Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Home decoration

Anyone else made a big mistake with an expensive mattress?

133 replies

DearSisterMichael · 13/01/2023 10:24

Had our new mattress for about 6 months and I can’t take it anymore, it’s too firm, I wake up walking like an old woman until my bones have eased up. It’s also too hot. DH likes a firm mattress and when we tried lots in the shop this one seemed fine for me. Our last mattress was a split tension, my half medium, his half firm and that was great for us until it got too old (over 10 years).

We thought we were saving money by not getting the split type again but we’re going to either need to try and cure this one with a mattress topper, or sell it and start again. Not sure what is best, it’s such an expensive mistake, has anyone solved a too firm mattress with a topper?

--
MNHQ Update
If you’ve landed here while on the hunt for similar mattress advice and/or recommendations, our guide to the best mattresses has been recently updated to reflect current availability and trends. It features a wide range of options and brands all rated by Mumsnetters. We hope it’s helpful! Flowers

OP posts:
JennieMassie · 17/01/2023 11:45

I bought a John Lewis mattress for just under 4k (possible the most expensive home item I've ever bought but thought at the time it's worth the investment due to back problems) . It's one of their natural collection ones and the quality seems awful. Dipped nearly straight away and the dip seems to have just got worse. Need to raise a complaint but haven't braced myself for the argument yet 😑

DearSisterMichael · 17/01/2023 22:33

I’m so glad I started this thread, so many in the same boat, it’s just impossible to tell from a 2 minute try in a shop how a mattress will feel after 8 hours. I have the same problem buying shoes!

Out if interest, does anyone know what Emma and these online companies do with their returned mattresses? They can’t sell them again after they’ve been used for 100 nights or whatever it is can they? The carbon footprint must be terrible if as many return them as this thread would imply!

OP posts:
WinterFoxes · 17/01/2023 22:38

doris9034 · 16/01/2023 22:59

We bought a Dormeo Octosmart mattress topper which has been an absolute game changer! I barely even feel my 23 stone moving at night! Would defo recommend

Oh damn. That was one i had my eye on but I was in John Lewis with DH and we tried the Emma and bought it on impulse. I should have waited.

WinterFoxes · 17/01/2023 22:44

user1471505356 · 17/01/2023 08:23

Have had a Dreams mattress for 12years seems like new ,but a bugger to turn, superkingsize might be the problem.

Our old mattress was a Slumberland one from Dreams. Cost about 1.2k 16 years ago which felt like a fortune. I have never spent better money. It was SO comfortable. But they no longer make that design and I hated Dreams - they shafted us (sent a much cheaper mattress which they claimed we had ordered and a bed that was broken on arrival but they claimed it wasn't and refused to replace it. Luckily I had proof of the mattress so we got the right one in the end. But we had to make do with mending the dodgy bedframe. I'd never use Dreams again.

worstusernameeverx2 · 17/01/2023 22:52

snowsilver · 16/01/2023 21:58

Went out of my way to get a natural wool mattress, no memory foam or the like.
I hate it, it's way too hard.
I have a mattress topper but it's man made fibre so hot and sweaty 🥵

Huh? So is it natural or man made?

worstusernameeverx2 · 17/01/2023 22:56

Oops ignore me- didn't read your post properly

MonsoonMadness · 18/01/2023 02:23

DearSisterMichael · 17/01/2023 22:33

I’m so glad I started this thread, so many in the same boat, it’s just impossible to tell from a 2 minute try in a shop how a mattress will feel after 8 hours. I have the same problem buying shoes!

Out if interest, does anyone know what Emma and these online companies do with their returned mattresses? They can’t sell them again after they’ve been used for 100 nights or whatever it is can they? The carbon footprint must be terrible if as many return them as this thread would imply!

I have wondered that too.

Toddlerteaplease · 18/01/2023 02:26

I also bought a Panda topper. Bliss. Though I've taken mine off at the moment, as it kept moving. And it was annoying me.

MonsoonMadness · 18/01/2023 02:26

StandUpStraight · 17/01/2023 08:13

We have had this problem, but we’ve also gone through lots of money trying to find a topper that works. We recently went back into the shop to check that they had in fact delivered us the right mattress (vispring), and they had - but the reason the one in the shop felt softer was that it was on a divan base with springs. It seems that can make a huge difference to the feel of a mattress - ours is just on a slatted bed base. So annoying, wish I had known.

Yes I made the same mistake. We bought an ottoman bed online at the same time as the mattress and the base isn’t sprung. Even through a thick mattress and topper it’s still hard as a rock. I had previously always had sprung slat beds.

ShamedBySiri · 18/01/2023 02:30

Going mattress shopping at the weekend and I'm dreading it, I just don't know how to choose! I'm really don't want to get it wrong.

MonsoonMadness · 18/01/2023 02:30

ShamedBySiri · 18/01/2023 02:30

Going mattress shopping at the weekend and I'm dreading it, I just don't know how to choose! I'm really don't want to get it wrong.

Choose one that has a free trial.

Remaker · 18/01/2023 02:45

We bought Emma mattresses for ourselves and teenage DD a year ago and love them! Several of DD’s friends have slept over and said they want to move in because her bed is so comfy!

I’m in Australia but converted what we paid to £ - it was around £900 for 2 mattresses so I wouldn’t class that as expensive compared to some of the mattresses being discussed here.

custardbear · 18/01/2023 02:52

Hongkongsuey · 14/01/2023 08:48

Yes we have-we bought a Panda mattress topper and it’s transformed the comfort level. Costco has the best price.

