Home LivingWellnessSleep8 signs your mattress is too soft for youAre you waking up with aches and struggling to get comfortable? Your mattress could be the culprit…When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Home LivingWellnessSleep8 signs your mattress is too soft for youAre you waking up with aches and struggling to get comfortable? Your mattress could be the culprit…When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Are you waking up with aches and struggling to get comfortable? Your mattress could be the culprit…
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-gray-tank-top-lying-on-bed-3768582/)
(Image credit: Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-gray-tank-top-lying-on-bed-3768582/)
We all know sleep is important. A good night’s kip helps us stay healthy, feel more intelligent and with it, and better able to cope with life in general. And so it’s well worth spending money on thebest mattressyou can afford.
Unfortunately, though, even a quality mattress won’t last forever. Over time it will gradually become softer. And once it gets too soft, this can disrupt your sleep, and cause physical discomfort and even pain. That’s because an overly soft mattress simply won’t give your body the support it nights, leading to poor spinal alignment and too much of a burden on pressure points.
That doesn’t necessarily mean you need a firm mattress to get a good night’s sleep. Whether you prefer a firm, soft or medium mattress will depend on your specific needs (for more on this, seehow to choose the best mattress firmness level). But the important thing is that your mattress doesn’t becometoosoft over time.
How can you tell whether it has or not? In this article, we’ll share eight common signs.
1. Waking up with back pain
If you’ve recently started waking up with back pain which wasn’t there previously, especially in the lower back, it’s a strong sign that your mattress has become too soft. A soft mattress will cause your spine to sink in an unnatural position throughout the night, and this misalignment can lead to muscle strain and back pain. If this has already started, it’s only going to get worse over time.
2. Difficulty getting in and out of bed
(Image credit: Ivan Oboleninov via Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-sleeping-935777/)
(Image credit: Ivan Oboleninov via Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-sleeping-935777/)
3. Tossing and turning in the night
Are you tossing and turning a lot during the night, trying yet failing to find the right position to sleep in? This too could be a sign that your mattress is too soft. Again, a soft mattress will cause your body to sink too deeply, and that can put too much weight on your pressure points, making it difficult to sleep comfortably.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
4. Feeling trapped in bed
An overly soft mattress can give you the feeling of being enveloped, making it challenging to move freely. This is especially the case if you’re aside sleeperorstomach sleeper, as the sinking of the mattress traps you and restricts your ability to move around in bed.
(Image credit: Miriam Alonso via Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/young-female-sleeping-on-bed-in-morning-7622514/)
(Image credit: Miriam Alonso via Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/young-female-sleeping-on-bed-in-morning-7622514/)
5. Obvious sagging
Perhaps the most obvious signs that your mattress is too soft are the ones you can see it with your own eyes. An overly soft mattress will often develop sagging or indentations where you typically sleep; the equivalent of a ‘bum crack’ in an old sofa.
6. Poor edge support
Soft mattresses often lack proper edge support, so if you sit or sleep near the edge, you may feel like you’re going to roll off. This is particularly common for couples who share a bed.
(Image credit: Ron Lack via Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-couple-lying-down-on-the-mattress-on-the-floor-9497923/)
(Image credit: Ron Lack via Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-couple-lying-down-on-the-mattress-on-the-floor-9497923/)
7. Motion transfer
Another problem with soft beds that particular afflicts couples is that this amplify the effects of motion transfer. In other words, whenever one of you moves or gets in and out of bed, the other feels the movement more intensely, disrupting their sleep or waking them up entirely.
8. Overheating
Because soft mattresses wrap around your body more tightly than firmer ones, they tend to retain more body heat. So if you’ve recently started overheating during the night, and this isn’t obviously due to a change in weather, it’s a sign that your mattress may be getting too soft.
If you’ve noticed any of these signs and think your mattress has become too soft, there’s no time to waste. Sleeping on a mattress that is too soft can disrupt your sleep, cause back pain and stress levels, so you need to address the problem immediately.
Today’s best Mattresses deals$139View$199$159View$178.60ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Mattresses deals$139View$199$159View$178.60ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Mattresses deals
$139View$199$159View$178.60View
$139View
$139View
$139View
$139
$139
$199$159View
$199$159View
$199$159View
$199$159
$159
$178.60View
$178.60View
$178.60View
$178.60
$178.60
Show More Deals
Show More Deals
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Amazon Prime members are losing one of their long-standing perks this monthYou have until 31 January to take advantage
You have until 31 January to take advantage
Amy Schumer’s Netflix comedy will leave your jaw on the floorOne big taboo gets busted in Kinda Pregnant
One big taboo gets busted in Kinda Pregnant
Waking up for work is tough in the winter – but smart tech can help you avoid that snooze buttonHow smart tech makes winter mornings run smoother
How smart tech makes winter mornings run smoother
Nutritionist reveals 3 foods you should eat before bed to stay warmStruggling to stay warm during the night? Try eating some of these
Struggling to stay warm during the night? Try eating some of these
Are headbands the new sleep technology trend?
Hatch’s latest sunrise alarm clock finally has a phone-free design – and I’m obsessedHatch launches the Restore 3 wake-up light and it could drastically improve your mornings
Hatch launches the Restore 3 wake-up light and it could drastically improve your mornings
This ERA mattress topper can turn your mattress into a smart sleep tracking deviceThe ERA Smart Layer is my favourite wellness product from CES 2025
The ERA Smart Layer is my favourite wellness product from CES 2025
Withings’ smart mirror combines a smartwatch and scales into a full-length health scannerWithings debuts new conceptual smart health mirror at CES 2025
Withings debuts new conceptual smart health mirror at CES 2025
Amerisleep launches its most cooling mattress yet – but it’ll cost youAmerisleep’s new AS6 Black Series could be its best mattress yet for temperature regulation
Amerisleep’s new AS6 Black Series could be its best mattress yet for temperature regulation
6 gadgets to get you through Dry JanuaryWith Christmas and New Year out of the way, we take a look at some of the best gadgets to use for Dry January
With Christmas and New Year out of the way, we take a look at some of the best gadgets to use for Dry January
