Trouble Sleeping? Could Your Bed Be the Cause?
Finding it difficult to fall asleep? Waking frequently during the night? Your bed could hold the key. If you’ve already sorted your stress levels, have the right bedtime routine and don’t have any medical conditions, then the answer may lie in your bed itself. Here are five checks you can do to find out if your bed is stopping you from sleeping.
1. How old is it?
While fine wine and good cheeses get better with age, bedsprings do not! Over time, your mattress loses it shape and ability to support you. The first thing to ask yourself is how long have you had your current bed and mattress?
As a rule of thumb, most mattresses last around seven years before they need replacing. However, it does also depend on the level of wear and tear they sustain and how durably they are built. For example, here at The Wool Room, we’ve worked hard to develop mattresses that last longer – which is why we offer a ten-year warranty on all our beds and mattresses.
2. Look for lumps and bumps
Even if your bed is less than seven years old, it may still need replacing. The first thing to do is look for signs of wear and tear that may be affecting your bed’s performance. Start with the mattress and examine it for lumps, bumps and sagging around the sides that indicate that the mattress is no longer providing adequate support. While a light indent on the surface around your regular sleeping position is fine, deeper indents or springs that can be felt through the mattress are signs that it’s time for a change.
Once you’ve examined the mattress, move on to the bed base, again looking for signs of wear and tear. With a slatted base bed, you should check that all the slats are still in place and unbroken. With a sprung edge divan, check that no springs are poking up creating lumps and bumps.
3. Are you experiencing memory foam mattress problems?
Even if your mattress is new, it may still be causing your sleep problems. One thing in particular to look out for is memory foam. This mattress material may be popular, but it can cause a variety of sleep issues – common memory foam mattress problems include overheating, sweating and also aches and pains when you wake. It’s all down to the way that the memory foam works in order to mould to your body. Learn more about memory foam and night sweats.
4. Check your mattress material
Memory foam isn’t the only material that can affect your ability to sleep. Many mattresses are made almost entirely from synthetic fibres such as polyester and polypropylene. While these are durable fibres, they don’t provide the temperature-regulating properties of natural fibres such as cotton, linen or wool. So if you often wake up feeling hot and sweaty, your synthetic mattress may be the problem – even if you don’t seem to have an uncomfortable mattress.
What’s more, the humid environment created by a synthetic mattress is ideal for dust mites to thrive in. These little creatures can trigger allergies in some people – so if you often experience sneezing, coughing or dry, itchy eyes at night, then this may well be the cause.
Check the fabric label on your mattress to find out what it’s made of.
5. Assess your bed and mattress combination
Struggling with an uncomfortable bed? Have you considered that the fit of your mattress and bed may be the issue? For maximum comfort, the two elements of your bed need to fit together closely to support one another – and provide the best level of support for you.
Take a look at the edges where your bed and mattress meet – do the two sit neatly together, or does the mattress spill over the sides? Does the weight of the mattress push the divan base down, creating lumps, bumps or unevenness? The key to a fully supported night’s sleep is that your mattress rests neatly on top of your bed, with your bed providing support right across the mattress’s surface, all the way to the edges.
The relationship between your bed and sleep is an important one. With these checks complete, you should be ready to make the necessary changes – and get better quality snooze time.
Trouble sleeping? Read more advice about getting a good night’s sleep with our Sleep Health and Advice hub.
1. How old is it?
While fine wine and good cheeses get better with age, bedsprings do not! Over time, your mattress loses it shape and ability to support you. The first thing to ask yourself is how long have you had your current bed and mattress?
As a rule of thumb, most mattresses last around seven years before they need replacing. However, it does also depend on the level of wear and tear they sustain and how durably they are built. For example, here at The Wool Room, we’ve worked hard to develop mattresses that last longer – which is why we offer a ten-year warranty on all our beds and mattresses.
2. Look for lumps and bumps
Even if your bed is less than seven years old, it may still need replacing. The first thing to do is look for signs of wear and tear that may be affecting your bed’s performance. Start with the mattress and examine it for lumps, bumps and sagging around the sides that indicate that the mattress is no longer providing adequate support. While a light indent on the surface around your regular sleeping position is fine, deeper indents or springs that can be felt through the mattress are signs that it’s time for a change.
Once you’ve examined the mattress, move on to the bed base, again looking for signs of wear and tear. With a slatted base bed, you should check that all the slats are still in place and unbroken. With a sprung edge divan, check that no springs are poking up creating lumps and bumps.
3. Are you experiencing memory foam mattress problems?
Even if your mattress is new, it may still be causing your sleep problems. One thing in particular to look out for is memory foam. This mattress material may be popular, but it can cause a variety of sleep issues – common memory foam mattress problems include overheating, sweating and also aches and pains when you wake. It’s all down to the way that the memory foam works in order to mould to your body. Learn more about memory foam and night sweats.
4. Check your mattress material
Memory foam isn’t the only material that can affect your ability to sleep. Many mattresses are made almost entirely from synthetic fibres such as polyester and polypropylene. While these are durable fibres, they don’t provide the temperature-regulating properties of natural fibres such as cotton, linen or wool. So if you often wake up feeling hot and sweaty, your synthetic mattress may be the problem – even if you don’t seem to have an uncomfortable mattress.
What’s more, the humid environment created by a synthetic mattress is ideal for dust mites to thrive in. These little creatures can trigger allergies in some people – so if you often experience sneezing, coughing or dry, itchy eyes at night, then this may well be the cause.
Check the fabric label on your mattress to find out what it’s made of.
5. Assess your bed and mattress combination
Struggling with an uncomfortable bed? Have you considered that the fit of your mattress and bed may be the issue? For maximum comfort, the two elements of your bed need to fit together closely to support one another – and provide the best level of support for you.
Take a look at the edges where your bed and mattress meet – do the two sit neatly together, or does the mattress spill over the sides? Does the weight of the mattress push the divan base down, creating lumps, bumps or unevenness? The key to a fully supported night’s sleep is that your mattress rests neatly on top of your bed, with your bed providing support right across the mattress’s surface, all the way to the edges.
The relationship between your bed and sleep is an important one. With these checks complete, you should be ready to make the necessary changes – and get better quality snooze time.
Trouble sleeping? Read more advice about getting a good night’s sleep with our Sleep Health and Advice hub.
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