Sleep Number Mattress???

Updated on October 19, 2010
J.C. asks from Folsom, CA
22 answers

I have been experiencing some age-40's back pain for the 1st time ever and so has my husband. We got a good new name brand spring coil mattress last yr with average-firmness, but still back pain periodically for both. I keep hearing about the Sleep Number bed and wonder if anyone out there has one, what your opinion of is of it and was it worth the $ ? I have heard the other popular, more expensive, foam type mattresses can smell and or get hot. Any advice is appreciated;. thanks.

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L.K.

answers from Kansas City on

We bought a temperpedic and LOVE it. I am normally very hot blooded and have not found it made me uncomfortable. I also have not had an odor problem. My husband and I have both slept very well ever since we had it delivered. Best $ we've spent in years!!

We did try the sleep number bed in the store and felt like I was sleeping on a blow up camping mattress, which is basically all it is. And Shauna was right, I also noticed right away the hard thing in the middle of a king size bed (separating the 2 twin size blow up mattresses) and thought this would never work with a couple who loves to cuddle.

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L.E.

answers from San Francisco on

I LOVE IT!!! I only spent about $1500.00 for a queen size and my husband and I have it set at different numbers but that does not interfere with snuggling together as we fall asleep. I love the fact that I can adjust the setting to how my back feels that particular day and same for my hubby. It is the best bed either of us have ever slept on!

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S.G.

answers from Dallas on

M husband and me bought a sleepnumber bed and returned it. For a bed that cost over $7k we expected much more. We had gotten the king size with extra cushion (so uncomfortable)and it had a hard plastic separator in the middle which is not comfortable at all unless you plan on staying only on your side...no cuddling or much less any thing else in this bed unless you remain on one side of the chamber. The increase in softness to firmness was not that much noticeable than a regular matress. We both awoke with pains and I was pregnant at the time so it didn't do much for us. We sent it back within the first 30 days. For the amount of money it should be more than a bed made of plastic link blocks and two separate air mattresses that plug into the wall. Sorry, it didn't work for us. Plus, it wasn't as comfortable as the one in the store...maybe because everyone laid on it. The tempurpedic mattress gave us both hives and cold sweats. So after two failures with both; We just went out and bought an expensive mattress that suits both our needs and figure if we have to replace it every so many years it's still cheaper than financing a sleep number. At lot of our other friends had the same issues. Well that's our experience however it may be different for you...i'm glad the beds work for others. Good luck on your mattress search; I hope you find comfort.

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J.W.

answers from Boston on

We have a tempurpedic and honestly, it is the most comfortable bed both of us have ever slept on. We've had it now about 6 years. I run really hot all of the time and I am completely comfortable on it, I never wake up sweating. I can't imagine why it would have an odor unless people slept on it without any bedding? Ours certainly doesn't have any odor.

I have back problems too, I have a herniated disc in my lower back and I can honestly say that my back never hurts me in bed or in the morning when I wake up. I am fairly certain that unless something even better comes out, I will always have my Tempurpedic!

I don't know much about the sleep number bed, but it just seems like an upgraded air mattress.

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D.G.

answers from Canton on

I have never slept on one but my hubby is a pilot and stays in hotels sometimes that have the Sleep number bed. He hates them! He never gets a good night's sleep on them and he normally is a very sound sleeper! I can't really say what it is he doesn't like about it, I just know he complains of not sleeping well on it.

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L.M.

answers from Dover on

We bought a Sleep Number bed a few years ago and it was great for a short time. I like a much softer mattress than my husband so in theory it was perfect. Unfortunately, he is almost double my weight so if he doesn't lay all the way on his side and stay there, he rolls down into my side. That in turn hardens my side ALOT. We hate it.

Sleep Numbers are great if you are sleeping alone but not for a couple.

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H.P.

answers from Sacramento on

I slept in a Sleep Number bed several years ago while in a hotel on business. I cranked it up as firm as it would go and slept very well, but hadn't justified spending the $$ to replace my coil mattress at home.

