The quality of our sleep impacts most aspects of our lives! The body requires sufficient sleep to recharge to get ready for the next day. Lack of enough sleep or sleeping disorders can lead to low work efficiency, absenteeism, workplace accidents, musculoskeletal problems, including chronic pain, low back pain, and arm-shoulder pain.
According to studies, the quality of the mattress does affect one’s sleep quality and health. If the bed does not correctly support the spine, one will not feel fully rested or refreshed in the morning, and even wake up experiencing back pain and other discomforts.
That’s why companies have invested a hefty sum of money in producing a cleverly-designed smart mattress that can help people sleep better and lead a healthy life. Unlike a standard mattress, a smart mattress (also known as the smart bed) offers a personalized sleeping experience.
It uses advanced technologies to automatically track your sleeping patterns, movements, environmental factors, and even biological functions habits every night and provide valuable, actionable insights for sleep improvement. It gives you greater flexibility and control over your different sleep positions to ease back and neck pain, avoid heartburn, acid reflux, or snoring, and ensure maximum comfort.
A smart mattress produces a “sleep score” based on the following parameters such as the time you get into bed, when you fall asleep, how long it took to fall asleep, when you wake up, the amount of time spent in deep and light sleep, how often you wake up during the night, sleeping positions, frequency of switching, heart rate, breathing cycle, body temperature, room and bed surface temperature, etc.
Some of the common technologies used in smart mattresses include sleep tracking, automatic mattress firmness adjustment, climate control (heating/cooling), smart fabric technology, adjustable bed bases, anti-snoring features, Internet of Things (IoT) and smart home connectivity.
How to choose a smart mattress?
If you plan to invest in a smart mattress, here are the few things you need to remember before you buy one! First, you need to consider your personal needs and preferences before you start comparing smart beds. Ask these questions to help you set your sleep needs.
- What’s the essential feature you’re looking for in a smart mattress?
- Do you have a sleep partner? And do you have different sleep preferences or have similar needs?
- What is your primary sleeping position? Do you sleep on the back, side, or stomach? Or do you tend to move around a lot?
- Do you have back pain? Do you wake up sore in areas like your hips, shoulders, and lower back?
Many smart mattress companies use buzz words that can be misleading to consumers! Therefore, consider these essential features in your research phase.
1. Firmness
A smart mattress can automatically adjust the firmness level of the bed throughout the night, depending on your unique preferences and sleep positions. It is an essential feature for a smart mattress, which can prevent aches and pains and help you rest more comfortably.
2. Adjustable bases
All popular mattress brands come with their adjustable bases. It is the most common feature, no longer just for the sick or injured, but for anyone to use at home. Ensure the smart mattress has a remote control, Bluetooth, and other options to manually and automatically adjust positions by raising the head and foot of the bed if snoring is detected.
3. Quality materials
If concerned about hypoallergenic or eco-friendly mattresses, you must pay close attention to the quality of the materials used to make your mattress. Check if it is made of natural and organic fibers, which are typically free of chemicals and carry an OEKO-TEX Standard 100 or CertiPUR U certification.
4. App integration
The ability to control your mattress through your smartphone, tablet or Amazon Alexa is an exciting feature you must look for. Some mattresses even allow you to set “If This Then That” (IFTTT), a logic-based option that allows the user to set rules for the bed to follow during sleep.
5. Contouring
If you suffer from pain in the pressure points and discomforts in the mornings, you may need a smart mattress that is not only highly soft and conforming but has memory foam that redistributes your body weight more evenly. You need to look for mattresses that help align your spine, provide added support (for stomach sleepers), and are contouring (for side sleepers).
6. Temperature response
Look if the mattress has ambient sensors, measuring room temperature, humidity, and local weather to react intelligently. Mattresses equipped with temperature sensors will automatically enforce dynamic heating and cooling, as the sleeping environment changes, to keep every you comfortable during sleep and reduce wake-ups in the middle of the night.
7. Daily health check
Check if the users can access a daily health check that comes with daily sleep fitness reports and analysis of respiratory rate, resting heart rate, and heart rate variability, all key indicators of physical wellness.
8. Smart alarm
Unlike standard alarm clock that blares at a set time each morning, smart alarms produce gentle vibration at chest level to wake up each individual without any sound, ensuring no disruption to a partner’s sleep. Check if the notifications can be set to wake you up during your lightest stage of sleep, which helps you to get more easily and resist pressing snooze.
9. Trial period and warranty
Most companies allow you to try their product risk-free for around 90 to 100 days. If you don’t like it, you can return it and get a refund. Check the offers and understand the conditions mentioned by the manufacturer in the warranty for replacement or repair.
