People who are looking for an affordable way to get a good night’s sleep might want to consider air mattresses. They are simple to assemble and disassemble, making it simple to put them away when not in use.
They are portable and lightweight, which are both advantages, but I’m concerned about the safety of using them for an extended period of time. In this article we compare the costs of air beds and the factors affecting such costs.
Many individuals mistakenly believe that air mattresses offer the same level of safety as traditional mattresses.
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) determined that using a bed frame or box spring that has been evaluated by the agency for its durability and strength is the most secure way to sleep on an air mattress over the long term.
It’s possible that sleeping on an air mattress for shorter periods of time, like when you’re camping for a few days, is safe.
Sleeping on an air mattress for short periods of time, such as when camping, is not only deemed safe by specialists, but it also has the potential to be healthier than sleeping on other types of beds.
What Are The Dangers Associated With Air Mattresses?
An air bed takes very little time to set up and is very practical. You may deflate the bag, inflate the bed, and be ready to sleep in less than five minutes.
Although it is more cost-effective than other types of regular beds, an air mattress comes with a number of drawbacks that should be considered.
1. Temperature Control Problems
The vast majority of air mattresses are crafted from man-made materials like PVC and vinyl, neither of which are good breathers; as a result, it can be difficult to maintain a consistent temperature within the mattress.
The temperature of the air within the air bed will be determined by the ambient temperature. This, in conjunction with the heat that is generated by the body, particularly during the months of summer, will cause the material to become extremely hot, resulting in nights filled with sweating.
Because the air within the mattress loses heat to the chilly temperature outside during the winter months, sleeping on the mattress becomes an extremely uncomfortable experience. The thought of this will make you shiver all through the night.
A mattress topper will come in handy in regulating the temperature of the air bed. It will form a barrier that will prevent you from coming into direct contact with the air mattress.
2. Burst
Because there is a lot of pressure inside the mattress, which makes it firm, an air mattress has the potential to rupture. An explosive burst is caused when a small opening occurs because the air inside will try to force its way out, which results in a quick decrease of air pressure.
This unexpected outburst even has the potential to injure the person who is sleeping on the bed. The issue can be remedied by positioning the air mattresses in a location where they are not likely to come into contact with any pointed or jagged items.
Leakages may prevent air mattresses from inflating to the required levels or make them deflate very fast.
You can also elevate the air mattress by placing it on a platform, which will keep it away from the ground and reduce the risk of injury from falling sharp objects. Always choose for an inflatable mattress that has multiple air chambers as opposed to just a single chamber rather than the cheaper one.
A multi-air chamber mattress is less likely to cause harm than a single-air chamber mattress because the rate at which air is lost is far more gradual in the multi-air chamber mattress.
It is also possible for the air mattresses to burst if they are overfilled with air. Always make sure that the bed is filled up to the appropriate levels.
You should also use the right method to deflating the air mattress to avoid damaging it.
3. Back Pain
Air mattresses are not capable of providing the necessary level of support for the body while one is sleeping. Although it is not harmful to sleep on an air mattress once in a while, doing so on a regular basis will create discomfort in the lower back as well as a stiff neck.
Always keep an eye out for air beds that have features that are firm and thoroughly described, as this will ensure that you are properly supported while you are sleeping on the bed. Make sure that the mattress is stuffed to the proper levels so that it can offer additional support.
4. Infant Deaths
Because an air mattress is built of materials that do not allow air to pass through, it offers a significant danger of suffocating to young children and infants.
Because air beds are typically soft and uneven, it is simple for a young child to turn over and choke to death while sleeping on one. It is not safe for infants less than 15 months to sleep on air mattresses.
5. Frequent Maintenance
Alterations and upkeep are part and parcel of owning an air mattress, in contrast to traditional mattresses, which demand very little in the way of care and attention.
To guarantee that the mattress continues to meet the proper levels of firmness, it is necessary to continue frequently pumping air into it. It is necessary to continually add air to an air mattress because they naturally lose air and get deflated over time.
You will need to continue making repairs and applying patches to areas that have developed leaks. When there is a limited amount of time available, this could be a challenging endeavor that requires a lot of hard work.
6. Toxic Materials
As was just stated, the majority of air beds are constructed out of man-made materials like vinyl and pvc, both of which are potentially hazardous due to their synthetic nature.
PVC is a material that, over time, will emit into the air the chemicals that were utilized in its production. When the chemicals are breathed in, they will produce symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and difficulty breathing.
A thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) air mattress is regarded to be less hazardous to your health than a PVC air mattress because it does not give out any harmful chemicals like PVC does.
7. Difficulty Sharing Bed
When two people sleep in the same bed, the movement on one person’s side will cause the air to move on the other person’s side of the bed. Because of the way motion is transferred, the other person is going to be jolted quite a bit as a result of this.
