My husband, in his previous job, was a frequent traveler. He brought us home a surprise gift every week. Once he brought home a surprise I didn’t want- bedbugs. Believe me, there is nothing like lying down in bed at night and seeing a small bug crawling on the bed. It turned out I am severely allergic to the little critters and we discovered them quickly. “This is just a little infestation,” our pest control professional assured us, although that was easy for him to say. They weren’t in his house.

The Cats Enjoying the New Mattress

Needless to say, with the discovery of the bedbug the mattress went flying out the door never to return. I was in the market for a new mattress. Did you know that anyone who sleeps six to eight hours a night will spend 1/3 of their lifetime in bed? That fact made me realize I wanted a comfy mattress. Of course, what’s comfy for me might not be suitable for someone else. I’m sharing some tips I learned if you are on the hunt for a new mattress.

1. Test out the mattress. 
Most people test a mattress by sitting on it briefly, jumping up and saying, “This one feels good.” This is not a true measurement of how it will feel. We don’t sit on our mattresses and jump back up. Lie down on the mattress in your favorite position. Wait a few minutes and see how it feels.

2. Check out different comfort levels. 
I prefer a softer mattress over a firmer one. I checked out several different firmness levels to see which was the most comfortable for me before purchasing.

3. Invest in a Quality mattress.
Mattresses are a huge investment. It’s better to spend more money and buy a mattress you love than one that’s uncomfortable. If you replace it sooner than a quality mattress because you don’t like it, you’ll be spending more money in the long run. Check out the prices online and comparison shop.

What are your best tips for purchasing a mattress?