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In the United States it is typically constructed of multiple layers of foams, natural and/or synthetic fibers, and springs. A mattress can be used alone, on the floor, but is usually placed atop some platform so as to be higher off the ground. Such a platform might be a foundation made with metal springs in a wooden frame. Mattresses made mainly of foam materials such as latex foam, viscoelastic foam and other polyurethane-type foam, are becoming more common. Mattresses can be constructed to use almost any support system such as air, water, foam, or springs.

If a mattress is permanently covered in fabric, this fabric is normally called the ticking.

A pillowtop queen-size mattress

History

	Ancient times: Prehistoric humans simply huddled in groups for warmth at night and slept on the ground.
	10,000 to 8,000 years ago (Neolithic period): The invention of the mattress and then the bed. It was raised off the ground to avoid drafts, dirt, and pests. Most probably, the first "mattress" was a pile of leaves or grass with animal skins over it. Straw was probably also used. Softer materials were added: grass, straw, pea shucks, rags, etc.
	3600 BCE: The first water-filled beds were goatskins filled with water, used in Persia.
	3400 BCE: Egyptian people slept on palm bows heaped in the corner of their home.
	200 BCE: Mattresses in the Roman Empire were bags of cloth stuffed with reeds, hay or wool. Wealthy people filled the bags with feathers. Romans discovered the waterbed. The sleeper would recline in a cradle of warm water until drowsy, then be lifted onto an adjacent cradle with a mattress, where they would be rocked to sleep.
	15th century: In the Renaissance, mattresses were made of pea shucks or straw, sometimes feathers, stuffed into coarse ticks, then covered with velvets, brocades, or silks.
	16th and 17th centuries: Mattresses were generally stuffed with straw or down, placed atop a latticework of rope from which the expression "sleep tight" is derived. The latticework needed regular tightening. A typical bed of 1600 was a timber frame with rope or leather supports.

Photo on a 1940 USDA circular promoting home production of cotton mattresses

	18th century: Mattresses were stuffed with cotton or wool.
	Mid 18th century: Mattress covers started to be made of quality linen or cotton. The mattress cane box was shaped or bordered and the fillings available were natural and plenty, including coconut fibre, cotton, wool and horsehair. The mattresses also became tufted or buttoned to hold the fillings and cover together and the edges were stitched.
	1857: The steel coil spring was invented and first patented for use in a chair seat.
	1865: The first coil spring construction for bedding was patented. Mattresses were lumpy up to the late 1800s, when the box spring was invented. Even the box spring mattresses were lumpy, but at least the springs made it more comfortable.
	1871: The German Heinrich Westphal is credited for inventing the innerspring mattress. He lived in Germany and died in poverty, having never profited from his invention.
	1873: Sir James Paget at St. Bartholomew's Hospital presented a waterbed designed by Neil Arnott as a treatment and prevention of pressure ulcers (bed sores). Waterbeds allowed mattress pressure to be evenly distributed over the body.
	1895: A few waterbeds were sold via mail order by the British store HarrodâÆ™s. They looked like large hot water bottles.
	1900: James Marshall invents the pocket coil mattress
	1906: Sealy Mattress Company formed after buying all patents and knowledge from a local gentlemen.
	1930s: Innerspring mattresses and upholstered foundations slowly became the most widely used form of mattresses. Artificial fillers became common. The most expensive beds of 1929 were latex rubber mattresses produced by Dunlopillow. Pocket spring mattresses were also introduced. These were individual springs sewn into linked fabric bags.
	1940s: Futons were introduced to North America.
	1950s: Foam rubber mattresses and pillows appeared on the market.
	1960s: Modern waterbed was introduced. Due to lack of suitable materials, the waterbed did not gain widespread use until this decade, when vinyl was invented. Also, adjustable beds become popular with consumers.
	1980s: Airbeds were introduced. The mattress was an inflatable unit made with vinyl.
	1992: Tempur-Pedic introduced their pressure-relieving "Swedish Sleep Systems" mattresses using TEMPUR branded viscoelastic memory foam.
	1999: For the first time ever, the queen-size mattress beat the twin-size to become the U.S. most popular choice for mattress size.
	Currently: Most mattresses use innerspring coils.

When does a mattress and bed need replacing?

