Mattress Pads – Support, Heat, Cool Or Protecting Your Bed

A Mattress Pad is essentially an cover, pad, thin sheet or thin mattress that provides a buffer between the main mattress and you.  Some of the main types of pads include those that:

1. Provide extra support (cushioning) to enhance the sleep experience;

2. Warm or cool the bed;

3. Protect the mattress from soiling and individuals with urinary issues.

1. Extra Support – Purchasing a new mattress is not cheap and mattress pads can provide an alternative. However it should be noted that if the mattress is in really poor condition e.g. excessively lumpy or sagging, a mattress pad may be useless. The mattress pad for support may look like a thin mattress and comes in varying sizes and materials.

Some of the most popular mattress pads for support are made of memory foam which moulds itself to the individuals body and remains with their “sleep imprint” enhancing the natural sleep posture. Another popular type is the feather down which adds a cushioning effect to the individual aiding in the sleep expereince.

2. Mattress Pads for Heat or Cool – Specifically tailored to be adjusted to your ideal temperature; this can be cool or warm. The mattress pad can be adjusted by a remote control attached to it and it normally is big enough for one person, so you and your partner can purchase one each and set your own ideal setting.

Having a mattress pad that can adjust to heat or cold has several benefits:

• Reduce your bills and of course your carbon footprint;
• No more arguments over the ideal temperature to sleep;
• Great for outdoor camping trips;
• Excellent for revitalizing tired arms and legs;
• Cheaper than using an electric blanket;
• You can get rid of dampness by pre-warming your bed;
• It is durable and fits comfortably and out of sight below your sheets.

3. Protection From Soiling – For young children or the elderly who have challenges controlling their bodily functions there are mattress pads (also called mattress protectors) that can assist in keeping the mattress protected against soiling. These pads tend to have a plastic backing and do not allow anything unwanted to come into contact with the mattress.

There are varying types of this mattress pads from the fitted sheet type to the larger water resistant pads. These pads are washable and have evolved tremendously over the years and can fit in nicely to any bedding set and can often go completely unnoticed.