Why is my mattress too firm?

Why is my mattress too firm?


After a long day at work or school, the last thing anyone wants is to lie down on a bed that is not comfortable enough. Perhaps you have had the same problem and you are always asking yourself; why is my mattress so firm? In today's blog, we are going to look at the reasons why your mattress may be too firm.


So how do you know if your mattress is actually too firm? 

5 Signs that your mattress is too firm

You always complain of a backache

A firm mattress can increase back pain, especially in the lower region of your back as it can leave it feeling worn out due to it causing joint pressure in your hips as you lie down.

You fail to comfortable ‘sink in’ to your bed when you get into your bed 

If you fail to sink into your bed when you go to sleep and you always find yourself tossing and turning, you might be experiencing a mattress with ‘low sink in rate. A mattress with a low sink in rate prevents your body from settling into the bed smoothly and comfortably. This can lead to an increase in not being able to fall asleep, waking up more frequently during the night and an overall distorted sleeping pattern.

You always wake up with stiff joints 

A study by the Mayo Clinic showed that there is an increased chance of pains for people with scoliosis or arthritis with a firmer mattress. Even those who do not suffer from these things might experience different pains because of how they sleep. For example, those who sleep on their side may experience stiff knees and shoulders. Neck pain is also a possibility that comes with a firmer mattress due to repeatedly putting your neck on a surface that provides little cushioning 

You have sleep-related discomfort leading to insomnia and lost sleep

Not getting the right amount of sleep can be harmful to your life and wellbeing. Sleeping issues after a long period of time can be a sign that your mattress is too firm and perhaps you need one that is medium-firm or lower. 


It's also important to bear in mind that the way that you sleep also determines whether you have trouble with a firm mattress. For example, those that sleep on their stomach might prefer a firmer mattress whilst those who sleep on their back or side may struggle with comfort on a firmer mattress, so it's important not to compare or judge based on others and their experiences as it can be different than yours. 

Why is my mattress so firm?

Now that we have identified some issues that you might relate with, lets look at why your mattress may be too firm: 

It's too new

New mattresses may be too firm but will become softer after you use it multiple times

The room temperature

The room temperature in your bedroom may increase the firmness of your mattress. One mattress that is affected by the temperature is memory foam mattresses. This is because memory foam mattresses have cells that are designed to conform to the body which is an element that can make them soften up in an increase of temperature or contract when it's colder; which can make them firm.

You are using an incompatible foundation

The foundation of your bed or the type of surface you have beneath your mattress can have a big difference on how firm the mattress is for example box spring surfaces work well with innerspring mattresses. However foundations such as a wooden slat frame can cause some mattresses to become firmer, such as a hybrid mattress



Make sure to read our next blog as we delve into how you can make your firm mattress softer!


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