In my family, we're all trying to give practical gifts to each other. My mom started this trend and now everyone is being frugal and practical. A few months ago my bad back told me it was time to get a new mattress. I was tired of waking up tired. After some time researching the options, I decided to buy a memory foam mattress topper. It was $100, but I bought one for myself and within about a week, I was feeling great. My back (knock on wood) has not hurt since.
That got me to thinking that a foam mattress pad could be an awesome gift to give a loved one. First, it is not too expensive. There are actually cheaper toppers than the one I bought (and of course, more expensive ones, too!), and even a $50 memory foam topper is better than no memory foam.
With so many memory foam products on the market, it is hard to know which one to buy. I have a few tips from my own research, but first and foremost, the best memory foam topper is the one that will get used by the recipient. If you have a conservative relative, like a grandparent, they might be reluctant to try this "space-age" technology. First, you can tell them that memory foam is almost as old as they are (it was developed in the 60s). Next, get them try out yours for a few minutes. I bet they'll be convinced.
As to how to pick out a good foam mattress pad, it is really all about two things -- the thickness of the pad and the weight of the pad. But, the thicker and heavier, the more money you'll spend. So you have to look for a compromise. The thickness is self-explanatory. The weight of the foam topper has to do with the density of the foam itself. Memory foam is weighed in pounds per cubic foot. If you are buying a mattress pad for a heavier person, go for density over thickness. That probably seems backwards, but the denser foam will last longer under the (literal) pressure of usage. Someone with a bad back, but who is not overweight, will benefit from the thicker mattress.
I know memory foam seems like the most blah gift in the world, but practical gift giving is the new norm. Embrace it and enjoy giving the gift of a good night's sleep to all your favorite people.
