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Pros and cons of sleeping on a mattress on the floor, according to the experts
Do you sleep better on a mattress on the floor or on a bed, raised up off the ground? Ive been sleeping on a floor mattress as part of a temporary arrangement with a friend, and it struck me that there may be science behind the presumption that we sleep better off the ground.
I spoke to Dr Robert Oexman, chief science officer for mattress manufacturer iSense, about the advantages and disadvantages of sleeping close to the ground. I also got some thoughts from Frazer Clacherty, director at Down to Ground, a company specializing in products designed to transform sleep and well-being through scientifically proven methods.
Possible advantages of sleeping on a mattress on the floor rather than on a bed
The first thing to note is that Clacherty has a horse in this race. His company specializes in indoor grounding/earthing products, which goes partway to explaining his enthusiasm for sleeping on a floor mattress.
One key advantage is the direct connection with the earth, he told me. According to the FAQ page on the Down to Ground website, his companys products work by providing a conductive path for the Earths electrons to flow into your body.
This connection, he says, promotes relaxation, improves sleep, and balances the bodys natural rhythms.
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Unfortunately �that is, if the products actually work �I havent been using an earthing product.
My bedsheet does not plug into the wall. It is not conductive. It is supple, but not so supple you dont even know its there, which Down to Ground claims its products are.
Sleep scientist explains the benefits and drawbacks of floor mattresses
For infants, Dr Oexman says its wise to begin with a mattress directly on the floor.
This reduces the risk of injury if the toddler egresses meaning exits the bed on their own.
This isnt directly relevant to my personal experience. Im 30. I’ve been getting out of bed without injury for at least a decade. But its been interesting to learn about nonetheless.
As the toddler matures, Dr Oexman adds, a base can be used to make the mattress easier to clean underneath and make it easier to make the bed in the morning.
For older people, Dr Oexman is less unequivocal. Aging adults can benefit from having a mattress on the floor because it reduces the potential for injury when exiting, or falling out of, bed. However, its harder to get in and out of bed if the mattress is at floor level, so it depends on your mobility level, or your specific mobility challenges.
For this reason, Dr Oexman recommends an articulating bed base or one that raises from high to low with guard rails, to minimize difficulty getting in and out of bed.
The takeaway
Dr Oexman emphasizes that mattresses are designed and manufactured to be placed on solid foundations or adjustable bases that have a solid construction on top.
To my mind, the floor qualifies as a solid foundation, meaning a mattress should provide you with as good a nights sleep if its on the floor, as long as your floor is flat and sturdy. Which, if its not, maybe get that checked out.
If mobility is an issue, stick with a bed. People with less-than-mobile hips, or back pain, would likely regret forcing themselves to bend down to floor level every time they get into bed.
But for me, and maybe for most people, the quality of a nights rest depends more on the quality of the mattress, plus a plethora of internal and external factors (such as lighting, anxiety level, noise, room temperature, and what I’ve been eating, than it does on its height.
