GOOD NIGHT

In today's fast-paced world, who doesn't cherish a good night's sleep. Odds are, however, if your mattress is at least eight years old, you're not getting the quality sleep you need.

"I call it the aah factor," said Mark Quinn, residential segment vice president of marketing for Leggett and Platt. "When I climb into my bed and it's been a long day, I have that initial moment of truth when I go 'Aah.' My bed is a place to go to retreat and relax. If that bed isn't comfortable enough to deliver that to you, it's time to get a new bed."

Another signal that it's time for a new bed would be if you wake up feeling unrested or aching.

"Our body changes as we get older. We gain weight, lose weight. ... Then, maybe the bed you have isn't the right one for you. It could not be providing the support you need," Quinn said.

The same is true if you've had a better sleep experience away from home. Quinn said he's often heard friends and associates rave about how comfortable a bed was after a recent stay at a hotel. "If a hotel bed is more comfortable than your bed at home, it's time to replace it. It's your home; why not have a bed as good as a hotel bed?" he asked.

Industry research shows every 10 years a mattress doubles in weight due to dust mites and dead skin, which is another reason it needs to be replaced.

Quinn, who is vice chairman of the Better Sleep Council, said the best place to begin your search for a new mattress is the council's website, www.bettersleep.org. On the site is a shopping guide that will "EASE" you through the process. The method has four steps: Evaluate your current mattress; arm yourself with knowledge; shop to find the right mattress; and ensure quality care.

Mattress manufacturers also offer tips on their websites. Sealy, for example, just designed a new site that makes it easier for consumers to explore the various types of mattresses available in today's marketplace and compare the benefits of each kind.

"We found only 18 percent of consumers felt prepared to buy a mattress after conducting online research, and more than two-thirds said online research was not helpful in deciding which brand of mattress to buy, making the in-store shopping experience very confusing," said Jodi Allen, Sealy's chief marketing officer. "We took their feedback to heart and designed the new site specifically to help end their confusion."

While walking through the mattress-buying process, the website breaks down industry terminology into language everyone can understand. It also helps people figure out which type of mattress best fits their sleep patterns and lifestyle.

"If 10 years have passed since you last shopped for a bed, you should know that there are many new technologies (such as memory foam, gel and air) available that deliver a variety of firmness levels and feels," said Tim Oakhill, executive vice president of marketing for Simmons.

With so many different types of mattresses on the market the best way to determine which is the right one for you is to simply try it out.

"A bed is the most important piece of furniture you'll buy in terms of daily impact on your life. And while getting input from friends is a good start, a bed has to feel comfortable to you, so be sure to test a lot of models to determine how firm or plush you'd like for it to be," Oakhill said.

"It's like shopping for shoes. You have to try it on before you buy it," said Jeff Scorziell, president of Anatomic Global, which manufactures memory foam mattresses.

Oakhill said it's helpful to know the coil count of an innerspring mattress. The more coils, the more support.

"More coils, especially if they're pocketed, also deliver better motion separation, which means you're less likely to feel your partner rolling over in bed with a higher count," he said.

All agreed that it's important that you spend some time testing the mattress before you agree to buy it.

"I feel you need to stay on the mattress for three to five minutes. For me, who has shoulder problems, just one or two minutes (on a mattress) and I won't feel any pressure relief that quickly. Most retail associates won't mind if you stay on it longer," said Scorziell. "If you stay on the mattress, you will have the right opinion about it."

This is especially true when purchasing a memory foam bed, which takes several minutes to conform to your body shape, he said.

Oakhill recommends lying on your top contenders for at least 15 minutes.

It's also critical that you lie on the mattress in the position you are most comfortable in when sleeping.

"Go prepared to experience the product. Don't just sit on the bed. As awkward as that is, you need to lay on it and test how you will interact with it at home. A side sleeper needs to lay on his side. If you're a back sleeper, lay on your back," Quinn said. "And bring a pillow from home. You know that you're comfortable on that. It can make a big difference in the comfort of a bed."

Although they don't affect how a mattress sleeps, Oakhill said you should know a retailer's policy about comfort returns and find out if delivery of your new bed and removal of your old one are included before making your purchase.

And, if possible, wait for a holiday to do your shopping.

"Red white and blue holidays are a good time to buy as most mattress retailers run sales," Oakhill said.