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Why Is My Spring Mattress Suddenly Uncomfortable? 5 Reasons
Dec
Why Is My Spring Mattress Suddenly Uncomfortable?
Changes in body weight and the degradation of a mattress's support system can make a spring mattress suddenly feel uncomfortable.
It's horrible when you can't get comfortable in bed, especially when your mattress is to blame. Other than replacing it or throwing on a mattress topper, there isn't much you can do to make it more comfortable.
This article explains why a spring mattress might suddenly be uncomfortable to help you decide what to do next.
Let's jump in!
Reason 1 – Your mattress has softened up after buying it (your mattress is too soft/ you need to get used to it)
If you recently bought your mattress, it's important to note that all mattresses have a breaking in period. Simply put, mattresses soften up, which is why experts recommend choosing a mattress on the slightly firmer side because after it softens, it will feel just right.
If you chose a mattress that felt how you like it from new (e.g., medium-soft), it could be that it has since softened beyond your tolerances.
You can make your mattress feel firmer with a firm mattress topper made from high-density memory foam. Just Google "firm mattress topper".
Reason 2 – Your mattress's foam comfort layer has degraded (the top layer doesn't feel right)
Despite foam's resilience, it does degrade over time. This happens through regular use because, over time, the foam's internal structure stresses and falls apart. It happens to latex, reflex, soft and memory foam, so no foam is immune.
The solution is to buy a new mattress because your old one is spent. Our range of award-winning mattresses is an excellent place to start.
If you need a short-term fix, get a firm memory foam mattress topper or sleep with a duvet underneath you, so you can't feel the dodgy foam.
Reason 3 – Your mattress's springs are spent (the support level has changed)
When a mattress's springs fail, the support system changes irreparably. This is especially true of open coil mattresses with an interconnected bed of springs, but it also applies to more expensive pocket spring mattresses.
Here are some tell-tale signs:
- Soft spots where the mattress compresses easily
- Reduced edge support (increased roll-off)
- Roll-together (where the mattress dips in the middle with two people on it)
- Squeaks and pings
- Lumps and bumps
- A perceptible difference in support after rotating the mattress 180 degrees.
If your springs are spent, you need a new mattress. Try rotating your mattress 180 degrees to make it usable until you buy another.
Reason 4 – You've put on weight (you sink into the mattress too much)
Your body weight plays a critical role in how a mattress feels. For example, someone over 220lbs would find a medium-firm mattress quite soft, and someone under 130lbs would find a medium-soft mattress relatively firm.
The heavier you get, the softer a firm mattress feels. So, when you put on weight, that medium mattress will feel medium-soft, and that medium-firm will feel medium, which may not suit your primary sleeping position.
For example, pregnant women often struggle to get comfortable in bed after around 28 weeks. Why? One reason is that the extra weight pushes the body into the mattress and compromises the usual support.
Try weighing yourself and see if you could lose a few pounds (obviously, pregnant women need not follow this advice). Otherwise, get a firm mattress topper.
Reason 5 – The mattress isn't right for you anymore (no matter what you do, you can't get comfy!)
All good things must come to an end, and over time, some of us develop different sleep preferences. That medium mattress you have now might feel too soft, or you might want more pocket springs for extra responsiveness.
When your sleep preferences change, there is little you can do but satisfy them, and buying a new mattress will give you the sleep you want.
Check out our guides to memory gel mattresses, pocket spring mattresses and mattresses for lower back pain.