Thursday, October 30, 2008

The History of Laying Down

By Herbert Reich

We embrace them every night, but chances are good that we don't flip them nearly as often as we might. Mattresses are a large part of our lives, literally, but we honestly don't think about them much. Whether you are enjoying a pleasant night's slumber or you are tossing and turning and ready for a new one, you will find that learning a little bit about mattresses and their history can make you go a long way towards appreciating yours a little more. When you want to learn about mattresses, take a look at the history and think about what that has to do with you.

Our Stone Age ancestors managed to craft the bed before creating the mattress. The first mattresses were probably piles of leaves or straw that were piled on top of platform beds, and there is some thought that they were covered with animal hides to be more comfortable. The first water beds occurred in Persia, when goatskins were filled with water, while during the days of the Ancient Egypt, palm boughs were heaped up in the homes of the poor, while the rich got to enjoy significantly more comfortable fare. In time, mattresses became bags filled with soft stuffing.

It would not be until the European Renaissance and the subsequent centuries that the modern bed would come into being. The practice of stuffing mattresses with cotton or wool took shape, as did covering the mattresses with linen or cotton coverings. This must have been a significant improvement in comfort. The modern spring bed would not be invented in Massachusetts until 1855. Ten years later, the steel coil for the bed came into common usage. As you can see, the mattress has a long and venerable history, even if it took a while before it really arrived to a point that we would want to sleep in!

Before committing to a bed, take it for a test drive. Wear shoes that are easy to slip off and head to the nearest mattress warehouse. Lie on the mattress the way that you would sleep on the bed at home and see how well it holds you. Remember that if you have back problems or if you have trouble sleeping that you need to think about about a firmer mattress; if you have a chiropractor or anyone else who looks after your health in that regard, consult them about what their suggestions might be.

There are plenty of reasons why we want to know about mattresses, but for most of us, the real prize is a good night's sleep! Learning about your mattress and where it has been and what has gone into making it can make all the difference when you are looking for some decent slumber, so don't miss out! - 15634

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