After years of using an old sleeping solution, you can finally upgrade your mattress. But while you’re excited to try out your new bed, you notice that it’s not as comfortable as you imagined. Or maybe it feels different from the mattress you’ve tried in the store.
Does this mean that you chose the wrong mattress?
If you can’t fall asleep on your new bed despite it being the most comfortable sleeping solution, it may result from the First Night Effect (FNE).
Let’s get to know more about this phenomenon and get some tips to feel more at home with your new mattress.
What is the First Night Effect?
All of us may have experienced a hard time sleeping in an unfamiliar place, in this case, an unfamiliar mattress. The first night effect, or FNE, is one of the most common reasons for restless nights when using a new mattress. This is because the bed and your body need to adjust to reach the ideal state for rest.
A new mattress, especially one in a box, will require some time to expand and take on its optimal shape. A new bed is also generally firmer compared to those in showrooms that have already undergone the break-in period. This means that even if you buy the best mattress in Singapore with OEKO-TEX certifications and lots of positive reviews, you may still experience some discomfort due to FNE.
Aside from sleeping on a new mattress, the first-night effect is also tied to jet lag, excitement, or tiredness during travel. It is also said to be the body’s way of keeping you safe when the environment you are resting in is unfamiliar. This hypervigilance is your brain’s way of protecting yourself from the potential harm of an unusual environment. This means that tossing and turning on your first day is normal, especially when you’ve been using your old mattress for years.
So, despite having the best mattress you could ever have, your brain is still tied to the feeling of your old sleeping solution.
Additionally, you may experience FNE in these situations:
- During travel
- When sleeping at a relative's or friend’s home
- When sleeping in a hotel
- When rearranging your bedroom
Luckily, FNE is only a normal part of the break-in period of your mattress and does not necessarily mean that you have picked the wrong one. The key here is to ensure that your mattress retailer is giving you enough time to test your mattress at home.
Ways to Get Comfy on Your New Mattress
If you find yourself rolling frequently on your mattress and having a hard time falling or staying asleep, you might be going through FNE. To minimise the chances of FNE and other potential discomfort tied to a new mattress, try these simple tips:
Let Your New Mattress Breathe
Before using your new mattress, make sure to give it some time to breathe, especially if it is delivered compressed in a box. Open your windows and ceiling fan and allow air to circulate around your room as your mattress expands. This can also help in expelling the new mattress smell.
A new mattress may take 24 to 72 hours to expand fully, while the new mattress smell may last for a week for some mattress varieties.
Roll Around Your Mattress
If your new mattress feels uncomfy due to its firmness, roll or walk on it to soften it up. When you do this, your body puts pressure on the mattress, speeding up the break-in period. This can also loosen up the materials of your mattress, making them more conforming to your pressure points.
For latex and memory foam mattresses, walking on the surface can help you soften up the sleeping solution. When it comes to innerspring mattresses, rolling or crawling on the mattress can help it reach a more comfortable firmness level. But of course, no jumping on the bed!
If you have books or heavy items, you may want to leave them on your mattress for a few minutes to loosen up your mattress.
Soften Your Mattress with Heat
Some mattresses are heat-sensitive and can adjust their softness based on the bedroom's temperature. If your new mattress is too firm for your preference, try increasing the thermostat in your room to soften the material and make it more malleable.
Sleep on Your Mattress Every Night
No matter how uncomfy your new mattress seems, resist the urge to sleep on an old mattress or your couch during the first month. This is because both your body and mattress need time to adjust. Consistently sleeping on your new mattress every night can give your body a familiar feeling, and it breaks in your mattress quicker.
Mattresses in Singapore come with a generous trial period to allow you to test out the comfort of the mattress at home, so make sure to make the most of it.
Use Your Old Sheets
While it’s good to pair your new mattress with new bedding accessories, using your old sheets or blankets can help your body become comfortable on the new surface. Doing this can minimise the unfamiliar feeling of a new mattress and help you sleep more comfortably during the transition.
Use a Familiar Scent
Aside from your old sheets, spraying a familiar scent in your bedroom can calm your mind and make it feel secure during sleep. Essential oils, hand creams, or perfumes can help you create a familiar and comfortable environment to rest in while breaking-in your new mattress.
Give Your Mattress Some Time
Finally, give your mattress some time to soften up. Though it’s easy to be discouraged when adjusting to your new mattress (since we’re talking about sleep here), the break-in period is definitely worth it, as you’ll use your new mattress for years to come.
The break-in period will depend on the type of mattress, but generally, innerspring mattresses need less time to adjust. We highly suggest making the most of your mattress trial period to test your mattress and find out if it’s the right one for your needs.
If you’ve already followed the tips above and finished your trial period but still feel uncomfortable with your new mattress, it may be time to return it. In this case, make sure to read the mattress return policy or ask your manufacturer to guarantee that the whole mattress trial period is seamless.
Upgrade Your Comfort with Somnuz
At Somnuz, we carefully take your comfort into consideration when designing our mattresses. Our pocketed spring mattresses in Singapore adjust well to your body’s unique needs and comfort preferences, so you don’t have to worry about the consequences of a bad mattress.
Try the Somnuz mattresses in our experience centres or shop our collection online.
DISCLAIMER: All the information, including the texts, images, and other materials on this website, are for educational purposes only. Although we strive to present accurate information to our readers, no material on the Somnuz website is a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified medical professional regarding your health. NEVER disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read in this article.