What Happens If You Sleep on a Memory Foam Mattress Before 24 Hours

What Happens If You Sleep on a Memory Foam Mattress Before 24 Hours: Possible Problems

So, let’s begin with a little disclaimer:

Today, most high-quality memory foam mattresses are made of more durable materials than years ago, so you can actually sleep on your new bed a few hours after it’s installed onto your bed frame. It won’t impact its lifespan or supportive properties. 

The issues I’ve listed below apply to cheaper beds that are made from low-quality foams. But it’s still helpful to know about them so that you’d be prepared, right?

Here they are.

Your Mattress May Not Decompress Properly

You know what happens after you remove the vacuum-sealed film — your mattress starts to expand like insane. It will regain volume so that it can offer you the support you need. And obviously, the longer this process lasts, the thicker and more cradling your mattress will become at the end. 

Now, I will again refer to cheaper beds.

These beds typically are made with the use of first-generation viscoelastic foam. This material has less rebound compared to modern materials. So yes, they might need more time to expand completely. And if you fall asleep on this mattress before 24 hours have passed, you may feel that your bed is a bit flat, which may result in morning pain and stiffness.

“If your mattress hasn’t decompressed completely within a week, chances are it’s due to a manufacturing defect. In this case, you should contact customer support and discuss a refund or replacement.”

Odor Concerns

The second possible issue may strike you regardless of the price tag of your mattress (although cheaper beds without proper certifications can be more harmful).

Now, any foam is a result of a chemical reaction that involves a lot of ingredients, and some of them may emit sharp odors, so the end product is likely to have an odor too.

When your new mattress starts to expand, the air penetrates the pores of memory foam and pushes out the volatile organic compounds. That’s why new mattresses may have that ‘factory’ smell. 

If you’ve got a quality mattress, this odor will disappear rather fast, but this may still take a day or two. Thus, if you choose to sleep on your memory foam mattress before 24 hours without allowing it to air out, you may end up inhaling the VOCs and feeling that chemical smell. 

Again, if your mattress is made of quality, certified materials, this won’t do you any harm. But odor-sensitive individuals might get a headache or other unpleasant symptoms.

“You can speed up the release of volatile compounds by putting pressure onto your mattress with your hands. Or, you can allow your kids to jump on it for a little while.”

Is It True For All Memory Foam Beds?

As I’ve already said, most mattress brands today use quality materials, meaning their mattresses don’t have harmful components inside. 

It’s quite uncommon for a mattress to stay flat after a week. In most cases, your bed will be ready to accommodate you in 12-15 hours after unboxing.

To ensure that you’re getting a bed that won’t fail you, here are some recommendations to follow:

• Choose trusted brands. Look for brands with a successful history on the market and check out reviews written by real users or niche experts.
• Look for certification labels. While this may not save you from odors, at least you will be sure about the absence of harmful chemicals and cheap-made foams.
• Make the most of your trial period. Companies selling online compensate you for the inability to test a mattress with long trial periods. Never hesitate to return the product that didn’t meet your needs.

“Note that some companies require you to go through a mandatory break-in period, which usually lasts 30 days, before allowing you to claim a return or replacement.”