My hubby slept on a Tempurpedic mattress while at a friend's cabin four years ago and really really loved it. I was (again) skeptical about spending the $$.

Last month we decided it was time to replace our ten year old coil mattress. We went to Sleep Train to just look around and see what was available. The sales rep recommended we go for a slightly higher coil count b/c my husband is a bigger guy, so we were looking at spending around $1000 for a mattress that would (hopefully) last us ten years. We then tried out the entry level Tempurpedic mattress and I have to say it was amazingly comfortable! When we heard that they had a special going on then that meant we could get the mattress and base (which have a 20 year warranty!) for $1650, we decided it just made sense to go for it. It'll end up being cheaper per year, and we should sleep better. I also liked that the pricing is set on the Tempurpedic - yes, it means you won't be able to find a deal at a discount mattress shop, but you won't have to fuss and fight and try to find a comparable mattress for less so you can be sure you're getting the best deal!

So, now that we've had it for almost a month: we LOVE it. It is amazingly comfortable. Admittedly it's a little weird at first to plop down on it and not have it bounce like a coil mattress does, but once you get used to it it's wonderful. There was a very slight odor when they first unwrapped it, but once you get the mattress cover and sheets on it you don't notice it. I suppose you might have more of an odor problem if you bought the pillows, but we just kept using our old ones. (Incidentally, my ears are jealous of the rest of my body b/c they get smushed by a regular pillow every night instead of being cushioned by memory foam!)

I am seven months pregnant so sleep is at a bit of a premium, and I find that even though I am still waking up regularly in the night to go to the bathroom I am feeling more refreshed and less wiped out during the day - I attribute this to sleeping much more deeply when I am asleep. I've noticed that I wake up in the same position I started in, which is another sign that I'm sleeping deeply and not tossing and turning. I had to adjust how I sleep a little bit b/c I'm a die hard stomach/side sleeper and found that the arm I was lying on tended to fall asleep b/c I wasn't moving around.

As far as being too hot - the sales rep told me that this was a problem with the earlier beds but that the newer beds the foam was a little different and it wasn't a problem. I noticed in the documentation that comes with the bed that it says that you may need one less blanket due to being a bit warmer. I have noticed that I do get a teensy bit toasty, but it's a little unfair to blame it all on the bed - between the pregnancy and sleeping in an upstairs bedroom in Sacramento I'm liable to wake up sweaty no matter what. I just switched out our duvet for a blanket and that helped significantly. I'm sure it's more me than the bed, since my hubby got cold with just the blanket and usually I'm the one who is freezing! :) I think you can splurge and get a fancier Tempurpedic if you want to and they have mattress covers that are more breathable which might help address the heat issue if you're concerned about it.

Also, Sleep Train has their 90 day guarantee (and I think they have some sort of special going on now where you can get free pillows or comforter or bed frame...not sure though!) where if you decide you don't like the bed you can exchange it for another bed and they will refund you the difference if the new bed costs less.

OOoh, one other thing - if you do buy the Tempurpedic, I would suggest also buying the mattress cover. For the queen it was only an additional $89 and it's given me a lot of peace of mind, considering that my water broke while I was sleeping when I went into labor with my first and when I'm in early lactation I leak a TON! There's a ten year warranty on the mattress cover and they'll replace the mattress if it fails due to a bad cover BUT you have to have bought them at the same time and have the receipt to prove it. So keep that in mind - that wasn't something we were told, I just am crazy about reading all documentation that comes with things so I noticed that.

So I would definitely look at the Cost Per Year for the Sleep Number bed and see how it compares to the Tempurpedic and factor that in before you make your decision. Hope you find the perfect bed!

