There are certainly a lot of myths surrounding mattresses. There are also a number of valid concerns that you may have. It is our hope to try and address some of these myths and concerns here. If a particular question you have is not answered here, please contact us! We will be glad to help.

In our effort to constantly improve the information available on the subject of sleep and how it relates to mattresses, please check back here often, as we're always working to update and add even more information to these pages.

What is natural memory foam?
Myth: The more coils, the better.
Concern: I’m allergic to latex.
Concern: I’m allergic to wool.
Myth: Firm is better.
Concern: Comfort Guarantees really vary between stores.
Concern: I wish to have my bed at a certain height.

This is a phenomenon that has recently cropped up. There is a company now offering "natural memory foam." We feel this is a deliberate attempt to mislead consumers. What they are actually offering is a latex product and labelling it as natural memory foam. The reason they can make this statement is that latex does have an elastic memory and therefor can be labelled as "memory foam."

We consider memory foam only to include viscoelastic foams, not latex foams. We make this distinction as both of these types of foams are so vastly different that comparing them directly is an apples to oranges comparison with little relevance.

The only true natural-content viscoelastic foams are made with soy content, such as Cargill's BiOH® soy-blended foam, which we feature in products by Natura.

Read More in our Blog

Although coil count is a consideration one might have when choosing a new mattress, it should not be used as the tie-breaker between two different models. There are a number of different factors that contribute to the comfort, support and durability offered by a particular innerspring.

Innerspring (coil) design, gauge (thickness) of wire, number of turns, metal composition, tempering, and so on, all contribute to the potential of a particular innerspring.

Also keep in mind that as the coil count increases, the diameter of each individual coil will decrease. You still have to fit all of those springs in the same amount of space!

Although latex allergies are cause for concern, the type of latex foam used in mattresses and pillows is incredibly safe. Latex is a touch allergy, which means you have to come in direct contact with it to have a reaction. All of the natural latex products we offer are covered, ensuring no direct contact.

The Mattress & Sleep Company offers a unique buy-back programme on all natural latex products we sell. In the highly unlikely event of a documented medical reaction, The Mattress & Sleep Company will issue a full refund on the purchase price of any natural latex products proven to cause an allergic reaction.

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Lanolin (wool), has long had the reputation of causing allergic reactions. Although wool allergies do exist, a legitimate wool allergy is exceedingly rare. The vast majority of people actually fall under the "wool sensitivity" category. This is due to how most mass produced wool products are treated with harsh chemicals and cleaning agents. Pure, virgin wool is an exceptionally safe choice for almost anyone. Even those who cannot wear a wool clothing article are almost always perfectly fine on a mattress with properly harvested wool. An even safer choice would be certified organic wool.

If you are still unsure about the possibilities of allergic reactions to wool, please consider mulberry silk as an alternative. Mulberry silk shares many of the same health benefits of wool.

A common belief states that firm (or hard) are required for proper support. The truth is that how the mattress conforms to the shape of your body, is far more important. A properly supporting mattress will allow for you to sink into the top comfort layers, cradled by conformance.

When a mattress is too firm, pressure points become an issue. A general tell-tale sign of poor blood circulation due to pressure points would be numb or tingling hands or feet. Another sign that your mattress is too firm is waking up with sore extremities that may have been squished between your body and a firm, unforgiving mattress.

Proper spinal alignment is extremely important. One simple exercise to get in the habit of when shopping for a new mattress is to have someone view your alignment when lying on a potential mattress (perform this test in the positions you normally sleep in). In general terms, if you are sinking into the mattress as level as possible, without forming a “V” or “^” shape, it is fairly safe to say that you are receiving proper spinal support.

Trust your body when it comes to comfort preference. If your body feels more relaxed on a softer mattress, this is perfectly fine! If you are still most comfortable on a firm or hard mattress, consider selecting an innerspring or foam which is designed to alleviate as much pressure as possible.

Trial periods on new sleep sets are getting quite long. If you’re waking up stiff and sore on your new mattress, do you really need 90 or more days of torture? We think not.

We truly believe that 2-3 weeks on a new mattress is sufficient time to decide whether or not your new sleep set is the one of your dreams. Make sure that you read the fine print on comfort guarantees before you buy. Many trial periods have very limiting options such as no refunds, or they might only allow you to switch into a more expensive product.

Learn more about our Sleep Sound Guarantee®.

There are a number of ways in which we can help meet your needs of a specific height requirement for your new bed.

Changing the height of the foundation (boxspring)
Most foundations can be ordered in a low profile version which can reduce the overall height by 2-5".

Changing the height of the bedframe
Bed frames can be lowered from the traditional standard height of 7" by using lower feet, or by purchasing special low profile bed frames. We suggest lowering a bed frame only as a last resort, as by doing so it can be quite difficult to properly install a headboard and footboard.

Changing the height of a platform bed
Many platform beds, such as the ones we carry from Amisco, can be height adjusted. They also come with the option of using a mattress only, or using a mattress and foundation as a set. A combination of these features makes it very easy to make your bed sit at the exact height you wish to achieve.