6 On Your Side: Consumer Confidence, Mattress Topper or a New Mattress?

(ABC 6 NEWS) – Getting a good nights sleep can be a challenge.

If you’re struggling to catch some z’s, it might be time to get a mattress topper.

“We’re always looking to make the sleep the best it can be,” Denise Friedly, an owner of a vacation rental said.

Friedly takes her guests’ sleep very seriously. She’s wondering if adding mattress toppers to the beds is worth the money.

“There just seems like there are so many choices, between the actual shape of the top, the material,” Friedly said.

Consumer Reports says before you buy, it’s important to know what a mattress topper can and can’t do.

“A mattress topper can help relieve pressure points for back and side sleepers and it can make a good mattress feel more comfortable,” Tanya Christian, Consumer Reports Home Editor said.

There are many different types of toppers to choose from. Among them, memory foam toppers are a popular choice. They offer that “sinking in” feeling. Expect to pay anywhere from 50 to about 300 dollars, depending on its thickness and materials.

“Only thing about memory foam is that it does trap heat, so you might want to consider another kind if you sleep hot,” Christian said.

There’s also latex –– made from the sap of rubber trees–– it offers a “springier” feel and can be naturally cooling.

“If you’re craving a comfier, fluffier feel, try wool, cotton, feather and other fiber fills,” Christian said.

But before you spend the money on a topper, CR says take a hard look at your mattress because a topper can only do so much.

“Adding a mattress topper to a caving, sagging or otherwise non-supportive mattress is not gonna make it more supportive or better to sleep on. At that point it may be best to just invest in a new mattress,” Christian said.

And if you’re a smart shopper, you can get a new mattress that performs very well in CR’s rigorous tests for a little more than some of those pricey mattress toppers.

Take the Tuft and Needle Original mattress – tests show it’s ideal for both back and side sleepers.