Risk #1: There is a variety of memory foam mattresses and toppers which are made in other countries where the regulations are not as stringent as in America. Manufacturers take advantage of this fact and use low-quality raw material. And cheap chemicals like formaldehyde in the manufacturing process which can cause allergic reactions and/or unpleasant smells.

Tip – Buy your mattress or topper from a reputable American manufacturer that does not use dangerous chemicals to produce their foam.

Risk # 2: Cheap or low-quality foam breaks down quickly leading to flaking and crumbling before it even leaves the shelf. This may not be apparent when you buy it but will soon start appearing to your horror. This is simply a result of low-quality materials and low-tech production techniques. This may be hazardous to the health of people using them.

Tip: Again, buy from a reputed company. The high quality foam lasts longer, up to 20 years long. The low-quality foam starts breaking very soon, maybe in a few weeks itself.  It is worth paying a bit more to ensure that you are buying a good quality, durable and reliable product so that you have sleep comfortably.

Risk # 3:  Many of these low quality foams are created on large sheets something like cookie sheets. Liquid foam is poured in and allowed to settle as it cures. This produces inconsistencies in density, as gravity acts on the foam, drawing more material to the bottom. The result is foam with unpredictable densities; foam that is labeled as having a “4 pound density” may really only be 3 lbs. There are even some high-priced “mall brands” that still use this outdated process.

Tip: Always buy from a reputed manufacturer which uses more advanced processes to product these foams. There are a few manufacturers like Sleep-Aid which use a very modern technique called vacuum injection. In this method, liquid foam is injected into a sealed chamber filled with nothing but vacuum which helps in negating the effects of gravity. This ensures that the density is even throughout the foam. This method is also environment friendly since it produced less fumes.

Thickness of the topper – The toppers are usually thinner than the actual layers used inside the mattresses. If the toppers are too thin, they wear out quickly because when the cells at top deteriorate, the foam doesn’t have many cells beneath them to take their place and provide support. That’s the reason; it is advisable to buy a bit more thicket toppers.

Overlay – Memory foam toppers are usually laid over an existing bed or mattress. The condition of that mattress or bed plays an important part in the lifespan of the topper. If the bed is already worn out the topper will not last long. If the mattress is sagging, the topper will follow that same contour.

Weight of person on the topper – If obese and overweight people sleep on the topper, it may speed up the process of wearing of the topper by adding extra pressure to the foam. While a memory mattress is held up by a highly resilient core, the topper is held up by air, springs or whatever else the bed is made of. Extra weight also makes the open cells crumble quicker than they would under the average person.

Memory Foam Toppers

Most visco-elastic toppers are not usually made of the same quality grade material as memory foam mattresses are. That is the reason they don’t last as long. Visco-elastic material is very expensive to make and usually used to make only mattresses. Memory foam toppers are generally much cheaper and using Tempur-style foam of the highest quality would make it economically unrealistic for manufacturers. Tempur-Pedic brand mattress toppers or overlays, however, are made of the same NASA-evolved foam technology as Tempur mattresses. There is little information to indicate whether or not other mattress companies use the same grade foam in their toppers.

Bottom line is that, a visco memory foam bed topper will continue to provide support and comfort without sagging for 18 to 36 months, as long as it’s:

• Made of high density  (Temper-style memory foam)
• Used over a solid foundation
• Reasonably thick.

A full memory foam mattress is the ideal sleep system, and only a full memory foam mattress will provide all of the benefits of memory foam. In addition to being the healthiest sleep systems available, memory foam mattresses are also far more durable than traditional inner-spring mattresses, lasting up to twenty years without flipping.

A good memory foam mattress has between two and three layers of foam of various densities that are designed to work with each other. More than just the sum of their parts, these various layers provide the perfect balance of support and body-conforming softness.

Three layer mattresses are typically better than two layer mattresses; however some companies are now producing up to six layer mattresses. Anything more than three layers is mostly just a marketing gimmick, and won’t provide any extra benefits for sleep. Mattresses with numerous layers also have more seams to tear and more layers to break down. For these reasons, a simple two or three layer mattress is usually the best bet.

Topper Selection
Toppers are an affordable alternative to a full memory foam mattress. A topper is a layer of memory foam designed to fit over an existing conventional mattress. They come in a variety of thicknesses and densities, and are capable of providing many of the same benefits as a full mattress at a fraction of the cost of a full mattress.

Memory foam mattress topper pads are great at making a firm or overly firm mattress much more comfortable. They also work very well with a mattress that seems fairly comfortable, but causes aches or pains or just isn’t giving you the kind of restful sleep you want. The most important thing to remember about memory foam toppers is that they are only as good as the foundation they’re sitting on. If your old mattress has sags or other inconsistencies, this may cause your memory foam topper to sag as well. This can diminish the topper’s ability to provide the support that memory foam is famous for. As a general guideline, if you’ve had your mattress for five years or more, you should look into a full memory foam mattress system, rather than just a topper.

