partner needs lower back support, how do you choose a mattress that works for both of you?
“It can be tricky if sleep partners need different levels of support, but these days there’s a solution for almost situation,” says Mark Nagra, owner of M&N Mattress and Sofa Gallery in Parksville.
After over three decades in the industry, Mark has an extensive knowledge of mattresses, and he and his fellow staff love to share that information with customers.
“That’s our goal, to give our customers all the information they need and then let them decide what works best within their budget. We take our time with our customers and educate them. Our positive reviews and customer service awards attest to the fact that customers are happy with their choice.”
What makes you toss and turn at night?
Before you can find the best mattress as a couple, you need to understand your individual needs for a good night’s sleep. Fitness watches have made it much easier to track sleep quality, and many people have been surprised to learn they’re sleeping worse than they thought.
“The average person tosses and turns every 15-20 minutes — that’s a lot of restlessness! It’s easy to understand why people reach for that coffee, energy drink or donut sugar rush to try to stay awake,” Mark says.
Sleep hygiene, nutrition and other factors play a role in sleep quality, and so does your mattress. Here are two ways it can make you toss and turn:
- Poor support: If a firm mattress is creating pressure points on your shoulders or hips, your capillaries will compress and your brain will tell your body to turn so blood flow can resume. “A dense, latex core offers support and helps a mattress last longer. The top comfort layer can be customized to your needs. Firm and medium-firm mattresses are best for stomach and back sleepers, and medium-soft to soft mattresses relieve pressure points for side sleepers,” Mark says.
- Temperature: Memory foam has been strongly marketed in North America, but most Europeans have been sleeping on latex mattresses for decades. Latex is cleaner, more durable and more breathable than foams including memory foam, making it excellent for regulating temperature. “Sleeping too hot is one of the top four reasons we toss and turn,” Mark says.
Best bed for couples
If you prefer a soft mattress and your partner wants firm, why not get a split Queen or King mattress so both bed partners can have their own comfort level?
“All of our King-size mattresses on display are split-Kings with adjustable lifestyle bases, with many features including a zero-gravity one-touch position that mimics the position our bodies would naturally be in if there was no gravity. If you look at any picture of an astronaut floating in space, they will all have their knees bent naturally. They are more in a fetal position than straight. Most of us sleep in a fetal position on our sides, but an adjustable base can allow you to sleep in a fetal position on your back, taking pressure off of our problem areas,” Mark says. “It can help take pressure off the lumbar area for one person and off the shoulders and hips for the other, helping to reduce the amount of time we toss and turn, leading to a more restful and restorative sleep.”
A side sleeper can still lie curled up with muscles relaxed, they’ll just be doing it on their back instead of their side — removing all pressure points. A back or stomach sleeper can adjust their side of the bed for pure comfort too. Choose the position that works for you.
“We encourage customers to visit our showroom and do a 60 second rest-test on one of our latex mattresses with an adjustable base. You’ll feel like you’re floating, and that’s exactly what we want you to feel. Most of our customers say they wish they knew long ago that an adjustable base could make that much of a difference in their comfort and sleep. Come in, feel the difference and make your own assessment and decide what works for you,” Mark says.
Visit M&N Mattress and Sofa at 291 East Island Highway, get inspired at parksvillemattress.com, mnsofa.ca or ironmanmattress.ca, and keep up with the latest contests and giveaways at facebook.com/parksvillemattress.
