Tips for getting to sleep

Find the Right Mattress for You

Another big part of getting to sleep—and staying asleep for a healthy amount of time—is finding the right mattress and pillow to support you throughout the night.

The Right Mattress
With help from Alan Letton, chief science officer of Sealy, we’ve picked out what you should look for in the perfect mattress.

Side Sleepers: Choose a bed that will allow you to conform to your spine’s neutral position—the fetal position with your hips slightly tilted forward—without “sagging” into the bed. Get enough cushion that you won’t have space underneath you from your shoulder to your hips.

Back Sleepers: Go for a bed that will conform to the small of your back but gives you the right support so the small of the back doesn’t cave in. One way to test that is to lie on your back and have a friend try to put his or her hand under the small of your back. If they can, the mattress is not giving you the support you need.

Stomach Sleepers: When lying in a bed best for you, there should be a slight curvature of the back at the shoulder blades.

Letton says that the more time you spend testing your new mattress at the store, the better. Lie down for five minutes in your normal sleep position to test the pressure relief and support to combat tossing and turning. He also suggests rolling to your side and lying there for five minutes. (Many of us are unknowing side sleepers. We move to that position because it’s the most neutral and comfortable position.)