Mattress Covers/Quilting for DIY Latex Bed

[phoenix]

Hi GinGin,

I live in Michigan and am very close to FoambyMail and FoamFactory. When I went to FoambyMail, I had a really bad feeling. It was dirty, unorganized and they could not answer my questions very well. I was suspect and started Googling away and that is how I found the Underground.

It sounds like you’ve read these but for the sake of others that read your comments I would read this post and this post and this topic (about their polyfoam and sources) and this post (presumably from a past employee) before buying anything from Foam by Mail (AKA FBM and Foam Factory) or considering them as a reliable supplier.

We know we want a firm core but need to soften it up fsince I have been having a lot of shoulder issues and currently in physical therapy.

My husband (5’10" and 205 lbs) is okay with the Pamper with a two inch PLB topper but does not want it any softer. He would actually prefer no topper. I think a bit more cushioning is needed for me (5’4’ 150 lbs.). I am traditionally a stomach sleeper with some side. My husband is the same. However, since my shoulder problem I have been sleeping on my back. I hate being on my back to sleep and as soon as I can tolerate it, I hope to resume my normal positions of stomach and side! I think our too firm foam mattress is contributing to my pain and very knotted shoulder/back muscles.

I would like to take this one step at a time and just order the mattress for now, but think about the topper. Given the above, any tips on how to proceed?

If you are used to a very firm latex mattress then the Pamper is their firmest mattress as you can see in the PLB specs here and it would also make a good “base” for adding a topper.

Stomach and back sleepers tend to do best with a firmer mattress with a thinner comfort layer to help reduce the risk of alignment issues but when you are also a side sleeper then you would typically need some additional thickness/softness in the comfort layers that is “just enough” to relieve pressure without being so thick/soft that you would be compromising alignment in your other sleeping positions.

If you are currently only sleeping on your back and you have confirmed that the Pamper is a good match for you in terms of PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences) based on the way you sleep now then it would make sense to start with just the mattress and then add an additional topper that is “just enough” in terms of thickness and softness when you decide to start start sleeping on your side once again.

When the time comes then post #2 here and the topper guidelines it links to can help you use your sleeping experience on the mattress as a guideline to help you choose the type, firmness, and thickness for a topper that would have the best chance of providing the additional pressure relief you need with the least possible risk for alignment and of course you could also test the same mattress/topper combination when your shoulder is back to normal to confirm that it is a suitable combination for you as well on the same mattress before adding it to your sleeping system.

I would also make sure that you are using a suitable pillow because upper body shoulder pressure issues can also be a result of using a pillow that isn’t a good match for you in combination with the mattress you are sleeping on your side and when you sleep in multiple positions then a pillow that can be “scrunched” into different heights can make a good choice. There is more information about choosing a pillow in the pillow topic here.

In other words your approach makes sense to me

Phoenix