	After 7 to 15 years, depending on use and quality, although many people use their mattresses longer.
	Experts indicate that two adults sleeping nightly on a queen mattress will notice the padding, not the coils, breaking down after a period of four to six years. While the mattress will still be comfortable, it will no longer feel the way it did when first purchased.
	When laying a hand on the mattress with about three pounds-force and sliding it over the mattress lumps can be felt.
	When the user regularly wakes up feeling tired, stiff, achy and sore and the reason can be traced to the mattress.
	When inner coils start springing out of the mattress.
	When the mattress shows very visible deformities.
	When the mattress has a large permanent sag in it.
	When the box spring creaks and squeaks.
	When the user has difficulty finding a comfortable position in which to sleep.

Choosing a mattress and bed

There are many different parameters that determine which is the best mattress for you. For some of these parameters, such as pressure distribution, skin microclimate, hygeine, edge support, and long-term stability, laboratory test methods have been established. Many of these have been developed by Dr Duncan Bain, working for The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. The purchaser of a new mattress should ask to see manufacturer's documentation of independent evaluations conducted on their products, using these techniques.

Other parameters, such as comfort, and contribution to back pain, are more subjective.

Testing a mattress and bed

	The prospective buyer should lie on it for at least ten minutes, trying different positions.
	Lying on the back If a user slides his/her hand under the small of the back, and it is very easy and his/her shoulders and hips are uncomfortable, the mattress is too hard. If there is no space between the user's back and the bed, it's too soft.
	Rolling over âÆ” If it takes a lot of effort, then the bed is too soft. If it is uncomfortable for the user's hips and shoulders, it's too hard.
	The user should test the mattress on the type of base that it will be used on.
	If the bed is for two people, both users should try it at the same time.

What to look for in mattresses and beds

	The mattress should be designed to conform to the spine's natural curves and to keep the spine in alignment when lying down.
	It should have perimeter edge support. Usually, this will be a heavy gauge border rod, however, in some high end models, a high density foam encased spring unit will provide firmer edge to edge comfort and support.
	It should be designed to distribute pressure evenly across the body to help circulation, decrease body movement and enhance sleep quality.
	It should be designed to minimize the transfer of movement from one sleeping partner to the other. The Marshall coil and viscoelastic memory foam designs achieve this better than traditional coil systems.
	On a same size mattress, more coils of a lower gauge (thinner) may give better support and last longer than fewer coils with a higher gauge (thicker). A good warranty, 15 years being the best, will ensure your lower count-higher gauge coil mattress is of lasting quality.

Firmer or softer - mattresses and beds

There are three main sleep positions âÆ” Back, stomach and side. During a night's sleep, most people use more than one position. The sleeping position determines which part of the body will interface with the mattress, which in turn determines the amount of stress to the body. Use of a pillow can also help provide additional support and take pressure off certain parts of the body. For example, when sleeping on the back, placing a pillow under the knees can take stress off the low back. When sleeping on the side, placing a pillow between the knees will help keep the spine in alignment.

It is a common misconception that a "firm" or hard mattress provides better support. Doctors used to say that when they were rather oblivious about people's sleep habits and thought that everybody slept on their back 100% of the time. Now that we know that a majority of Americans sleep mostly on their side, further research tells us that a mattress that conforms better to the shape of the body provides better support.

Firm preference

	Orthopedic doctors tend to recommend a firm mattress because it will not allow back or stomach sleepers to sag into the surface at unnatural angles. Air, water or foam mattresses are not generally recommended because they do not provide this level of support.
	Stomach sleepers probably need a firmer mattress to prevent spinal distortion that can result in back pain when waking up.
	It is easier to soften up a firm mattress with the proper padding or bedding, than it is to firm up an overly soft one that is causing a backache. However, firm mattresses are designed to feel hard, so even when adding padding to a firm mattress it will not feel like a soft one, because the body will sink through the foam onto the hard surface underneath. A firm or very firm bed might be topped with a three-inch viscoelastic foam pad giving the user the best of both worlds âÆ” Good support and soft cushioned feel.

Soft preference

	Side sleepers usually face the greatest amount of weight on the smallest areas of the body thereby creating pressure points, which reduce circulation and can be a cause of the tossing and turning during sleep. A side sleeper will probably want a softer mattress, to minimize pressure points, especially if they have a very curved or rounded figure.
	A study of sleep quality and bed firmness showed that four of nine male subjects slept significantly better on softer mattresses and two on the harder mattresses. Another study of 313 adults with chronic lower back pain showed that those who slept on a medium firm mattress experienced less back pain than tose who slept on a firm mattress[1].

