Why do you have to wait 72 hours to sleep on a mattress?
You’ve set up your new memory foam mattress, but the mattress company suggests you wait at least 24 hours before you sleep on it. Do you sleep on your old mattress or even the floor the first night? Would sleeping on your new bed within a day ruin it?
There’s a reason companies ask you to wait before you sleep on an unboxed mattress, and it’s not that you’ll wreck the mattress—it takes years of sleeping on a good mattress to wear it down. Instead, the rule exists to make sure your first night on your new mattress is as comfortable as it can be.
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What is a Bed in a Box Mattress?
Bed in a box mattresses are rolled up and compressed by a machine, and then placed in a box for easy delivery—a boxed up mattress takes up less space in a delivery vehicle than one that’s expanded and laid flat. Because it’s been compressed, the mattress needs time to expand once it’s unboxed.
Foam beds (memory foam, latex, polyurethane) are often sold as bed in a box mattresses since the foam layers compress well. While there are hybrid and even innerspring bed in a box mattresses, these types are less common as mattress coils do not compress as well as foam.
No matter what mattress size you buy, whether it is as small as a twin or as large as a king, the manufacturers can compress and roll it up inside a box.
Why Choose a Memory Foam Mattress?
A memory foam mattress is one of the best mattresses to relieve pressure points. The material responds to weight and heat, which allows it to conform to your body. No part of you is unsupported when you sleep on a memory foam mattress, leaving you waking up refreshed and pain-free.
Importance of Waiting 24 Hours
The truth is, it shouldn’t damage a quality mattress if you go against the 24-hour rule and sleep on it a couple of hours after unboxing. The rule mostly exists to make sure you get a good night’s sleep on your mattress, as the bed is hardly at its most comfortable when it’s still expanding. Waiting 24 hours also gives time for that new mattress smell to dissipate.
Understanding the New Mattress Smell
Many new memory foam mattresses have a smell when first opened. The smell is produced when volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the mattress break down at room temperature in a process known as off-gassing. The smell typically vanishes within three to seven days.
If the smell bothers you the first night, try encasing your mattress in a waterproof protector. The mattress protector should quarantine the odor, leaving you free to get a good night’s rest. Plus, the protector will keep your mattress stain-free.
You can reduce the risk of off-gassing by buying a memory foam bed certified by CertiPUR-US®. CertiPUR-US® ensures foams contain low amounts of VOCs for minimal off-gassing.
Accelerating the Expansion Process
If you want to break in your mattress quicker, then you need to do more than just lie down on it at night. The foam responds to heat and body weight, so stretch out, roll around, and walk across your mattress during the day. Raising the room temperature can also soften the foam. Do not put the old mattress on top of the new mattress to break it in, or for any other reason.
Dealing with Non-Expanding Mattresses
Some new memory foam mattresses take longer to expand than others—it all depends on your foam’s quality. However, if your mattress has not finished expanding after a week, you most likely have a defective mattress. If you have a defective mattress, reach out to the company’s customer service for a replacement or a refund.
Coping with Initial Discomfort
You waited 24 hours, and your mattress still isn’t as comfortable as you’d like. That’s natural, as many sleepers take at least a few days to adjust to a new bed. When you slept on your old mattress, your body adapted even as the mattress wore out, leaving you with bad sleeping postures that a new, improved mattress has to correct.
If you find after a month, you’re still not comfortable on your new memory foam mattress, you can try returning it within the sleep trial. If you can’t return your mattress, you can change its feel with a mattress topper. Toppers add a couple of extra inches of foam to give your bed a firmer or softer feel.
Determining Mattress Orientation
So as the new mattress expands into a full shape, you may encounter a quandary and find yourself stumped which side of the mattress goes up. Not all mattresses are two-sided, and most memory foam mattresses only have one side for sleeping, after all. However, there are a few quick and simple tricks that can help you figure out the answer in no time.
For starters, we suggest looking at the attached mattress tag or label. This tag is usually sewn onto one side of the mattress. Once you find the tag, it may indicate that the side without the tag is the side that should face up when placing the mattress on your bed frame.
Remember, the tag side should not be touching the bed frame or the floor. By paying attention to the tag, you can easily figure out the correct orientation of your memory foam mattress and ensure a comfortable sleep surface. In other words, you should be able to read the brand and other info on the tag when it’s facing up.
Some mattresses may also have a clear top-to-bottom design, such as a quilted top and a non-skid bottom, or another design quirk that makes it clear which side is which. For example, our Zoma Boost mattress has a quilted top with a triangular print across the cover fabric.
