Hoping to get a new bed, any recommendations?

Number One: Make sure it’s one you can change easily by yourself.

I didn’t think of that a year and a half ago when we bought a new one with a nice wooden frame with the mattress recessed to about half its depth. My husband helped me change it exactly twice before he became too disabled to do it. It’s an exhausting solo exercise for me, lifting the mattress to get the sheet tucked in, and usually includes blanging my knuckles on the nice wooden sides.

Also make sure the width of your nice wooden frame is not so great that you essentially have to climb in and out over a little wall.

You won’t have to worry, anyway, about someone banging his knuckles against the nice wooden headboard in the middle of the night and jolting you awake.

As for mattresses, I bookmarked this thread from a few years ago.

@Jeruba, thanks for the link. The frame/base is fine, it’s just a mattress I need.

I’ve slept in nothing but waterbeds for most of my adult life. They can’t be beat for comfort, IMO.

@canidmajor, sorry, I thought “new bed” meant the works.

The purchase was a big deal for us, long postponed. Afterward, my husband slept many times more comfortably, and I get up in pain every day.

Yeah, I wasn’t really clear, sorry. What do have, @Jeruba, that leaves you in pain?

@canidmajor, I have the order right here: it’s a Simmons Beautyrest Silver Whistling Cay Luxury Firm Queen Mattress.

I wanted something relatively soft in a “traditional” mattress (no memory foam or other plastic goop for me, thanks), and the salesman said this “firm” was really medium. It seemed fine to me when we tested it in the store.

Our older, softish mattress exacerbated my husband’s back pain. He loves the new mattress. For me, it feels like sleeping on rocks. I can’t get comfortable. It’s hard for me to even sit up in the morning, and I whimper and groan while trying to stand. I think this is one reason why I can’t walk to the end of the next block any more without pain that halts me.

My husband says get rid of it, then, but he spends all his waking hours with back pain, and I can’t make myself exchange his relief for mine.

Oh, ugh. I have always needed a sort-of firm surface with a pile of soft on it, it’s a difficult combo to achieve. I pile up foam on stuff.

Remember to keep in mind a lot of mattresses now are very deep 16” and even 18” so you will want to make sure your sheets fit, unless you plan on buying new sheets. If you currently only have a standard 12” from back in the day, then remember that a few more inches can make it difficult to get in and out of bed if you are not very tall, and you can get a shorter box spring (4” less thick) to make the height what you are accustomed to. I personally don’t like to get “up” into bed, I feel like I can easily strain my back.

You can get a pillow top that is on a firmer base, but what I usually do is get a standard mattress and a cushy mattress cover. The main reason I do this is my platform bed only allows for a 12” mattress.

If you get spring, which is what I recommend, get individual springs so it accommodates your body sinking in, in all the right places, unless maybe the standard springs are better now, it has been a while since I have bought a mattress.

@JLeslie What mattress do you have and do you like it and has it lasted well?

Sheets and accessories are not really of concern to me at this time.

I’m grateful to see @Jeruba linked to that previous question. I commented in that thread, and my comments today would be exactly the same.

I have a Simmons Beautyrest, and I love it.

Seriously, consider a Casper mattress. You can go try them at a West Elm store. Much less expensive, very comfy, get to try 100 nights.

I like a fairly soft mattress too. A pillowtop works for me. I bought a Beautyrest one for my room in Berkeley and it is lovely. The best thing to do though is to go into a mattress store and lay on several. We’re all so different. I went into the local store of one of the national chains and was pleased and surprised by how helpful they were and how much time they spent.

When we had the condo in Florida we bought a Tempurpedic for it and I did not find it any more comfortable than a regular good mattress.

One thing I do find is that sleeping with a pillow between my knees since I am a side sleeper makes me more comfortable.

@janbb What brand do you like?

@canidmajor Oh – I put it in but you must have missed it – it was a Simmons Beautyrest. But know that each purveyor sells models under slightly different names so it is hard to compare prices from one store to another. And never buy a mattress when there isn’t a “sale” on; they are on sale constantly.

Oh, of course, sorry, @janbb.

Your Sleep Number frame is for Sleep number mattresses ?

I’m I missing something ?

@Tropical_Willie, the frame is a generic platform, it will take any of the mattresses I am considering. If I decide on one whose measurements don’t quite fit, I’ll adjust. The mattress is the important thing here.

We just got a Serta Hybrid. It has some memory foam but has pocketed coils as well. It is hands down the best mattress I have slept on in a long time.

@seawulf575 A lot of the hybrids are getting pretty good reviews.

My wife and I tried a few and finally got a Casper. We love it. There are discount codes available too if you’re interested. You get 100 free nights, so if you buy it and don’t like it, just give them a call and they’ll refund your money and haul it away, no hassle.

That said mattresses are very personal things, so it may not be your cup-o-tea. Good luck!

Sleep Number bed. I bought my first 20 years ago and just 2 months ago bought my second. You can control/change the firmness in a matter of moments. No, I did not buy the ones with all the bells and whistles. I bought second model up and it’s great. Queen size mattress you can adjust on both sides. Good Luck.

Queen size. Not too soft, not too firm.

Another vote for Serta hybrid.

@si3tech Didn’t read the details, didja? ;-)

@kritiper: I’m asking for a brand name.

Have you decided on a bed yet?

Nah, I’m just starting the process. I won’t do anything until after the pandemic calms down. But just asking this Q and looking at a review site means my Facebook feed is now filled with ads. :-)

@canidmajor Why are you getting rid of the Sleep Number ?

@Tropical_Willie It doesn’t suit me anymore, the customer service has deteriorated (in my experience) and after 13 years I sleep very differently and want a change.

Just got my new mattress today. It’s too tall and too firm and I hate it.
In a week I’ll be delighted and will wonder how I ever slept before I got it.

Despite my username, I am more feline in some ways, I hate change.

Congratulations!
But, it took you 3 years to choose? You wrote this in 2020.

I told you, I hate change! ;-p

Too tall off the ground? That is what I warned about, I hate that. I can pull my back out getting into a tall bed. You can get a shorter box spring if you decide to keep the mattress.

Obviously, you can get a cushy mattress cover to help soften the feel of the mattress if you don’t want to exchange the mattress for another. Buying a mattress is so difficult for me, I empathize with your procrastination and difficulty adjusting.

@JLeslie Please see the second sentence of my comment above @chyna,’s where first I bitch, and then reverse, then explain why.

And I didn’t procrastinate, I waited til I felt more comfortable shopping after the pandemic calmed down. Still planning to test after that.