When you unwrap your new memory foam mattress and lie on it for the first time, it might feel slightly firmer than you expected or remembered from the showroom. Don’t panic, you haven’t been sent a different model – it just needs time to settle into its new home.
Breaking in a memory foam mattress doesn’t require much work and will happen naturally over time. However, there are a few steps you can take to help the process along.
Follow these tips to break in your mattress and start enjoying perfect sleep.
How Do You Break in a Memory Foam Mattress?
Before we get stuck in, here are some tips at a glance;
- Allow for expansion time
- Air it out
- Warm it up
- Apply gentle pressure
- Use a suitable bed frame
- Allow time for your body to adjust
Now, let’s take a closer look at each step...
Let Your Mattress Fully Expand
It’s important to let your new mattress fully expand once unrolled. It can take a few hours to expand, the exact amount of time depends on the mattress. Avoid sleeping on your mattress until the expansion time is over as you won’t feel the full benefits.
How Long Does it Take for a Memory Foam Mattress to Expand?
If your mattress is delivered compressed and rolled, you must allow it to expand for a couple of hours. Full expansion of the internal foam could take up to 48 hours.
Let it Breathe
New foam mattresses sometimes give off a harmless odour when first opened. This will subside in the first few hours and become undetectable after a few days. However, allowing fresh air to circulate the room via a door or window can help to dissipate the smell.
Increase Your Bedroom Temperature
Memory foam is temperature-sensitive, so making sure that your bedroom isn’t too chilly will help the process along. Increase the room temperature by a couple of degrees before you sleep to get the break in process started.
Knead the Surface
If you can’t wait to sleep on your memory foam mattress, kneading and putting gentle pressure on the surface can help to speed up the softening process.
Use a Supportive Bed Frame
If your bed frame has missing slats or isn’t the right size for your new mattress, this could lengthen the breaking in period and cause discomfort and damage to the mattress.
Be sure to place your new mattress on a supportive frame so that your body weight is spread evenly across the surface.
Allow Time to Adjust to Your Memory Foam Mattress
Finally, you should embrace life with your new mattress. Don’t return or exchange your mattress until you’ve given your body time to adapt.
Memory foam works by softening on contact with bodyweight and body heat, moulding to the contours of your body before returning to its original shape when you arise. Memory foam beds can feel quite different to spring and the gentle ‘sinking’ mattress feel can take a little getting used to.
Sometimes people may experience mild aches and pains as their bodies adjust to the new support and feel. Don’t worry – these symptoms will ease quickly and before you know it you’ll be reaping all the health benefits of memory foam, such as pressure point relief and spinal support.
Is Your New Mattress too Firm? Add a Mattress Topper
Before you buy a new mattress, be sure to check the firmness level to make sure it’s suited to your sleeping preferences.
If your mattress still feels on the firm side after the breaking in period, you could add a memory foam mattress topper for extra comfort and support.
A topper adds a welcome layer of cushioning for side sleepers and those who find firm mattresses difficult to relax on.
How Long Does it Take to Break in a Memory Foam Mattress?
You’ll find that your new mattress will soften most noticeably during the first two weeks of use. That’s why we recommend sleeping on it for at least 30 days before drawing your final conclusions – and give you an extended trial period of 100 nights.
If you’re still not happy after 100 nights of sleep, we can help you exchange the mattress for one better suited to your needs.
Will a Memory Foam Mattress Soften Over Time?
Yes, new memory foam softens over a period of around two to four weeks as it conforms to your body shape.
How to Break In a Memory Foam Pillow
If you’re trying to soften up a new memory foam pillow, the same process applies.
- Warm it up
- Gently knead it with your hands
- Give it time to soften
So, does a memory foam mattress need breaking in? Kind of – but it’s just a waiting game. Your main role in the process is to get tucked up and sleep on it...which sounds good to us!
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