Mattresses
What to look for when buying a Mattress
Even though the bed, furniture and linens get most of the attention when parents consider a new bedroom set, the mattress is actually the more important part of the purchase. Todays kids spend so much of their time doing things besides sleeping such as watching television, reading, talking on the phone and playing video games. So spending a little more on a child's mattress today, will pay large dividends later since the mattress will get used more often then any item that you will purchase for your Kids. Choose a quality mattress thats designed to give your child the right support during their all important "growth years". Please see our Frequently Asked Questions page for additonal information about mattresses. For more information about Englander Mattresses, please click here.
INNERSPRING COILS:
When shopping for a mattress you'll find that the amount of innerspring coils ("The Coil Count") is commonly associated with better mattress construction. While more coils is generally a good thing, keep in mind that the gauge (thickness) of the actual coils themselves. You can only fit so many coils inside a mattress, so after a certain point, many high "coil count" mattress are made with a thinner gauge coil. The thicker gauge is actually the smaller number so a 13 gauge is thicker then a 15 gauge. Basically both types of designs are fine, you should get good support from a either a mattress with a lot of coils made with thinner gauge, or a model with fewer coils and made with a thicker gauge.
BOTTOM LINE: A mattress with a 312 coil with 13 gauge steel will work great. Anything beyond this will be even better. However, it might make more sense to use any available extra money in your budget for features like edge support before paying for more coils.
THE MATTRESS LAYERS:
Generally, the more layers in the mattress.....the better. These upholstery layers are made up from cotton, foam and fiber and will determine the type of comfort of the mattress. By arranging these layers in different configurations you will end up with either a firm or soft "feel" mattress. Either style can provide good support as long as the layers are on top of a good innerspring unit. Your child should try a few of each and then decide based on what feels most comfortable. It's really the same process that adults go through.
BRAND NAMES:
Most everyone knows the four major "S Brands" of mattress manufacturers. They all make good quality mattress. However because of all the advertising that they generate, they will also cost more then other brands. There are many so called "off brand" mattress manufacturers that are large and reputable which can sometimes offer a better value dollar for dollar in comfort and features. Like with anything, its best to do some shopping to make good comparisons.
THE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE:
Buying from a reputable dealer is always a good idea, Look for a place that's been around for a while. And just because a retailer is a heavy advertiser does not make them the best place to buy a mattress. The cost of all that advertising will usually show up in their pricing. Also, try to find a store that does not pay sales commission to their salespeople. This will usually mean that you will get better information for what you need instead of what they want to sell you. Almost all mattress salespeople are paid to "up sell" you and are paid by commission and "Spiffs" (additional bonus pay) to accomplish this. Last, don't fall for common selling gimmicks like free delivery, metal frame etc..these "freebies" are just built into the prices, so always compare the bottom line features and the pricing.
What Features are Worth Paying Extra For
EDGE SUPPORT:
Good edge support is important since kids will spent a lot of time sitting on the edge of the bed. The basic way to get better edge support is to use a steel "Border Rod" around the sides of the mattress thats made with thicker gauge steel. An even better way is provide edge support is called "foam encasement" which is exactly what is sounds like...foam wrapped around the sides of the innerspring unit.
VISCO MEMORY FOAM:
This material is increasing becoming a top seller and is used in many mattress models. Some mattresses are made with 100% Visco Memory Foam and others combine it with cotton, fiber and traditional foam. Many people find it to be very comfortable to sleep on and most customers have heard of the "Sleep Number" bed by Temper-Pedic which uses this design. If you can fit this into your budget, it's definitely worth looking at.
ORGANIC:
Many parents like the idea of "Going Green" when considering a mattress for their kids and there are many books and articles that stress the health benefits of going organic. However at this time, it certainly not an inexpensive alternative to traditional mattresses. They can cost twice as much to buy and its important to make sure it will hold up to long term use since they generally do not use traditional foam. Mattress's that use a lot of cotton layers can "flatten out" over the years and become uncomfortable. A good organic alternative to foam is "Latex" which will give good support for the entire life of the mattress.
LATEX
Latex foam will conform to your body and features reduced pressure points to provide great support. Mattress made by Englander use 100% natural latex which is environmentally safe and they also use materials that are hypeo-allegenic. Mattresses made with Latex foam will generally fall into the premium catagory and will cost a litlle more then other models but they do will offer unique comfort and benefits that should be considered.
WARRANTY:
A Mattress should last for about 7 to 8 years and most warranties are for 10 years and cover manufacturer defects. However, some warranties are Pro-rated which means that only a portion of the warranty provides 100% full coverage. After this initial period expires, you will have to pay service charges to receive warranty service. Look for a "Non Pro-rated warranty".
What not to pay extra for:
Mattresses stores are always coming up with lots of bells and whistles to sell their mattresses. Ask yourself if you or your child "Really need this stuff? Some examples would be fancy mattresses covers made with Cashmere Damask or 8-way hand tied box springs, etc....
Alperts features Brand Name Mattress from Simmons and Sealy that are designed specifically for kids. We also sell the Englander Brand which offer exceptional mattress with great Value. All Alperts sales people are non-commissioned and factory trained to help you choose a quality mattress that is very supportive and meet the needs of your growing child.
Hours: Monday - Friday 10AM to 7PM, Saturday 10AM - 6PM, Sunday 11AM - 5PM
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