Mattress use - get the best sleep

Even with the best mattress, you can still have disturbed sleep if you don't have the right routine.

For many people, lack of sleep or poor sleep is caused by an old, underperforming mattress. Mattresses that are over 8-10 years old are usually past their best and don't give you the support you need for a good night's sleep. Changing your mattress and your bed base can help you to sleep much better, but if you've done that and you're still having problems, perhaps you need some advice on a good sleep routine.

How do I establish a good sleep routine?

Whilst there hasn't been much research into mattresses, there is a vast amount of work on sleep. Experts agree that having a regular sleep routine is an essential part of a good night's sleep, and there are several things you can do to help establish a routine of your own.

• Bedtime - just like small children, adults need to have a regular bedtime. This helps to prepare your body for sleeping, establishing a pattern that your body will become used to. Unless it's unavoidable, try to go to bed at roughly the same time each night.

• Food and drink - eating and drinking too much before you go to bed is a recipe for poor sleep. Alcohol and caffeine stimulate the brain and a large meal will be digested whilst you try to sleep. Only eat a very little before you go to bed, and have a warm, milky drink, which will help to make you feel sleepy.

• TVs and computers - many people have televisions, DVD players, computers and radios in their bedrooms. Watching TV or movies before you go to sleep is unlikely to help you sleep - and if you fall asleep with the television on, your sleep is likely to be disrupted later in the night. Research suggests that even having electrical items on standby in your room can interfere with your sleep. If you can do without your appliances in your room then you should.

Mattress Next Day is probably the largest mattress superstore on the internet. Selling a wide range of mattresses from leading manufacturers, we can offer quality mattresses at fantastic prices. Our next day delivery service is free or, if you prefer, you can select your own delivery date. We can even guarantee delivery before 9.30am on request. Take a look at our range of mattresses now at www.mattressnextday.co.uk, or call us on 0844 3911 222 for more information.