Six Ways to Determine if Your Mattress Is Too Firm

An overly firm mattress is not the same as a supportive mattress. Choosing the right product is a delicate balancing act that requires the perfect blend of a solid, sturdy sleep surface that’s just soft enough to promote a healthy sleep cycle. But how can you tell when a mattress is too firm? The team at Matter Brothers Furniture and Mattress has compiled six tips to help you identify when your mattress is too firm.

1. Your Mattress Is Too Firm if You Experience Back, Neck, or Shoulder Pain Upon Waking

We’ve all woken up with the occasional crick in the neck or mild backache. Tossing and turning or sleeping in an odd position can cause little aches and pains that fade quickly. If you’re experiencing a more pronounced level of back, neck, or shoulder pain upon waking — especially if the pain occurs on a nightly basis — then it’s a telltale sign that your mattress is too firm for your needs.

2. There’s a Tingling Feeling in Your Extremities

It’s not just the morning’s aches and pains that you have to worry about with a firm mattress. In fact, an overly firm sleep surface can have an effect on your hands and feet as well. If you’ve ever woken up with a numb, tingling feeling in your extremities, it may be time to seek out a softer mattress. A sleeping surface that’s too firm can inhibit blood flow, leading to a pins and needles feeling in your fingertips or toes.

3. You Experience Restlessness or Insomnia Overnight

Nothing is worse than a night spent tossing and turning with sleeplessness. The hours tick by, and you can’t seem to find a comfortable position to sleep in. While factors like anxiety, stress, and worry can cause a similar effect, take note of how often you have bouts of restlessness and insomnia. If you are having trouble sleeping on a regular basis, it’s a strong indication that your mattress may be too firm for your personal level of comfort. Time to go shopping for a mattress with a lower firmness rating.

4. Your Mattress Is Too Firm If You Wake up Feeling Fatigued

Have you ever gone to bed at a decent hour only to wake up feeling exhausted? While you might not remember tossing and turning all night, that doesn’t mean that your sleep was restful. If your mattress is too firm, it can contribute to your restlessness even if it is on a subconscious level. If you routinely wake up feeling as if you never went to sleep in the first place, chances are that you need a softer grade of mattress.

5. No Molding and Contouring Itself to Your Shape During the Night

A properly fitted mattress has a certain amount of give to it. After lying down, you should see a shallow, body-sized impression where you were sleeping. If there’s no impression on the mattress’ surface when you get up, it means that the mattress is too rigid. The result? The aches, pains, and restlessness listed above.

6. You Sleep Elsewhere and Notice an Immediate Difference

If you’ve been sleeping on an overly firm mattress for any length of time, you might become desensitized to the little aches and pains that come as a result. One surefire way to tell if your mattress is too rigid is to try sleeping on a different mattress for a night. If you wake up pain-free and feeling refreshed, chances are you need to reevaluate your mattress options.

Picking the Perfect Mattress If Yours Is Too Firm

Once you’ve determined that your current mattress is too hard for your personal tastes, it’s time to find a softer, more restful alternative. The sales team at Matter Brothers Furniture can help you select the ideal mattress to suit your needs. Please call or visit us today at one of our five locations including our Sarasota furniture store!