To ask if anyone here owns a waterbed

[mycatisannoying]

My mum has just bought a new property, in order to be closer to her own mother, who has dementia. The previous owners have offered to leave behind some furniture, including a waterbed! My mum isn't sure if she wants it left or not. She has been doing a bit of research on them, and they apparently don't cost much to heat (as the heat pad inside is pretty small) and her insurance company is absolutely fine with it. Like most of us, I suspect, she doesn't know anyone who owns one!
Aside from the 70s cliché, I wondered if anyone had actual experience of them.
Random, I know!
Thanks

Actual and current experience, I mean, rather than heresay.

I sat on one once they are not comfortable to sit on as you sink down to the bottom but they are wonderful to Lie on . I am extremely jealous I really wish I could afford a water bed she is very lucky that one has been left to her if she doesn’t want it I’ll have it! Haha
You do feel the water sloshing underneath though in a nice relaxing way

Thanks Banana! I'll pass this on.

I did sleep on one once many years ago. It was firmer than I imagined. Not sure how I would get on now as I do like a firm mattress. My friend however swears by hers and says she gets a backache from normal mattresses. I would ask how old and why they are getting rid as they can develop leaks.

My mum also spoke to an independent waterbed company (they were happy to chat away, even with no sale) who said that in order to burst a modern waterbed, you'd pretty much have to hack it with big sharp scissors!

God, I can't wait for retirement to have this much time on my hands

I would love a waterbed. Everyone looks at me like I am crazy when I say it though. I have slept on one in the USA for a week and I slept so well on it. It very very gently rocks you in such a calming way. I loved it. I wish they were more popular over here.

We used to have one. Under the same circumstances as your mum actually as it came with the house we were buying. We both actually really liked it. Lovely to get into in Winter as you could turn the heat up, equally in Summer could have it cold, so didn’t get hot and sweaty. You could make it firmer or softer by putting in more water or draining a bit out.
if I remember correctly we had to add a liquid every so often, I can’t remember why.
I agree that they would be very hard to accidentally damage.

There was hardly any movement if one of us rolled over in the night, no more than on a normal mattress.

we sold it on when we sold the house 12 years ago. It was a PAIN to drain it. It just about fit into their estate car when they came to collect it.

I'm blessed with severe arthritis. Mine is wonderful, and although he's not allowed on it officially, the dog agrees. He's been known to sneak up when I'm asleep, but he thinks I've never noticed.

We've had one for years and would never go back to a "normal" mattress, it's THE most comfortable bed in the world. As much as I love going on holiday, nothing beats the joy of getting back into my waterbed. Never understood why they didn't catch on in the UK.

Oh wow, I can't believe how positive this all sounds! Thanks so much for your feedback. Mum will be delighted, as I think she was hoping to keep it!

No no no. We require special insurance at a shit load of cost. They can leak and there is a LOT of water in them.

No.

Slept on one for a week in an Airbnb and absolutely loved it.

I went on holiday once and slept on one for a week. Awful! Actually felt seasick and the edge was hard and I like to hang my knee over the edge... And every time my boyfriend at the time turned over I was bounced up and down like lying on a lilo on the sea! 😁

You can heat them?! Mindblown! I've always wanted one.

We had one but we drifted apart.

My friend had one in the early 90's. It was enormous and ridiculously wobbly.