Choosing a Mattress for Quality Sleep Quality sleep is vital to our continued sense of well being and to maintain peak performance levels for work and play. As we spend around one third of our lives or 220,000 hours in bed the purchase decision is an important one. After ten years, even a good bed will have deteriorated steadily through nearly 30,000 hours of wear and tear. Replace your mattress when necessary. Using the same one for too long can cause back and neck problems. See Bedworthy Section The golden rule when selecting a new mattress is to try before you buy . Wear loose comfortable clothing and try by lying on it for around ten minutes in your favourite sleeping position until you find one that feels right for your particular needs and adopt different positions as one does during sleep. Partners should also be involved in this process. The bed should be not too firm or too soft. To test lie flat on the bed and slide your hand under the small of your back- If the hollow is empty then it may be too hard. If it is a struggle to push it through then it may be too soft. If you can slide your hand through fairly easily without there being a large gap, then the support should be about right. The matt should conform to your shape and support you while enabling you to also turn easily and comfortably. The Dunlopillo range of latex beds offer excellent support with a variety of comfort feels depending on the model. In addition most Classic Dunlopillo models also have adjustable slats in the lumbar region which can be adjusted at any time to suit your particular comfort needs which may change over time. The Dunlopillo latex pillows range is also designed to accommodate individual comfort preferences. Height and weight are also important factors in determining choice. A bed should be 10-15cm longer than the tallest partner. For heavier people the mattress should be thicker and the base more supportive.