If you still can’t tell which way of the mattress faces up after looking at the tag and the mattress design, try feeling the surface on each side. With a mattress that looks the same on the top and bottom, you should still be able to feel that one side of the mattress yields more quickly to your touch. The more conforming side, or the padded layer, is the one you’re meant to sleep on. The firm side faces down.
If all of these methods still yield no answer, we suggest reaching out to your mattress brand’s customer service team.
Foundation for Memory Foam Mattress
We strongly recommend you do not keep your memory foam mattress on a box spring. The inner coils of a box spring are not close enough together to support a memory foam mattress, which can cause premature sagging. Typically, a memory foam mattress’s warranty is void if it’s kept on a box spring.
The best foundation for a memory foam mattress is a solid or slatted platform. If slatted, the slats should be no more than 2.75 inches apart and at least 0.5 inches thick.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between memory foam and gel memory foam?
Gel foam is like memory foam in many ways—both offer excellent pressure relief. The main difference is that manufacturers infuse gel foam with cooling gels since traditional memory foam retains body heat.
Is memory foam toxic?
Memory foam mattresses are safe to sleep on—the concerns about memory foam’s toxicities mostly involve chemicals that workers might be exposed to during production. If you’re concerned about buying a nontoxic mattress, look for a certification such as CertiPUR-US® or GREENGUARD Gold.
Can memory foam cause back problems?
A memory foam mattress is one of the best mattresses for back pain since it conforms well to the curves of your body. However, a mattress can cause back issues if you don’t choose a firmness that matches your sleeping position. Side sleepers need a soft to medium mattress, while back and stomach sleepers need a medium-firm to firm mattress.
Did We Help?
The worst that should happen if you sleep on a memory foam mattress within 24 hours is that you get as much quality sleep as you will once you’ve slept on the mattress for a week. A new mattress needs about a day to finish expanding while you need up to a month to adjust to your new mattress. As time passes, your mattress should feel more comfortable, and you’ll find yourself sleeping better than you did before.
This article is for informational purposes and should not replace advice from your doctor or other medical professional.
Sarah Anderson
, Certified Sleep Science Coach
Sarah Anderson is a sleep, health, and wellness writer and product reviewer. She has written articles on changing and improving your sleep schedule, choosing the right mattress for chronic pain conditions, and finding the best pillow for you. Sarah Anderson has her Bachelor of Arts degree from Arizona State University in Journalism and Mass Communications. Prior to working for Zoma, she wrote for a variety of news publications. Sarah's work has been featured on Bustle, PureWow, and other publications.
View all postsWhat Happens if You Sleep on a Mattress too Soon?
What Happens if You Sleep on a Mattress too Soon?
When it comes to purchasing a mattress, it can be exciting to finally have a comfortable place to rest your head at night. A new mattress that is just right can transform your life. If your old mattress was lumpy, too firm, or too soft, you probably didn’t get the comfort and support you need for a good night’s sleep.
So, if you’ve bought a new mattress, you probably want to sleep on it as soon as possible. But, it's important to remember that some new mattresses needs time to expand and adjust before they’re at their full potential.
While it can be tempting to start using your mattress right away, you have to keep in mind that when mattresses are packed for transportation, their size and firmness are affected until they have expanded. Therefore, it may be a good idea to get your new mattress before you throw your old one away. All of this considered you may choose to sleep on your new mattress before it’s expanded.
In this blog, we will discuss the benefits of sleeping on a latex or hybrid mattress, the process of mattress expansion, what happens if you sleep too soon on a new mattress (if anything), and the importance of letting your mattress expand before you sleep on it. We will also cover breaking in a new mattress, the use of mattress toppers, and the benefits of purchasing a mattress from Latex For Less.
Benefits of Sleeping on a Latex Mattress
Latex mattresses offer a number of benefits for sleepers.
Durability
Latex mattresses are widely known for their durability. As with most of the benefits of latex mattresses, this benefit is much greater with natural latex mattresses, rather than synthetic latex mattresses.
Hypoallergenic
Latex mattresses are naturally hypoallergenic, and resistant to dust mites, making them a great option for those with allergies or sensitivities. Additionally, latex mattresses are also resistant to bacteria and mold, which helps to keep them clean and hygienic.
Pain Relief
Latex mattresses are comfortable and supportive. They cradle your body, allowing your muscles and joints to relax, and simultaneously relieve pressure points, which can ease pain in the body.