Yep, got a super firm mattress and a thick mattress topper, memory foam, bamboo cover to stop heat, it's like sleeping on a cloud

chinchin77 · 18/01/2023 03:10

IKEA mattress & toppers are the best - I had an air bnb and had constant comments on how comfy the beds were. Excellent price point and 100 day money back. I read years ago in a consumer magazine they topped John Lewis own brand.

ShamedBySiri · 18/01/2023 03:58

YukoandHiro · 17/01/2023 00:10

We need to change our mattress but I can't bear to make the wrong decision!! This thread is giving me shivers

Me too!

I just know whatever we get my husband is going to hate it. We had to return a new car once after two days as he said the seat made his back seize up.

And I get so confused I don't know where to go - went to John Lewis in Cheltenham but want impressed with the choice so we're going to JL at Cribbs causeway this weekend in the hope of a better selection. But now I'm looking at other companies recommended here and having second thoughts.

I've just read on Winston a that you should change your mattress every seven years - mine is waaay older than that. But then they guarantee them for 30 years. 🤔

I'm already upping my budget but can't afford to get it wrong. And wondering whether to get a Marriott hotel one? We always remark how comfortable their beds are.

RedRiverShore3 · 18/01/2023 07:01

DearSisterMichael · 17/01/2023 22:33

I’m so glad I started this thread, so many in the same boat, it’s just impossible to tell from a 2 minute try in a shop how a mattress will feel after 8 hours. I have the same problem buying shoes!

Out if interest, does anyone know what Emma and these online companies do with their returned mattresses? They can’t sell them again after they’ve been used for 100 nights or whatever it is can they? The carbon footprint must be terrible if as many return them as this thread would imply!

I did wonder if they went to charity places that sell furniture as they would all be safely compliant and if only used for a short time, good condition, I would hope so.

StarsSand · 18/01/2023 07:04

I hate our mattress. It was incredibly expensive but it's really high. Combined with the bed frame (also new and not cheap), it means the bed is higher than my hip. Really painful to get in and out of pregnant, and post c section.

Wish I'd bought a normal, not-fancy bed that I could sit on without taking a run up!

PacmanIsLost · 18/01/2023 07:20

I have a natural mattress from John Lewis, it was bloody expensive but the best thing I’ve ever bought. I’m a side sleeper with a back condition and my consultant told me women are better on a medium med/soft because of our shape. We need our hips to sink in to it a bit more so our spine is aligned.
Makes it very hard to get out of bed though.

Norov · 18/01/2023 08:02

DearSisterMichael · 17/01/2023 22:33

I’m so glad I started this thread, so many in the same boat, it’s just impossible to tell from a 2 minute try in a shop how a mattress will feel after 8 hours. I have the same problem buying shoes!

Out if interest, does anyone know what Emma and these online companies do with their returned mattresses? They can’t sell them again after they’ve been used for 100 nights or whatever it is can they? The carbon footprint must be terrible if as many return them as this thread would imply!

When I was looking, definitely one of them with the x nights guarantee said you had to buy a mattress protector at the same time otherwise the returns policy wasnt valid. I presume the others do the same.

MissAtomicBomb1 · 18/01/2023 23:30

DearSisterMichael · 17/01/2023 22:33

I’m so glad I started this thread, so many in the same boat, it’s just impossible to tell from a 2 minute try in a shop how a mattress will feel after 8 hours. I have the same problem buying shoes!

Out if interest, does anyone know what Emma and these online companies do with their returned mattresses? They can’t sell them again after they’ve been used for 100 nights or whatever it is can they? The carbon footprint must be terrible if as many return them as this thread would imply!

Simba sell them in their eBay shop. We bought a super king hybrid for about £250.
There's some sort of heat/ steam cleaning process and then they put a new cover on. It looked like new to be honest.
Probably not for everyone but it meant we got the mattress for a fraction of the cost.

Paddingtonthebear · 18/01/2023 23:38

We’ve had a John Ryan Mattress for a good few years and recently added an M&S mattress enhancer. Both fab.

MonsoonMadness · 18/01/2023 23:39

PacmanIsLost · 18/01/2023 07:20

I have a natural mattress from John Lewis, it was bloody expensive but the best thing I’ve ever bought. I’m a side sleeper with a back condition and my consultant told me women are better on a medium med/soft because of our shape. We need our hips to sink in to it a bit more so our spine is aligned.
Makes it very hard to get out of bed though.

Do yiu mind linking to the mattress? Our last mattress was all natural materials. Cashmere wool and silk. It’s the only mattress I have found comfortable after much trial and error. We switched to a super king or I would have kept it.

stevalnamechanger · 18/01/2023 23:50

I'm laid here on my brand new , hard memory foam thinking the same thing

NewspaperTaxis · 18/01/2023 23:52

I've not read all these posts but what puzzles me is that most of us, when booking into a hotel, usually have no real problem with the mattress - or am I wrong here? It just seems like that isn't the factor people fret over, it's more the air con or shower pressure and so on. So why is it so hard - and it IS hard - to get a no-frills comfortable mattress for home? What is it the hotels are doing that can't be done elsewhere?

stevalnamechanger · 18/01/2023 23:53

I have our old mattress a delightful Hypnos Pillow topped in the sore room now which is very tempting and I highly recommend

Swipe left for the next trending thread