Latex mattress questions

[phoenix]

Hi Martina,

I removed the sagging old spring mattress below immediately, following your response. Unfortunately I cannot get the softer latex foam soon so I am wondering if there are any other safe ways to soften our mattress somehow. Is it possible to quicken the break in period of the bottom layer? Is it even possible to break in a 36 ILD foam?

You could try walking carefully and evenly on the mattress but in general the upper layers are the ones that are most affected by the break in period … not the firmer layers deeper in the mattress.

We have been sleeping on the latex toppers for 23 days now, and “too firm” feeling is not improving so I am guessing that we had enough trial period to render the judgment.

I would think so yes.

So am I right in thinking that my hip goes down somewhat in the 19 ILD layer, but the bottom layer is preventing further contouring… so my hip has to go down more than 3" for my neutral position to take place?

I wouldn’t think in terms of number of inches. The goal is that your spine is in a neutral alignment and that you can sleep symptom free regardless of how many inches each part of your body ends up sinking in. This can be so individual that your experience will always be the best way to assess the mattress much more than any theory or “number of inches”.

Pillow under the knees – is this an old age phenomenon (arthritis, herniated disk, etc.) that most people (middle age +) who sleep on the back need to do? I prefer I don’t have to have the pillow, because, again, the pillow is a cause of temperature (can get too warm) issue. The pillow is another thing to take care of … The pillow I am using is a cheap polyester fill, I think.

This is one of those individual things that really can’t be generalized. Unfortunately aging affects all of us and in some cases it’s the best solution and it’s always beneficial. For some people no mattress may be enough to offset some of the physiological issues or changes that they may have developed over the years. Sometimes when we’re younger we don’t need some of the “aids” or to have “perfect alignment” but when we get older we do. This is all part of where in the range each person is in between “I can sleep on anything” and “princess and the pea”. Each person is different. Of course it would be great to be able to use just the mattress without a pillow under your knees but sometimes it’s possible and sometimes it’s not. A thicker mattress may be helpful (which you could assess when you have another layer) and zoning may also be beneficial to provide the varying levels of support that may be needed under the different areas of the body (see post #11 here) … especially in the heavier areas. Sometimes though … “educated” trial and error is the only pathway to success.

I originally embarked on this latex mattress purchase journey with 2 layers of 3" toppers in mind because we move frequently. Also I prefer to simplify my life as much as I can. (If 6" can do it, why carry 9" around?) I am wondering … in general, would you say you need to have 9" minimum to have a comfortable mattress, or have you heard of people successfully build a perfect latex mattress in 6" thickness?

Again … there are no rules that will apply to all people. Some people do very well with only 6" of latex but others need something thicker which can be more adaptable to different body shapes and types (see post #14 here). The most common thickness is usually in the 8" to 9" range because this allows for a 6" core layer which can adapt to different body types without getting firm too quickly and a 2" or 3" comfort layer for pressure relief and comfort. The odds of success with only 6" are higher for lighter body types but everything depends on the individual and some people need a different design or more thickness for their ideal design.

If you are able to exchange one of your layers then a third layer would give you the chance to experiment a little bit before deciding which one (if any) to send back and in the worst case you could always sell any extra layers you end up with.

Phoenix