Density – Density is one of the most important characteristics of memory foam as well as a memory foam topper. Also, density is directly proportional to the quality as well as cost of the foam. The higher the density of the foam, the higher the quality, and the more costly it will be. It is particularly important when choosing a topper because there are so many density options from which to choose from. The density of memory foam is measured in pounds per cubic foot.

Higher density foams have a longer “memory”, meaning they conform precisely to the body, and then regain their original shape rather slowly. High density foams also tend to change temperature more slowly, and will usually feel firmer at first, before body heat softens them. Those who prefer a firm sleep surface will be most comfortable on a topper with a density above 4 lbs/cubic foot. For those who prefer a softer sleep surface, a topper with a density above 3 lbs./cubic foot will work best.
When selecting the perfect memory foam mattress pad for your bed, avoid memory foam mattress pads made of low density foam.  Low density memory foam mattress pads will not offer you the support that your body needs for a good nights sleep.  With low density memory foam mattress pads your body will bottom out, offering no added support.  Not only do low density memory foam mattress pads lack support, but the can actually decrease the quality of your sleep by causing your hips to sag, creating a hammock effect that decreases comfort.  As a general guideline 4 pound memory foam mattress toppers are the minimum one should choose.  The denser the foam, the better your sleep will be.

Thickness – Choosing the proper thickness of your topper is just as important as choosing the proper density, and the two are closely related. People who prefer a firm sleep surface, as well as those who prefer to sleep on their stomach, should go with a two inch, high density topper. The high density foam, (4 lbs/cubic foot, or more) will provide proper support, and the two inch thickness will keep stomach sleepers from sinking too deeply into the surface.

For side and back sleepers, or for those who sleep in a variety of positions, a three inch topper is usually the best way to go. Three inch toppers of a lower density, (three to four lbs/cubic foot) are also the best choice for those who prefer a soft sleep surface.

As a general rule, the higher the density, the thinner the pad can be while still providing proper support. With lower density foam, the pad will need to be thicker to provide adequate body support.

IFD (Previously called ILD-Indentation Load Deflection) – The IFD rating of the foam will determine the feel of the product. Most memory foams fall within the 10-14 ILD rating. The higher the IFD measurement the firmer the foam will feel. IFD is taken by measuring the force in pounds required to compress (indent) a sample of foam a specified percentage of its thickness across a surface area of 50 square inches. This is normally done on a 4 inch thick piece of foam. US foams are typically measured at 25% indentation or at a depth of 1” with a 4” foam sample. Firmness of the memory foam measured by IFD is an indicator of the surface feel of the foam, while support (density) is an indicator of the foams ability to support the load placed upon it.
Temperature Sensitivity – Memory foam is sensitive to temperature. It becomes softer as it heats up. This is one of the reasons that memory foam makes such a great sleep surface. Pressure points transfer more heat than other body parts, and that sensitivity allows the foam to react and conform to your body.

Some types of memory foam can be too sensitive, however. There have been customers complain about the firmness of their mattresses in cold climates. Below approximately 60 degrees, some foam can become too firm.

This excessive sensitivity to temperature is due to the particular formula used by some “mall brands.” Newer manufacturers have diminished this temperature sensitivity, in order to keep a more consistent feel, without sacrificing the ability to conform to the body’s shape.

Memory foams were first created at NASA. These were specially developed in 1970s by NASA’s research center keeping in mind the weight and body shape of the astronauts to relieve them from the intense forces which they had to experience during take-off. These memory foams were very difficult to manufacture and also not durable enough therefore they were never used in any space programs. But scientists realized the application of these products in medical field. Later they became a revolution of sorts in bedding industry. The quality and uniformity of material has improved many times since then and they have found cheaper ways to manufacture them.

Benefits of Memory Foam and memory foam toppers:

Improved Spinal Alignment – This foam conforms to the body’s contours and therefore supports the spinal column and allows it to remain aligned. If the spinal cord is properly aligned, it allows the spine to remaining neutral position which helps in the muscles around the spine to rest and repair while sleeping.

Reduction in pressure points – When you sleep, there are specific parts of your body which takes on the most weight of your body. There is often restriction in flow of blood in these areas which creates discomfort while sleeping resulting in tossing and turning while sleeping. Memory foam reduces pressure points by conforming to the body shape thereby helping us sleep much better.

No more sleep loss due to partner – Whenever your partner changes her/his position while sleeping, you get disturbed since it you feel it too. This cause interrupted sleep which is not good for health and mind. Memory foam absorbs the vibration due to its density and doesn’t transfer the motion enabling you to sleep without any unintended disturbances. That said these work well with platform beds and even the cabin beds.

Apart from the above main advantages of memory foam, there are a few more like allergy reduction, protection from bedbugs, relief from some medical ailments like obstructive sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, restless legs syndrome, and insomnia. Also, you will not have to rotate or flip your mattresses since the memory foam beds don’t have metal coils at all. In fact memory foam is used in all places like the lumbar support for cars
photo credit: ThrasherDave