Will memory foam padding improve IKEA mattress?
April 17, 2012 9:26 AM Subscribe
Will memory foam padding on a flat IKEA mattress would give me a better sleep and will folding it up every day ruin the padding?
I feel like I'm achey in the morning, cricks in my neck, sore back, etc. The short of it: I think I need a better bed. But right now I can't get a real mattress so I'm thinking of getting a memory foam pad for the top of my Ikea folding bed.
• Will memory foam padding on a flat IKEA mattress give me a better sleep.
• Will folding it up every day ruin the padding?
• Are there any other suggestions that aren't "go see a chiropractor" or "get a real bed" that might improve my sleeping situation?
I feel like I'm achey in the morning, cricks in my neck, sore back, etc. The short of it: I think I need a better bed. But right now I can't get a real mattress so I'm thinking of getting a memory foam pad for the top of my Ikea folding bed.
• Will memory foam padding on a flat IKEA mattress give me a better sleep.
• Will folding it up every day ruin the padding?
• Are there any other suggestions that aren't "go see a chiropractor" or "get a real bed" that might improve my sleeping situation?
Having had a similar experience with a crappy bed a few years ago, my personal experience was that yes, a memory foam mattress topper (I got mine at Costco, not sure what brand) did help me sleep better, and that I had fewer aches and pains in the morning. I'm not certain about the folding, but I doubt it will damage the topper. Mine is pretty resilient.
posted by KGMoney at 9:32 AM on April 17, 2012
posted by KGMoney at 9:32 AM on April 17, 2012
It might help to have small pillows to arrange around your achy spots- extra support under your neck, or a cushion held between your knees.
posted by pickypicky at 9:38 AM on April 17, 2012
posted by pickypicky at 9:38 AM on April 17, 2012
I have a memory foam padding over a pretty crappy mattress, and it is a more comfortable sleeping experience. The padding is pretty heavy and awkward to deal with though. It doesn't want to stay rolled up or folded unless something is tied around it - think a floppier, heavier sleeping bag. It may be more trouble than it's worth to fold it up every day, and if you already have back problems, you might be asking for trouble.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 10:29 AM on April 17, 2012
posted by SuperSquirrel at 10:29 AM on April 17, 2012
Best answer: We did exactly this, putting an Ikea mattress topper on a cheap Ikea mattress that had stopped being comfortable, and yes, it helped. It did not make what we have the equivalent of a better mattress, but it made a bad mattress better. It also made it harder to put sheets on; and lots of lint (I am pretending it's only lint and not dust mites and crud) ends up in the little tufting holes of the white canvas cover, so I vacuum it quite a lot. I don't know that folding it will ruin the padding, but I do not think it will stay folded without being strapped or bungee corded. We flip and rotate it every time we make the bed up fresh (every 7-10 days).
In the winter we top it with a down feather bed and use a down duvet, effectively making us the filling in a down sandwich, which I really love. That helps me sleep really well, but now it's getting mild and they have to go. But with all that, I am now at a point where the cricks and sore back and bad hip means that I'm going for chiro and physio soon, and the next windfall we receive may indeed go toward a mattress that will make sleeping next to mrgood, the hot bag of nickles, less disruptive. So, yes: It's a not-bad temporary measure in my books. My "temporary" has just been about two years too long.
posted by peagood at 10:31 AM on April 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
In the winter we top it with a down feather bed and use a down duvet, effectively making us the filling in a down sandwich, which I really love. That helps me sleep really well, but now it's getting mild and they have to go. But with all that, I am now at a point where the cricks and sore back and bad hip means that I'm going for chiro and physio soon, and the next windfall we receive may indeed go toward a mattress that will make sleeping next to mrgood, the hot bag of nickles, less disruptive. So, yes: It's a not-bad temporary measure in my books. My "temporary" has just been about two years too long.
posted by peagood at 10:31 AM on April 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
I have a memory-foam topper from Costco on a cheap foam mattress and it's delightful (or it was; the cheap foam is wearing out). Definitely worth trying. I also splurged on a Tempurpedic-brand ergonomic pillow and it's been worth every dollar -- the cheaper versions don't last long at all.
posted by The corpse in the library at 10:59 AM on April 17, 2012
posted by The corpse in the library at 10:59 AM on April 17, 2012
I love my Costo-purchased memory foam topper on my aging mattress. I can't imagine folding it up every day though, or even at all. It's a pretty unwieldy beast.
posted by cgg at 11:40 AM on April 17, 2012
posted by cgg at 11:40 AM on April 17, 2012
I have a regular foam mattress topper (not "memory, just foam rubber) and it helps the mattress a lot. It would fold up just fine - it's only about 2 inches thick. The regular folding may eventually create a divot at the fold, but I think it would take a while.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 1:06 PM on April 17, 2012
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 1:06 PM on April 17, 2012
I think it's likely to be a problem with the folding bed as much as the mattress - just thinking of couch beds vs an air bed on the floor. When you can upgrade, consider upgrading the bed frame before worrying about the mattress.
In the meantime, I vote with everyone else that a foam topper should help,
posted by maryr at 1:07 PM on April 17, 2012
In the meantime, I vote with everyone else that a foam topper should help,
posted by maryr at 1:07 PM on April 17, 2012
Best answer: This is exactly what I have, and to the first part I'd say yes, for sure. To the question about folding it up, I don't know, because I leave mine out all the time.
posted by DestinationUnknown at 3:57 PM on April 17, 2012
posted by DestinationUnknown at 3:57 PM on April 17, 2012
Response by poster: Here's some additional information though I'm almost positive that I'll be getting a topper so thanks guys!
It's one of those IKEA beds that can be turned into a tiny couch so it's not like I will need to fold up the topper like a piece of paper or even like a sleeping bag. If it's underneath the sheet I imagine the folding part will work quite neatly?
It's most definitely a problem with the frame (it's a glorified cot) but I would imagine that the more space between me and the wooden slats would help in some small way.
I'll reiterate: thank you guys! Those 5 dollars I just spent getting this Ask Metafilter account? Payed off on my first question! Oh, and I'll report back when I get the thing.
posted by dr handsome at 7:12 PM on April 17, 2012
It's one of those IKEA beds that can be turned into a tiny couch so it's not like I will need to fold up the topper like a piece of paper or even like a sleeping bag. If it's underneath the sheet I imagine the folding part will work quite neatly?
It's most definitely a problem with the frame (it's a glorified cot) but I would imagine that the more space between me and the wooden slats would help in some small way.
I'll reiterate: thank you guys! Those 5 dollars I just spent getting this Ask Metafilter account? Payed off on my first question! Oh, and I'll report back when I get the thing.
posted by dr handsome at 7:12 PM on April 17, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by curious_yellow at 9:32 AM on April 17, 2012