Expert Advice On Beds And Pillows (Part 1/3)

Rest and Recline (Part 1/3)

To get a good night’s rest, you need to start with a good mattress, followed by a good pillow. Michelle Ane Ng, Marketing Manager from Simmons, tells us how to find – and maintain – that perfect cradle.

By Grace Chan | reprinted with permission from "Expert Advice" by Home Concepts Magazine

AN AVERAGE person spends approximately a third of his life sleeping, and what he sleeps on makes a big difference in the quality of sleep he gets every night. When your body is allowed to rest in its natural position, muscles are relaxed and sleep is more refreshing. A good mattress should maintain the same natural spinal alignment you have when standing, while one without enough support for your spine and neck can lead to muscle fatigue and a poor night’s rest.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MATTRESSES AND PILLOWS AVAILABLE IN THE MARKET?
Under the coil constructions mattress range, there is the open coil mattress and the pocketed coil mattress. The open coil constructions consist of Bonnel and continuous coil, just to name a few, and is typically connected by helical wire. The original simmons Pocketed coil mattress is barrel shape, pre-compressed and joined in the middle to deliver the independent movement of coils and provide resilience and support for one’s back. The other types of mattresses in the market include latex mattresses and viscose-elastic mattresses.

There are many types of pillows including feather, down, cotton, polyester, latex, and viscose-elastic. However, Simmonsis the only brand that carries he pocketed coil pillow called the Simmons Beautyrest NeckCare Pillow. It also boasts four levels of firmness(soft, medium, firm and ultra) to suit different head size and shape, neck and shoulder length and width, as well as sleeping patterns.

HOW SHOULD ONE GO ABOUT SELECTING A MATTRESS?
Do your research. It is always good to know your existing mattress type. Such as it’s firm of soft, or a foam or coil mattress, etc. your choice should not deviate too far from the firmness of your existing mattress as the body needs time to adjust to the feel and firmness of the new mattress.

A visit to the store and testing the beds in the showroom will help you determine your personal comfort preference. Lie down on each mattress to help you decide which model is best suited to your needs. Many components make up the feel of a mattress. They include the coil unit construction, foam and upholstery layers, and cover fabric.

Ultimately, the mattress you choose will depend on your personal preference and the sleep benefits the model delivers. You may also want to try a maximum of three mattresses at any one time. Anything more would simply confuse you. To safeguard your interests, you should purchase the product at the brand’s gallery, a reputable department store or through the brand’s appointed authorised dealers.

ANY TIPS FOR CHOOSING A GOOD PILLOW?
First, you need to relax and lie down in your usual sleeping position to try the pillows available in the stores. Then, ask yourself if you are comfortable and if there’s any strain around your neck and shoulder area. Check for comfort, firmness and the height of the pillow at the neck area to ensure that it gives you good spinal alignment. A good pillow should not be too high such that you feel a strain at your shoulders or too low such that it gives you a neck ache. Also, the pillow material should promote good airflow to help keep you cool. The four key factors for consideration when making your purchase are your head size, height of neck, width of shoulder (sloping or broad) and sleeping position (back, side or stomach).

Click here to read Part 2.

Source: Expert Advice On Beds And Pillows (Part 1/3)