Is a Soft Mattress Right for You?

Buying a new mattress can be a stressful thing for many people. After all, you’re buying something you’ll be sleeping on for at least seven or eight years. And you want to make sure it’s comfortable, provides a good night’s sleep, and doesn’t cause you pain.

So, as you start your mattress shopping, you might be wondering if a soft mattress is right for you.

In this article, we’re going to look at the pros and cons of a soft mattress so you can decide if it’s the one you should choose. First, let’s define a soft mattress.

Definition of a Soft Mattress

When you sit on a soft mattress, you’ll notice a very obvious difference from a firm mattress. While a firm mattress is rigid and doesn’t have any “bounce,” a soft mattress will squish and compress when you sit on it or lay down.

Mattresses usually come on a scale from 1 being the softest to 10 being the firmest. Generally speaking, a soft mattress comes in between 1 and 5, with any above 5 being medium. When you’re looking for a soft mattress, you’re usually looking at a number between 3 and 4 for a softness rating.

That being said, there really is no industry standard, and each mattress manufacturer uses its own scale to rate its mattresses.

When it comes to mattress types, you can choose a soft mattress in any of the categories. This includes innerspring, memory foam, hybrid, and others.

The softness of a mattress is found in the top layers. This is where the most foam and padding are. When it comes to softness, it depends on the softness of the outer layers of the mattress.

To determine if a soft mattress is right for you, here are the people who generally benefit from a softer sleep:

You are a Side Sleeper

Side sleepers need a mattress that conforms to their spine and their joints. Because they are sleeping on their shoulders and their hips, they need cushion and support on these pressure points.

When you sleep on a soft mattress, the plush surface has enough give to provide you with the best in pressure relief.

You are a Back Sleeper

The best part about sleeping on your back is that you can sleep on a wide variety of surfaces and be comfortable.

A soft mattress can be quite comfortable for you but do be careful it isn’t too soft, so you lose support for your spine. A pillow under your knees can be quite helpful.

You are a Healthy Weight

For people who aren’t overweight, a soft mattress can be quite comfortable.

For heavier people, a soft mattress can sink too much to feel good.

The general rule of thumb is that if you weigh less than 120 pounds, a soft mattress is perfect. If you weigh more than 250 pounds, you may want to look at medium to firm mattresses, so you don’t experience bed compression.

Finally, if you sleep with a partner, account for everyone’s weight together when picking out your new mattress.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to deciding on a mattress type, you really want to consider your sleep position, your weight, and your comfort preferences.

A soft mattress will feel better to almost everybody at first, but it isn’t for everyone.

Now that you know who might benefit from a soft mattress, let’s conclude by looking at the pros and cons of this type of bed:

When it comes to the pros of a soft mattress, you’ll definitely find them softer and more comfortable the first time you sit down.

A soft mattress is pillowy and cushiony. You might even envision yourself having the best sleep of your life. In addition, if you have back pain that isn’t responding to a firm mattress, a soft mattress can be a good alternative. Side sleepers also experience a better night’s sleep because the soft mattress contours to their hips and shoulders alleviating pressure.

On the con side of a soft mattress, many find they start to sag earlier than firmer mattresses. And for some people, such as stomach and back sleepers, a soft mattress causes them aches and pains. For heavier people and even couples, a soft mattress is not a good idea. Why? Because a soft mattress causes them to have a sleeping surface that’s uneven.

With this information in hand, you’re ready to start shopping at Mattress Outlet today! Let us help you find what you need. Finally, don’t forget that your mattress will get softer over time. So, you want to plan accordingly when choosing the level of softness of your new mattress.

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