A simple mattress shopping task can sometimes become a stressful activity and choosing the right one can be a real challenge. There are plenty of individuals who do not relish the thought of spending hours shopping for items, let alone testing out various mattresses at the store, to be able find the right one. It’s a daunting task that some will gladly do away with.

But buying a new mattress must be given careful thought and care, especially since mattresses these days are not relatively cheap. There are no easy solutions. You really have to do your homework.

But if you’re the type who hates shopping, there are ways to make it easier.

Start with figuring out the kind you need. Narrow down your choices. Would you go for an air bed? Inner spring mattress? foam mattress?

• Air mattresses are ideal for guests, or when you are in that bedroom for a short period of time, such as in a college dorm.
• Inner spring mattresses are most commonly sold across many stores. It is usually constructed in tiers and is meant to come with box springs.
• Foam mattresses are fast becoming the preferred choice There are types of mattresses that are made of dense materials and conform to the body really well. The downside to foam mattresses — they can be a bit pricey.

Some mattresses offer extra features that make it stand apart from other brands. Before you do your purchase, your best bet is to look up the brands via the internet and decide whether or not you have real use for the extra features. Check review sites, or visit the manufacturer’s website… chances are, these sites have their online stores to cater to internet purchases. Mattress shopping is definitely made easier this way.

Thanksgiving and Christmas season are those times of the year when house guests come in flocks, and you could be left with a space issue. If your house has a guest bedroom waiting to be occupied, then there is little preparation needed. But if you’re living in a smaller space, here are some great suggestions to prepare for those holiday guests:

Inflatable Air Mattresses are best for small spaces because when they are not in use, they don’t take up too much space and are just about the size of any regular bedding. Storing these is not also a problem since it can be kept under the bed or in the cabinets.

• Target has a few unbranded mattresses that are priced affordably. Not bad for one time visitors.
• The Aeorbed is also a good suggestion, if you ‘re willing to spend at least $300.00 and you have older guests to think about. They have stricter needs when it comes to comfortable sleep.

If you have an extra guest bed or guest room, add a mattress topper to make your guest feel more comfortable. At the moment, some retail stores are putting these up for sale.

A sofa bed from Ikea is also idea. They have different selections that come up to $250 to $699.

What’s the best air mattress around? Slate Magazine’s Torie Bosch shops around and tried out six different brand, ranging from the lowest to the most pricey kind:

Coleman’s 4 in 1 Quickbed
Ease of Use: 4 (out of 10)
Snooze or Lose: 1 (out of 10)
Total: 5 (out of 20)

Wenzel Insta-Bed
Ease of Use: 6
Comfort: 6
Total: 12

Aerobed Premier Comfort Zone
Ease of Use: 7
Snooze or Lose: 7
Total: 14

Air Cloud Pillowtop Full-Size Air Bed With Remote
Ease of Use: 9
Snooze or Lose: 6
Total: 15

Home Trends Raised Air Mattress With Built-In Pump
Ease of Use: 9
Comfort: 9
Total: 18

AeroBed Premier Comfort Zone Raised
Ease of Use: 9
Snooze or Lose: 10
Total: 19

For the full comparison, read it here.

Inflatable mattresses are great for when you’re having guest sleeping over. However, it’s not so great when you let a tiny baby sleep on it.

Mississippi authorities are investigating the death of a seven month old baby who apparently died after the inflatable mattress the child was sleeping on deflated. The tragedy comes as SIDS awareness month draws to a close. Local health and safety officials urge everyone to be aware of unsafe practices that can kill infants .

[snipped...]

Registered nurse Nancy Roach reminds parents it’s always safest to put baby on her back and to minimize bedding. “In a safe sleep environment we don’t want to see bumper pads, we don’t want to see stuffed animals, pillows, soft blankets, anything that could get in the baby’s face.”

As a parent, I don’t wanna question why some people can be negligent anymore. But this should be an eye-opener for other parents or adults with children. When it comes to them, we should always practice care.

Follow the news here.

While this mattress may look very enormous, almost as if it’s a space craft, it may still be a worthy purchase priced at $200.

This Inflatable Backrest Airbed is equipped with flex coil construction which allows your bed to be angled while watching TV or reading. Inflating and deflating using the built in pumps takes less than four minutes, so it’s a convenient item to have when you visitors arrive.

When not in use, the bed may be stored in its nylon carry-all bag.