Promoting Healthy Spinal Alignment
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Latex mattresses contour your body, similar to a memory foam mattress. However, latex mattresses provide more support than memory foam mattresses, allowing these mattresses to promote a healthy spinal alignment, where a memory foam mattress may not.
Eco-Friendly
Natural latex mattresses are some of the most eco-friendly beds available. Unlike other beds, like memory foam mattresses or polyurethane mattresses, latex mattresses are made from a renewable source. Latex foam is derived from the sap of rubber trees to form an environmentally-friendly and natural final product.
When shopping for latex mattresses, always make sure the mattress is 100% natural latex. Synthetic latex is less durable, eco-friendly, supportive, and could contain toxic chemicals.
Benefits of a Sleeping on a Hybrid Mattress
Hybrid mattresses are a combination of different materials, such as memory foam, coils, and latex. The Latex for Less Hybrid Latex Mattress combines the benefits of both a latex and an innerspring mattress. They are very supportive, and also conform to the body's shape to provide excellent pressure relief.
Plus, they retain the springy responsiveness that innerspring mattresses have. Hybrid latex mattresses are the perfect mattress for anyone who wants to upgrade from their traditional innerspring bed. Hybrid mattresses also have a longer lifespan than traditional innerspring mattresses, and they are a great option for those who prefer a firmer mattress.
What is the Mattress Expansion Process?
Mattress expansion refers to the process in which a mattress returns to its full shape and size after it has been compressed, and packaged for shipping. When a mattress is manufactured, it is compressed and rolled up to make it smaller, and therefore easier to transport.
Once the mattress is unboxed and removed from its packaging, the mattress expansion process begins, and the bed starts to return to its full size and shape. If your mattress is not expanded when you sleep on it, you may think it’s a defective mattress, but it may just be that it hasn’t expanded yet.
Unboxing Your Mattress
When you receive your mattress, the first step is to unbox it. It is shipped in a box for ease of delivery. It’s best to always move your boxed online mattress to the room where you want it to be first. That’s because your mattress is easier to handle and move while it’s still in the box. You may want help to move your mattress, especially if you have a Queen or King-sized mattress. Be sure there is enough space, as the mattress will require more room as it expands.
Once you’ve placed the mattress in the room where it’s going to stay, open it carefully to ensure you don’t damage it.
Sliding Your Mattress out of the Box
Once the mattress is out of the box, you’ll find that it’s wrapped in plastic sheeting. This plastic sheeting keeps the bed tightly compressed, and prevents the mattress from expanding. While it’s still in the plastic sheeting, unroll the mattress, and place it top-side up on your mattress foundation, box spring, or bed frame.
Also, keep in mind that while your old mattress may have needed a box spring, your new one may not. Then, carefully cut one side of the plastic sheeting, and pull it off. Once this step is complete, your mattress will begin expanding.
Can You Sleep on a Mattress Before it’s Expanded?
While it is usually recommended to wait until your mattress is fully expanded, you can sleep on it before it’s finished expanding. Sleeping on a mattress before it has expanded shouldn’t alter the shape or comfort of the bed.
The reason mattress manufacturers recommend avoiding sleeping on your mattress before 24 hours after you’ve unboxed it isn’t because they think you may damage it. In fact, this recommendation is in place so that new customers won’t sleep on their beds until the mattress has regained its normal firmness, support, and comfort.
So, if you’re sleeping on your mattress before it’s fully expanded, keep in mind that it may feel like a very firm mattress until the mattress takes its expansion process.
How Long it Takes for a Latex Mattress to Expand
Latex mattresses typically take up to 24 hours to fully expand, though the expansion time can vary. So, it's important to keep in mind that this can vary depending on factors such as temperature and humidity. Some latex mattresses may take up to 72 hours to expand fully, while others make require just a few hours before the first night of sleep.
How Long it Takes for a Hybrid Mattress to Expand
Hybrid mattresses usually don’t take as long to expand fully as normal latex mattresses. Most hybrid innerspring mattresses should be fully expanded in a matter of a few hours.
Why You Should Let Your Mattress Expand First
It's important to let your mattress fully expand before you sleep on it if you want to receive the maximum comfort and support during your first night of sleep. However, there’s nothing stopping you from sleeping on your mattress before then.
The Memory Foam Mattress Expansion Process
If you sleep on a memory foam mattress, you may consider buying a memory foam mattress the next time you purchase