Not firm nor soft

Back sleepers need a mattress that offers enough support to fill in the gaps in the contour of the back, while at the same time providing enough comfort(according to the user's preference).

Firm AND soft

The brand Simmons currently produces King and Queen sized mattresses with a softer side and another firmer side, for the different tastes of the sleeping partners. Furthermore, there are mattresses that inflate and deflate inner air chambers to make the mattress harder or softer, with separate controls and air chambers for each side to allow it to adjust to the different comfort preferences of the sleeping partners.

Fluff and sag

Fabric is the most expensive element of mattress construction. Wool, silk, foam and cotton all increase the cost of the mattress. Thick layers of padding are more likely than the springs to compress to the point of feeling like the mattress is sagging. The fabric, foam or cotton eventually become concave because thick plush or pillowtop components eventually break down even if the springs do not. Unlike an eggcrate or other forms of padding, the mattress inner components cannot be removed and replaced when damaged.

Size of beds and mattresses

In the United States Standard Twin is 74" long and Extra Long is 80";  and Double/Full/Regular size is 74" long - and extra long is 80". Queen (60" wide) and King (76" wide)  are 80 inches long. "California" sizes, such as California King (72" wide) are 84 inches long. A mattress should be at least six inches longer than the tallest person who will be sleeping on it.

Maintenance and care

	A new mattress should be put on a firm base, never on a saggy base.
	Most manufacturers of box spring mattresses suggest that the consumer should regularly rotate and flip the mattress and box spring. Otherwise, they caution the mattress will fail. Most manufacturers recommend to rotate the mattress (180 degrees, so the head of the bed becomes the foot) every three months and to turn the mattress at least twice a year. Some manufacturers recommend to alternately turn and flip the mattress once every two weeks for the first three months and then twice per year after that. The foundation should also be turned every 12 months. Mattresses should be rotated to reduce wear patterns over time. Since around 2000, several manufacturers started producing one-sided mattresses that cannot be flipped, and, in some cases, should not be turned.
	Do not wet a mattress. An impermeable mattress protector can be used to keep it clean.
	A vacuum cleaner can be used for regular cleaning.
	Use a mattress pad to keep the mattress free from stains. If stained, use mild soap with cold water and rub lightly. Do not soak a mattress or foundation.
	If a mattress has handles, they are usually only for positioning it, not carrying it. See your owners manual.
	A Spring mattress should not be folded or bent, as is can be permanently damaged.
	Sitting on the same spot of the mattress edge can permanently depress it.

KNOWLEDGE COUNTS: The most important considerations when you buy a bed or mattress, is Health, Comfort and Durability.  Health is the most important of these considerations:  how you feel when you wake up. (You don't want to wake up with any pain you didn't go to sleep with.).  You may wish to compare at the leading retailers and brand name companies: Vi-Spring, Royalpedic, Slumberland, Duxiana, Flobed, Sealy, Posturepedic, Serta, Eclipse, Englander, Electropedic, Chattam and Wells, Costco, Stearns Foster, Beautyrest, Simmons, Spring Air, Sit 'N Sleep, Comfortaire, Nature's Rest, Airloom, JC Penny, Kingsdown, Dormia, Verlo,Restonic, Sears, Therapedic, Tempur-Pedic, Scandia Down, Levitz  Then contact the people who have made "Your Healthy Sleep" their only business.  You'll be glad you did.

