Waveless Waterbed Mattress

Waterbeds have a long history, and were originally invented in the early 19th century for medical uses. They were designed to be used for patients who had to be in bed for long periods of time and to help prevent bedsores. Throughout the rest of the 19th and early 20th century, waterbed mattresses were still only sold for therapeutic use and it was not until the 1970s that they started to become popular for domestic use. Some of this can be attributed to technology such as that of the waveless waterbed mattress.

Traditional technology

Most waterbed mattresses are made of a single chamber, filled with water. In order to make the mattress more comfortable for the sleepers, the water is usually heated to around skin temperature although temperature is controlled by a thermostat and can be adjusted up and down as required. The mattress itself is made of strong rubber or plastic, which is reinforced with wooden or metal posts to give it structure and form. Waterbeds have several advantages when compared with traditional mattresses. The water in the mattress means the bed molds to the shape of the person using the bed, meaning they sleep more comfortably. It also means less pressure around the joints, meaning that they are especially useful for people suffering with joint or spinal problems. As the mattress is fully encased in rubber, they are more hygienic as house dust mites cannot get into the mattress.

Disadvantages include the cost of heating the water inside the mattress, difficulty in finding sheets of the right size to fit the mattresses and the risk of them puncturing or springing a leak. The other main issue that most people find with a water bed mattress is the wave motion, especially when turning over or moving in bed. Many people find that they get used to sleeping on the water mattress over time, but for others the wave motion is unbearable.

Waveless mattress technology

In response to the issues that many customers find with traditional water bed mattresses, new mattresses have been developed to reduce the wave motion that many customers find a sticking point. These new mattresses come in two types.

Some combine traditional mattress layers with layers of water. The thinner the layer of water in the mattress, the less the amount of wave motion that will be experienced. The foam layer or the traditional mattress stuffing sits on top of the water, and this also lessens the possibility of the mattress becoming punctured. It does however mean that it is harder to adjust the temperature of the mattress.

The second type of mattress has pockets alternating water with either air or traditional mattress construction. This eliminates the wave motion which so many people feel irritating when trying to sleep. It makes the mattress more stable and more similar in appearance and feel to a traditional mattress. The mattress can still be heated to the preferred temperature and the mattress is not different in appearance from other traditional mattresses. For those who prefer the motion of a traditional water bed mattress though, the new technology may be a step too far.