Tempur-Pedic Tempur-ProAdapt mattress

If there’s one thing parents deserve, it’s a good night’s rest. But even if your kids don't have you up and down all night, the mattress you're sleeping on could be affecting the quality of your sleep. In an effort to help you load up on those REM cycles, Today's Parent Approved editors hauled a bunch of mattresses into our lab and got to work examining the comfort, quality and value. One of our favourites for a supremely comfortable sleep is the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-ProAdapt. Its highly supportive foam layers conform to the body and provide impressive back and neck support—and it did this while keeping our parent testers cool overnight (yes, really). While the price tag for this Tempur-Pedic mattress is above average, parent testers and editors felt it's worth every penny.

Sleeping comfort

Comfort is subjective and personal. Some people can't sleep on anything but a firm mattress, while others need a soft place to rest. The Tempur-Pedic Tempur-ProAdapt brings together the best of both, offering total support at pressure points while also cushioning. In our lab testing, editors were impressed with this mattress's cozy feel and the way the body sort of melts into the foam, but it was the back support that really stood out. The Tempur-ProAdapt contours to the body, providing ample lumbar and waist support when laying on the back or the side—a position that felt super comfy compared to side-sleeping on a traditional pocket-coil mattresses. In fact, one parent tester said she would highly recommend this bed to any pregnant woman who has difficulty sleeping on her side.

Parent testers who slept on the mattress at home were also impressed. Most reported some back pain or sleeping problems previous to testing this mattress, but after sleeping on the Tempur-Pedic for about a month, they'd stopped experiencing aches and pains during the night and weren't waking up from discomfort. All parents strongly agreed they were able to doze comfortably, and they found it easy to transition between positions. Overall, parents felt well rested after snoozing on this Tempur-Pedic.

A common issue with foam mattresses is they sleep warm, but the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-ProAdapt is designed with a cooling cover for a comfortable sleep. All of our testers found this mattress breathable, and none felt overheated—a real feat because the majority of parent testers said they normally run hot when sleeping.

We also assessed the comfort of sitting up on this mattress because lots of people read or do work in bed before lights out. Parent testers all found this mattress comfortable to sit on when reading or working on laptops, but editors noted minor discomfort in the tailbone after 30 minutes of working while sitting propped against pillows and a headboard. Of course, comfort is subjective, so this is going to vary from person to person. That said, if you do spend a good deal of time sitting up in bed, you might want to look into an adjustable base to offer ergonomic support.

Motion transfer

The Tempur-Pedic Tempur-ProAdapt mattress is designed to support sleeping partners individually, which means one person shouldn't feel a lot of movement from another. In our lab tests, an editor lying on this mattress with her eyes closed couldn't tell when a sleeping partner gently laid down on the mattress. When the same partner crawled carelessly onto the mattress, our "sleeper" noticed minor movement, but felt it was minimal enough it wouldn't wake anyone other than a very light sleeper. In at-home testing, none of our parent testers said they could feel when their partners got into bed or shifted positions.

It's worth noting that due to the nature of foam mattresses, it can take a bit of minor effort to roll from one position to another—more so than you'll experience on a traditional mattress.

Setting up the mattress

When you purchase a Tempur-Pedic mattress, the retailer typically includes delivery and set-up—a good thing, because getting this mattress up or down stairs and out of the box can be a two-person job. Once the mattress is set up, you may need to air it out for a few days. Right after being manufactured, Tempur-Pedic mattresses can often have an odour, which the company says is harmless and normal, and usually dissipates within one to two weeks. One of our testers noticed this, but said the smell disappeared soon after delivery. If the odour lingers, Tempur-Pedic recommends airing out the mattress for few days and removing the sheets when you’re not sleeping (kind of a pain, but it's temporary). One last thing to consider: You might need to opt for deep-pocket sheets, as one parent tester told us the fitted sheet on her regular set was too small for this mattress.

Cleaning

The Tempur-ProAdapt comes with a removable cooling cover that's machine washable in cold water and dryer-safe on a low or air setting. Getting the cover on and off the bed is pretty easy, but keep in mind that your knees are going to sink into the mattress a bit.

FINAL WORD

The Tempur-Pedic Tempur-ProAdapt is built to last, and it's backed by a 10-year warranty. Our editors were impressed with the quality and comfort of this foam mattress. The cooling cover does an excellent job at regulating body temperature and the foam provides medium support for all types of sleepers. Of course, the real mark of a great mattress is if users get a good sleep, and our parent testers unanimously slept well on the Tempur-ProAdapt. They felt the firmness level is just right and they were impressed with the high-quality materials and construction, so it's not surprising that testers unanimously gave it very good ratings for quality and ease of use. Ratings for value for money ranged from good to very good, but testers felt the comfort, back support and quality of shut-eye add to its value. And while this mattress is a bit of an investment, as one parent put it, it's worth it for a better sleep.