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S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

after years of increasing sleep problems we finally decided to take the plunge and invest in the (stupidly expensive) sleep number. it's helped some, but has not been the panacea i had hoped.
the first one didn't hold air. boy was i frosted. but the customer service was excellent, a new one arrived almost instantly and despite my misgivings, i was able to replace it myself, and i'm about the most incompetent person i know. so that was good.
we've had it for about 9 months and i still can't seem to find my perfect sleep number. i always thought i liked a very firm mattress, but i'm down under 50 now and still tweaking. my husband has been happy with his side, and his sleep has improved although, like me, not to a huge degree.
there is a slight feeling of something in the middle, but it doesn't interfere with love or snugglies. we both like to sleep on our own sides anyway so that isn't an issue for us.
it does sleep a little hot, which i'm used to now but really bugged me at the beginning.
all in all i think i can say it was worth the money (we didn't get the top of the line), but i had higher hopes for how wonderful it would be.
khairete
S.

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C.A.

answers from San Francisco on

We bought the sleep number bed in Nov of 08. I'm not as in love with it as I thought I would have been (I originally fell in love with it about 4 years earlier when I tested it out at a Bed Bath and Beyond). I love a firm mattress and having it set at 100 does not feel firm to me at all. My husband weighs about 280 and has his set lower then me and when I fill it up to 100 and sleep on his side I can feel the "worn out-ness" of the mattress. we are both very disappointed in it. We bought the most expensive one and it has memory foam in it as well as an egg crate thing.
My grandparents bought one because of my grandpas back issues and they hate theirs. My grandma constantly asks me about mine (it's almost 4 years old and she STILL asks me if I hate it as much as she does). Her biggest complaints are that you have to fill it every morning before you get out of bed and that there's a lump in the middle because it's hard to sleep in the middle. Both are complaints that I have. This bed is one of the only purchases that my husband and I honestly regret making, ever. That being said, I have not called the warranty department and given them a chance to make things right, if they can.
Best of luck!
C.

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L.A.

answers from San Francisco on

My husband and I bought a Stearns & Foster with a tempurpedic material pillow topper about 4 years ago to replace our old S & F extra firm 26 year old mattress. We've never slept better! My husband has several herniated discs so having a mattress with good support is crucial. We had considered the Sleep # and Tempurpedic style mattresses until we actually tried them out at the store. We knew we had found our perfect fit as soon as we laid down on the one we purchased. Your best bet is to go to a specialty store, Sleep Train is excellent, and try out a variety of mattresses. Go for the one that's most comfortable to you. We have friends who own other brands...some love what they have, others have returned them for other choices. You'll know you've found your perfect match when you try them out.
Good luck!

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H.C.

answers from Sacramento on

We got our tempurpedic about 3.5 years ago and LOVE it. I think it smelled when we first got it but I can't remember for sure. But so did the regular mattress we just bought for my toddler. My husband has always been a very hot sleeper so we got the one a couple levels above the basic (I can't remember what it is called) it is slightly thicker and has a special cover that is supposed to be more breathable and keep you from sweating. I have never noticed a big difference in being hot at night between the termpurpedic and our old mattress. The only downside is the same as Julie P. mentioned, no other bed can compare so we don't sleep as well while on vacation. I am the frugal one and had serious doubts at first but have never regretted it. My husband was not yet 30 when we got it but had repeatedly had back trouble and it has not recurred since we got this mattress.

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*.*.

answers from San Francisco on

This bed would be great if I were sleeping alone, however with my husband not so much. We like different numbers so if I roll over in the middle of the night it is like rolling down a hill and it wakes me up. On nights that my husband is away on business it is great but overall I wouldn't purchase another one unless I were single.

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E.B.

answers from San Francisco on

We got a sleep number bed about a year ago & are very happy w/ it. Both of us have never slept better. Even tho it was very $$$, it should last a long time. The previous mattresses we had bought, altho expensive (not as much as the sleep # tho) just didn't last - sagged & dipped after only 4-5 yrs. Since this has air it won't do that.

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B.F.

answers from Minneapolis on

We have one of the original one's and love it. Seriously after 12 or so years, the air does not wear out and have to be replaced. I bought it because DH and I could not agree on a mattress and so we can have our sides they way we want. We got ours before they had the pillow tops and that part of the new one's do wear out. I recommend you buy the original and a small foam topper that can be replaced every few years.

