Bridal Articles and News
Don't Strain Your Marriage With an Old Mattress
By
Sep 7, 2005, 01:08

(NUI) - When new couples settle down to start their lives together, many overlook an aspect of their new household that could cause unnecessary strain on the relationship: their mattress.

"Many couples start out with hand-me-down mattresses from someone else in the family or try to squeeze a few more years out of the mattress they grew up on," said Arthur Grehan, executive director of the American Innerspring Manufacturers, a nonprofit trade association that provides free information on restful sleep and sleep surfaces. "That can be a recipe for sleepless nights."

Maximum rest occurs in the deepest phases of sleep, but sharing a bed often means couples are more likely to be disturbed by each other's turning and will spend less of their sleep time in deep sleep, Grehan said.

"Studies have shown that most people turn or roll an average of 40 to 60 times per night," he said. "Each time one partner moves, the other usually moves within 20 seconds."

A mattress with adequate size and support can minimize the impact of couple's new sleeping arrangements and the amount of adjustment necessary. AIM suggests newlyweds check their mattresses for the following symptoms.

* The edges are not firm. Lack of support on the edges is a good sign the mattress is losing its shape.

* It's a "fad pad." If you're thinking about sleeping on a waterbed, air mattress, solid foam mattress or other once fashionable sleep surface, you should reconsider. Only innersprings give you the maximum support, longevity and motion control you need.

* It's less than 60 inches across. AIM recommends that two people sharing a bed should try to get at least 30 inches each. For that reason, the queen-sized innerspring mattress has replaced the double bed as the standard for two people.

* There is no matching boxspring. Mattresses and their matching boxsprings are made to work together. The boxspring can ensure you get maximum support and can extend the life of your mattress.

To help newlyweds with their major buying decisions and to ease the common confusion about mattress buying, AIM offers "The Independent Bride's Major Purchase Guide." For a free copy, visit www.aiminfo.org or call 1-800-TUCK-ME-IN (1-800-882-5634).

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