FAQs - Page 2

5. What sizes are waterbeds available in?

Most makes of waterbed are available in a number of standard sizes equivalent to current mattress sizes. For hard-side waterbeds, we are talking about standard American sizes. Some makes offer made-to-measure too. It is important to make sure that with an abnormal size, it is not just the foam edging that is made wider, with the actual water surface left unchanged.

6. What kinds of bed surrounds can be used

A modern Soft-side waterbed can be built into any bed surround and will then look just like any ordinary mattress. Soft-side waterbeds with a divided foam edge are the easiest type to use as built-in wterbeds. Hard-side watermattresses need a solid wooden frame to provide side support to the watermattress. Specially designed bed surrounds are usually used in this case.

7. Is a waterbed good for my back?

A waterbed supports your back in the best possible way. When you lie on a watermattress, the water moves so that it takes up the precise shape of your body. The bed doesn’t sag, but adjusts precisely and instantly to your body, whatever your weight. These properties, combined with the dramatically reduced pressure on the surface and the wonderful warmth, provide the ideal support for your back.

8. Do waterbeds have medical benefits?

Waterbeds have many medical benefits. The waterbed was, after all, already in use in the medical world before it become a commercial success on the open market. It was discovered that the state of apparent weightlessness helped enormously in preventing and curing bedsores and in the treatment of severe burns. The gentle, even support and the warmth of a waterbed are also beneficial for people who suffer arthritis, rheumatism and certain back disorders. Furthermore, waterbeds are extensively used in the care of premature babies and are a great help for pregnant women. Because no dust or bacteria can lodge in a sealed watermattress and because a watermattress is easy to clean, it is also frequently used in the treatment of allergies and asthma. And finally, it has been proven that one falls asleep faster and achieves a deeper sleep on a waterbed. A good uninterrupted night’s rest is generally considered one of the best medicines. The support, the comfort and the warmth all contribute to better health and a more relaxed air.

9. Isn’t it better to sleep on a firm bed?

The worst surface to sleep on is a soft, sagging bed. Therefore, some years ago, firm mattresses were strongly advocated. These offer a better support that the sagging beds of yore but the hard contact surface still forces your back into an unnatural position and creates uncomfortable pressure points. For this reason, the better bedding manufacturers started developing more and more towards highly adjustable sleeping systems. The breakthrough of the sprung slatted bases was part of this development. The sleeping system that adjusts best to your body, however, is the watermattress. A watermattress is not a ‘soft’ mattress, but in contrast a perfectly supporting sleeping system. Sleeping on a hard mattress is totally passé and is recommended by fewer and fewer experts.

10. Won’t I wake my partner when I climb into bed?

This is highly unlikely, unless you literally dive into bed. But that’s likely to wake your partner on a traditional mattress too. The more strongly your waterbed is stabilised the less it propagates your movements. In a well stabilised waterbed, your movements will only produce a slight and short undulation, which is usually not considered to be disturbing. Certain sophisticated stretch patterns (diagonal) reduce propagation movement over the mattress surface.

11. Won’t I get seasick?

We have never heard of anyone suffering this problem. A waterbed, after all, only moves if you move, and such movement is instantly dampened by the stabilisation. You should also remember that you till toss and turn much less on a waterbed because of the reduced pressure.