When one partner moves around a lot while sleeping, it makes it more difficult for the other person to get quality sleep.
Some air mattresses are designed to alleviate this issue by including many air chambers, each of which must be inflated independently.
This reduces the amount of motion that is transferred from one person to another on the air bed, allowing both of you to have a restful night’s sleep.
How To Make Air Mattress More Comfortable?
It is possible to make an air mattress more pleasant to sleep on over the long term, despite the fact that they are best suited for use just temporarily. You will have a good night’s sleep and be able to relax more completely if the bed is comfy.
There are a number of adjustments you can make to an air mattress in order to improve the level of comfort it provides. This includes the following.
Use Beddings
You may turn the air mattress into a real bed by adding sheets and pillows, which will make it a lot more pleasant to sleep on. Make sure you have pillows, bed sheets, and mattress covers. Make the bed as comfy as possible by using all of the necessary beddings that you can afford.
Maintain The Bed Regularly
Over time, an air mattress will get less inflated. Because of this leakage of air, the mattress will lose some of its firmness, which will reduce the level of comfort and support it provides. In order to maintain a bed that is to your satisfaction, you need periodically re-inflate the mattress.
Add A Mattress Topper
Putting a mattress topper between you and the mattress will act as an extra layer of cushioning. Make sure you pick the best possible material for the topper.
A material that was breathable and, as a result, will ensure that there is enough temperature regulation between you and the mattress.
This will ensure that you do not experience excessive sweating during the hot evenings and that you do not experience extreme cold during the cold nights.
Both of these conditions can be caused by nighttime temperatures.
Use A Bed Frame
An air mattress can benefit from the additional support that a bed frame offers. A traditional look can also be achieved by adding a headboard and footboard to the air mattress.
The headboard will make the bed more comfortable by acting as a support for the pillow and helping to keep it in position.
What Do You Consider While Buying A Quality Air Mattress?
There is a wide variety of sizes, contours, and hues available for air mattresses. You can also expect a wide range of pricing, and the level of comfort that you obtain from your air mattress will be heavily influenced by the quality of the air mattress that you choose.
When shopping for a high-quality air mattress, there are a number of aspects that you should take into consideration. The following is included in this, but it is not an exhaustive list.
1. The Comfort Levels
You must take into consideration how comfortable the mattress will be during the course of its lifetime. If you are not just going to use the air mattress for camping, you should make sure to purchase one that can be utilized for an extended period of time.
A lesser amount of maintenance should be required for the air mattress, but it should still give the required support. The fact that some mattresses can be adjusted to different levels of firmness gives them an additional selling point.
2. Durability
You need to give serious thought to purchasing a high-quality air mattress that has a longer lifespan. Although the air mattress could have a higher initial cost, it will have a lower total cost of ownership during its lifetime.
When shopping for an air mattress, it is important to ensure that you have long-term intentions in mind.
3. Maintenance Levels
Choose an air mattress that has a lengthy air retention time so that you won’t have to inflate it each time you want to sleep on it. This will save you time and money.
There is no such thing as a maintenance-free air bed because every single one of them will eventually deflate and require additional air to be added to it. Pick one that can hold air for a longer period of time.
4. Quality Material
Make sure that the air mattress you buy is composed of high-quality materials so that it will last for a long time.
Because you spend so much time in bed, the material shouldn’t be made of any hazardous substances that could put your life in jeopardy.
The high-quality material for air mattresses could be more expensive, but it has a significantly longer lifespan.
Make it a habit to put a mattress topper between your body and the actual mattress before going to sleep. Because of this, the air mattress will have a longer lifespan.
5. Warranty
If something goes wrong with the air mattress, you want to be sure it is protected by an acceptable guarantee so that you can get your money back or a replacement mattress.
This can be accomplished by carefully reading and comprehending the terms of the manufacturer’s warranty.
How Long Does An Air Mattress Last?
The construction and quality of an air mattress will deteriorate over time, particularly in the event that it is used frequently.
In most cases, the air mattress needs to be changed after 8 years; but, if it is maintained properly, it has the potential to endure between 10 and 15 years.
Conclusion
In spite of the fact that an air mattress is not the most comfortable bed on which to sleep in the long run, considering how much cheaper it is in comparison to a regular bed, it can serve as a makeshift solution in a pinch.
When shopping for an air mattress, comfort should be your top priority to avoid waking up with aches and pains in the back and neck. Always check that the air mattress is filled to the levels that are advised, and try to prevent over-inflating it.
Make sure the mattress is utilized on a level, comfortable surface that does not have any sharp projecting edges, as these could lead to the air mattress rupturing or bursting.