I was gone on vacation and so missed my bed.

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N.A.

answers from San Francisco on

I experienced a bad back for 5 years. Went to Chiropractors, acupunture, physical therapy, holistic and massage. I started sleeping on a magnetic pad and it made a huge difference. Some of those foam mattresses smell because they omit chemicals that are not healthy. The mattress pad I use is organic and does not smell.

If you want more info let me know.

Good luck.

N. Marie

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M.V.

answers from Houston on

We have a sleep by number. It is about three years old. We love it! My husband's side is about a 55 and mine is 35. I have back problems (degenerated disc) and this bed has really, really helped out with the back pain. I used to see a chiropractor, but now my back doesn't hurt as much, and I haven't been since we bought the bed. When I go on vacation and have to sleep on a coil mattress, boy does my back hurt the next day. I can totally feel the difference!

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A.C.

answers from Houston on

I stayed in a hotel while I was pregnant that had sleep number beds...it was the best night sleep of my whole pregnancy. I did have to pump it up in order to roll my 6 months pregnant body out of bed, but I sure slept well.

My second best night sleep is on my 100% latex mattress that I bought from IKEA. It is heavy as hell and hard to maneuver, but I've never slept better.

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B.B.

answers from New York on

We just got a generic tempurpedic bed...it was the best investment/decision we have ever made! My husband and I both have some sleeping problems, and since we got this bed we sleep SOOOOOOOO much better. I would actually be on a commercial to endorse the bed. It is awesome!

BTW - I don't have any experience with a sleep number bed, but my SIL hates it. She says it feels like an air mattress. And after several months it just deflates.

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J.P.

answers from San Francisco on

I've slept on a sleep number and I wasn't a big fan. MIL has one and although she likes it, doesn't really think it was worth the money. We have a tempurpedic....we absolutely love it. My husband is rather frugal and has never once complained about the money we spent on it. The only problem we have is we can no longer get a good nights sleep on any other mattress, so that makes going on vacation a challange.

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G.K.

answers from San Francisco on

Sleep number bed is great if I'm sleeping alone. However, my husband enjoys a 25, while I like a firmer 50 or so, which creates a small hill in the bed. I'm constantly rolling towards him. However, it's exceptionally comfortable, and I LOVE that I can adjust it to however I'm feeling that night. Sometimes, I like it a little firmer or softer depending on what I did during the day and how achy my back is (I have a heft 8mo).

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S.R.

answers from San Francisco on

My mom has had hers for over 20 years and her and my dad still LOVE it! I bought one about 10 years ago and I LOVE it and when I got married my husband LOVED it. About 4 years ago we bought another (upgraded to a king) and the old queen is in the guest bedroom and all our guest comment on how comfortable the bed is and how well they slept. My sister and her husband have one and LOVE it and my brother and his wife LOVE theirs too. I even bought one for my son. Both my Grandma's have one and they LOVE it too. My FIL and MIL just bought one about 2 years ago and they also LOVE it. We are one big happy Sleep Number family! You really have to go to the store and let the people help you pick the bed that is right for you. It isn't always going to be the nicest bed with all the upgrades that you find most comfortable. I couldn't stand the most expensive model but the one in the middle was perfect for me and the hubby. I have had two pregnancies sleeping on the sleep number bed and I have never been uncomfortable. Plus, my husband sleeps softer than me and we would never be able to agree on a bed. It has been a perfect bed for us!

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C.C.

answers from Springfield on

If you BUY, buy online so you can return it if it doesn't work out. Stores don't allow returns, but the 800#does.

You can try the foam mattress out at certain hotels. We didn't last a night. You have to be still for 20 minutes while the foal heats up to conform.
It was awful. Some hotels have sleep number beds as well, though they are never the same exact model.

We have sensitivities and have purchased 5 sleep number beds. They smell coming out of the package just like new beds do. My husband loves his because of hip and back pain. I ended up selling our guest beds when we moved because our guests did not sleep well. It takes a few nights to figure out the number and some never did.

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