Mattress and Bed Terms

	Air Bed
	Bed Frame or Bed Base/Frame
	Bed Rails
	Body Impressions
	Bonnell Coil
	Border Rod
	Box Spring
	Bunkie
	Bunkie Board
	California King
	Cambrick
	Center Rail
	Channel Quilt
	Clipped Border Rod
	Coil Count Number of coils in the mattress or box spring.
	Coils
	Comfort Layers
	Cone-Shaped Coil
	Continuous Coil
	Continuous Quilt
	Cover
	Crown  Convex surface that is higher in the middle than in the sides; used in some mattresses.
	Cushioning
	Damask Cover
	Density  It is a measure of weight and it is unrelated to firmness. It is the most significant factor in the quality of a foam and a very significant factor in the quality of a mattress. The higher the density, the longer the durability and resilience and support of the mattress.
	Double Bed
	Double Extra Long
	Eliocel
	Fatigue
	Felt
	Fiber
	Filler
	Firmness or Surface firmness âÆ” Resistance to compression near the surface of a mattress. It is measured by the surface Indentation Force Deflection (IFD) measurement. Deep down firmness is the IFD under severe compression.
	Flanging
	Flipping/Rotating
	Foam  Padding material used in mattresses, including latex, polyurethane and viscoelastic or memory foam.
	Foundation
	Full Extra Long
	Garnetting
	Gauge
	Grid
	Helical Wire
	Hinged King
	Hog Ring
	ILD  Initial Load Deflection. A measure for the firmness level of foam.
	Inner Quilt
	Inner Tufting
	Innerspring Unit
	Insulator
	King
	Knit
	Lacing Wire
	Latex
	Law label: Term used by the United States mattress, upholstery and stuffed article (eg: pillows, plush toys, Comforters, etc) industry for the legally required tag or label on new items describing the fabric and filling. Typically these tags begin with a phrase such as This tag may not be removed under penalty of law except by the consumer. Some states require tags on used bedding as well.
	Mattress
	Mattress Handles
	Migration
	Multi-Needle Quilt
	Offset Coil
	Platform Foundation
	Pillow Top
	Pocketing
	Posturized
	Pressure Points
	Queen
	Quilting
	Resiliency Ability of the spring, foam, fabric or fiber to spring back to its original form. It is also known as bounciness or elasticity.
	Ride Reserve "springiness" and ease of vertical movement that a mattress has when a user is lying on it. When sleeping, the user's body moves subtly with every breath. A "bottomed out" mattress doe not easily move with the sleeper, causing aches after some time.
	Roll-Together  When a defective or worn out mattress sags in the center and causes the body of the sleeper to want to roll towards the center of the mattress.
	Rotating  Turning a mattress 180 degrees so that the head of the bed becomes the foot.
	Sagging
	Slats
	Smooth Top
	Split Queen Box
	Spring Wire
	Support
	Support factor  Ratio of the deep down IFD to the surface of a mattress. Very important measure of the resistance to bottoming out under sustained downward pressure.
	Tack and Jump
	Tape edge or Mattress tape It is a special fabric used to hide the seam where the pieces of ticking are sewn together. It works best when it provides a seamless and coordinating finish to the mattress.
	Tempering/Stress Relief
	Thermally-Bonded Cotton
	Topper Pad
	Twin
	Twin Extra Long
	Tufting
	Upholstery Layers This includes all the soft layers of a mattress, such as insulators, covers and quilts.
	Ventilator
	Viscoelastic foam

	Adjustable beds  An adjustable bed (also called a Semi-Fowler bed) can be adjusted to a number of different positions. For individuals with certain types of back problems, sleeping on an adjustable bed that is at a slight incline (e.g. 30 to 45 degrees) may be comfortable, with the upper body positioned higher up than the lower body and some support under the knees to bend the knees at a slight angle. The combination of upper body incline and the knee support can help take some of the stress off the lower back. Provided that the person is comfortable sleeping in this manner through the night, this position can support the curves of the spine and relieve pressure on the entire body. While most popular in hospitals or other medical facilities, adjustable beds are becoming widely used in homes to provide support for sleeping in a variety of positions.
	Air Mattresses
	Latex Foam Mattress
	The extraction of Latex from a tree; Latex is used in Rubber production Latex, as found in nature, is the milky sap of many plants that coagulates on exposure to air. It is a complex emulsion in which proteins, alkaloids, starches, sugars, oils, tannins, resins and gums are found. In most plants latex is white, but some have yellow, orange, or scarlet latex.
	The word also refers to the thin stretchy material obtained by processing the sap (see Latex clothing, below). It can also be made synthetically by polymerizing a monomer that has been emulsified with surfactants.
	The Talalay Process   ...produces the world’s finest latex products. The cell structure consistency is superior, the range of hardness that can be produced is far greater, and it offers the tightest control on uniformity. It is one of the most environ mentally friendly processes available to produce latex, and we at Latex International use absolutely NO fillers or shortcuts in process or material. Our world class Talatech latex produced by the Talalay process is the best material available for toppers, and is available in ILD’s from 6 to 60.
	Memory Foam Mattresses

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