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Goldilocks Was Right: Newsweek on Mattress Firmness
In June 2002, Newsweek‘s TipSheet column took on a question every shopper faces: what mattress firmness is best for your back? Its answer, and its mention of FloBeds, still hold up today.
The Myth That Firmer Is Better
For years, the rule seemed simple: the firmer the mattress, the better for your back. However, Newsweek reported that no scientific evidence backed that belief. The idea dated back to the days when doctors told patients to put a board under a sagging bed. Instead, experts said the ideal mattress firmness is neither hard nor soft, but comfortable. In other words, Goldilocks had it right.
How to Test Mattress Firmness
The article offered practical advice that still applies:
- Listen to your body. If you wake up stiff, sore or tired, your bed may be the problem.
- Expect differences. Side and stomach sleepers usually need more give than back sleepers. Also, women’s hips often need to sink deeper than men’s.
- Test it properly. First, lie on your back for at least five minutes. Your hand should fit snugly in the small of your back. Then roll to your side and check for pressure at your hips and shoulders.
- Keep your options open. Buy from a seller that lets you return or exchange.
Adjustable Mattress Firmness From FloBeds
Better yet, Newsweek suggested finding a mattress you can adjust. It pointed readers to FloBeds and our stackable latex layers, which range from soft to superfirm. Because each side has its own layers, partners can each choose their own firmness.
That’s still how we build every FloBed today. In fact, our Goldilocks Guarantee lets you change your firmness over the 20-year life of the mattress. Not sure where to start? The Firmness Advisor on our natural latex mattress page will recommend a setup for you. You can also read about a later study that reached the same conclusion in Goldilocks Was Right II.
