Waterbed Mattress Guide

Waterbed mattresses have been around for a long time, but that is because many people find that sleeping on them is a wonderful experience that they enjoy. In fact, you may not know this but the first waterbed was developed almost two hundred years ago by Neil Arnott (a Scottish physician) as a way to help those who were bedridden from developing bedsores. He accomplished this by taking a rubber tube and filling it with water. However, his design was not patented until 1883, when another doctor tried to create a waterbed, but the bed was not widely used and was considered to be a failure. In the 1960’s a design student created waterbed mattresses as we know them today.

Soft Sided versus Hard Sided Waterbed Mattresses

There are two types of waterbed mattresses, hard sided and soft sided. A soft sided waterbed is a mattress that is filled with water but has sturdy sides. This means that it does not have to be confined within a box, but rather can set on a platform deck that is not that much different than a traditional bed frame. The water inside the waterbed mattress is contained by a sturdy foam frame, and this is why the platform does not have to be encased with wooden sides. This is the perfect waterbed option for those that are looking to buy a waterbed but don’t want to have the large frame that traditionally goes with the older waterbed mattresses.

On the other hand, the hard sided waterbeds are those platforms that have the wooden sides that help hold in the waterbed mattresses. These frames are slightly larger than traditional bed frames and they can cause problems for people who do not have the extra space. However, they do have their benefits as some of these hard sided waterbeds come with interesting headboards and storage drawers.

Other Types of Waterbed Mattresses

In addition to the differences between hard sided and soft sided waterbed mattresses there is also the difference in the water chamber itself; this is commonly known as a free flow mattress. In many of the older waterbed models and the cheaper waterbeds there is only one chamber in which the water is stored. This, however, causes problems with waves as the waterbed mattresses that are set up like this are easily disturbed and it can take a long time for these ripples and waves to settle.

Realizing this, modern manufacturers built a more stable mattress in order to prevent any problems with waves and disturbances. This was done by employing a number of different methods which included everything from different connected water chambers to fibre batting. There are even waterbed mattresses that are designed with interwoven air and water chambers that are referred to as waveless, but they are often a lot more expensive.

Choosing From the Different Waterbed Mattresses
When looking at waterbed mattresses you need to make sure that the style and type you are getting will work for your needs. This means that you will want to make sure you know the dimensions of the room that you are putting the bed in so that you can be sure that it will fit. Also, you should make sure that you understand all of the differences of the waterbed mattresses so that you can make an informed decision. Some models may be better for people who have problems with their backs, and making sure that you have a waterbed that will help you to sleep better with these problems can make all the difference.