CHOOSING THE PERFECT MATTRESS TOPPER
A good quality mattress topper can add an extra layer of softness to your bed making you and your family more comfortable and therefore leading to a better night’s sleep for all.
Toppers are often used to make a bed that’s a bit too firm more comfortable to sleep on, or to help get a bit more life out of a worn and sagging mattress that might be past its use by date.
By adding an extra layer of material between the sleeper and the mattress, toppers also have the added benefit of acting like a mattress protector, and using a topper can extend the life of a new mattress.
Depending on the material used to make the topper, they can also play an important role in body temperature regulation throughout the night.
Some people often confuse mattress toppers with mattress underlays, the biggest difference being that toppers are typically much thicker and therefore add a greater layer of comfort.
BEDDING TOPPER CONSIDERATIONS
When it comes to finding the perfect topper for you and your family, consider:
- Bed size
- Your preferred comfort level
- Your preferred level of support
- Your mattress type and age
- Your budget
- How long you’d like your topper to last
- Special needs
BED SIZE
When choosing your topper, make sure that you get the right size for your bed, as an improper fitting topper can move around and cause frustration and discomfort.
COMFORT LEVEL
If you’re adding a topper to your bed to make it more comfortable, it makes perfect sense that the comfort of the topper is an important consideration.
The comfort level of a topper can be influenced by a number of things, including the thickness of the topper, the materials used in the construction of the topper, and of course the quality of the materials used in the construction of the topper.
Toppers can be made from a range of materials, including foam toppers, polyester toppers, cotton toppers, wool toppers, memory foam toppers, latex toppers,and feather and down toppers.
Each one of these materials has unique characteristics, some of which affect their level of comfort.
Because comfort is a subjective and individual thing, which of these may be most comfortable to you will be influenced by not only the comfort levels you want, but also other things like support, budget and the other things we’re about to discuss.
SUPPORT LEVEL
Good quality toppers can not only add a layer of comfort to your bed, they can also provide an added layer of support, depending upon the material used in their construction.
Memory foam toppers and latex toppers can add a great deal of support to your mattress, while other options, like polyester and cotton toppers, may offer a degree of support. Typically, options like wool toppers and feather and down toppers are purely for comfort and typically offer very little added support.
MATTRESS TYPE AND AGE
The type and age of your mattress comes into consideration when choosing the perfect topper for you and your family because toppers can be used to make hard mattresses softer, old mattresses more comfortable and supportive, and old and new mattresses last longer.
BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS
The golden rule when it comes to buying a new topper for yourself or someone you love, is the same as when you’re buying a new pillow or quilt; “buy the best you can afford”.
Good quality sleep plays a vital role in ensuring we all lead happy, healthy lives, and because it can add a layer of comfort and support to your mattress, a new topper could play a key role in determining how comfortable you are throughout the night so is an important factor affecting your quality of sleep.
The things that most effect the price you pay for your new topper is the type and quality of materials it's made from, and where it's made.
Some materials are more expensive than others, for example feather and down toppers and Australian wool toppers are usually more expensive than cotton and polyester toppers. Memory foam and latex toppers can be quite expensive too, but if they provide the additional support and comfort you need, and prolong the life of an old mattress or new one, they could still represent great value of money.
And even among toppers made with the same type of material, there can be quality differences. For example, not all latex or memory foams have the same specifications and treatments.
Where a topper is made can also affect its price.
TOPPER DURABILITY
Related to budget considerations are how long you would like and expect your new topper to last.
Again, this depends to a great extent on the type and quality of materials the topper is made from.
An expensive memory foam or latex topper could last you for five to ten years, whereas a much cheaper polyester topper may last two to three years.
Regardless of the type of topper you buy, it is possible to maximise the lifespan of any topper by caring for it in line with the care instructions provided by the manufacturer.
For example, machine washable toppers, like the Tontine Soft and Snuggly Mattress Topper, should be washed monthly along with your quilt, following the care instructions provide on the care label.
SPECIAL NEEDS
In addition to all the considerations listed above, you may also need to consider other things, which we call “special needs”. Special needs relate specifically to your circumstances and preferences, and include things like whether you or someone in your family suffer from allergies and asthma.
In this example, there are anti-allergy toppers, like the Tontine Anti Allergy Topper that is made with polyester fibres that are coated with an anti-microbial treatment that inhibits the growth of bacteria, as well as mould and dust mites, which are known triggers of allergies and asthma. For maximum piece of mind, the Tontine Anti Allergy Topper is approved by the National Asthma Council of Australia.
Memory foam and latex tend to retain heat, so if you’re a hot sleeper, and you want a memory foam or latex topper, look for one with cooling properties built in, like cooling gel and gel infused memory foam for example.
If you have a memory foam mattress or latex mattress, you can of course use a topper made out of other material to help you make your mattress cooler, like a polyester and cotton topper for example.
CONCLUSION
As you can see, there are a number of different bedding topper options to consider, all with various features and benefits.
Using a good quality topper can not only add an extra layer of comfort and support to your mattress, it can also help protect and prolong the life of your mattress, new or old, so we highly recommend their use in your home.
Investing in good quality bedding is one of the best investments you can make for you and your family.
There’s nothing better than a great night’s sleep, and for the best night’s sleep and comfort you can trust, there’s only one choice, Tontine.
