Sleep Number Bed û Mattress Du Jour

Starting from heaps of leaves in a caveÆs corner to goatskins filled with water or bags of cloth filled with wool or feathers, man had through the ages continuously enhanced his sleeping comfort, mostly upgrades on his mattress.

In the latter part of the 19th century, the box spring mattress was invented. It literally removed most of the lumps in beds since then. The 50Æs saw the popularity of foam mattresses. With the invention of vinyl, the 60s had the first waterbed available commercially.

Air mattresses made of vulcanized rubber or vinyl started in the 80s. The 90s had Tempur-pedic beds made from memory foam invented by NASA in the 70s.

Today, the current rage is the improved air-filled mattress called the Sleep Number Bed. It is a patented variant of adjustable firmness air mattress marketed since 1987. And its popularity is growing.

What is a Sleep Number Bed, and what makes it special?

It is an air mattress which uses uniquely designed air chambers that provides the support cushion. The bedÆs main feature is the ability of the user to easily adjust this cushion according to his preference for firmness and feeling of comfort.

This control, called the Sleep Number Setting has numbers between zero and 100. The numbers represent the ideal combination of mattress comfort, firmness and support for the body.

The medium setting starts at 50 or 60, and can be adjusted up or down according to oneÆs preference. The user is encouraged to be on the bed (in his favorite sleeping position) while doing the adjustments.

One is advised to take some few minutes to evaluate the comfort. One guide is to have the neck and back aligned as if one is standing. For back sleepers, the mattress should support the small of the back. For side sleepers, it should follow and support the curve of the bodyÆs side.

For non-remote users, simply inflate the mattress manually to full capacity first. Check how the degree of firmness feels. Take your time in evaluating your comfort.

For lower back discomfort, increase the firmness by pressing and holding the button between one to five seconds. Decrease the firmness for your upper back, hip and shoulders, if you prefer it so. Just make sure that the neck and the body are aligned and there are no uncomfortable pressure points.

These settings are changeable depending on your needs. Moreover, the Sleep Number Bed allows couples to adjust each side of the bed to the precise comfort level each one wants.

Another reason for its popularity could be that the Sleep Number Bed has a zip-open design which can be vacuumed and properly ventilated. This minimizes allergens which are trapped in traditional enclosed mattresses.

The manufacturer also points to the fact that their materials uses Belgian Damask fabrics and are sanitized for further protection. The mattress set includes a complete line of hypoallergenic accessories (pillows, protectors, comforters, blankets).

The other incentives include the 20-year limited warranty, the one month trial period, the easy no-tool assembly and the removable mattress cover.

Whichever aspect one wants in a mattress, the primary consideration of many seems to be comfort. The popular Sleep Number Bed, patented for its features, looked like the leader in this area at the moment.