Air mattresses are widely known for their temporary uses. People take them camping and pull them out when guests come over, but is it okay to sleep on an air mattress for your entire life?
You cannot and should not sleep on an air mattress permanently. It is hard to achieve a healthy sleeping posture on inflatable mattresses, and will inevitably cause back pain. They will also be high maintenance and will only last a few months if you sleep on the bed every day.
Many people have used air mattresses on special occasions, but due to their low price and easy set-up, many wonder if it is safe to sleep on them permanently. This article will describe in detail if you should sleep on an air mattress permanently and will recommend some high-quality air mattresses to purchase.
What to Watch Out for When Sleeping on an Air Mattress Long-Term
Let’s take a look at some of the major issues that can arise by sleeping on an air mattress permanently and how to deal with them.
They Do Not Regulate Air Temperature Well
The first issue you will come across deals with temperature regulation. Most air mattresses are made of synthetic materials like vinyl; these materials do not breathe well. What does this mean? Well, in summer, you will find yourself having a very hot, sweaty, and stuffy night. In winter, you will most likely be freezing.
The air that is trapped inside the mattress will take on the temperature directly outside of it. This means that your body heat has no way of dispersing as it can in a standard bed. Fortunately, you can easily fix this problem. Simply lay a few cotton sheets on the bed or purchase a mattress topper.
You Might Experience More Back Pain
It is quite hard to maintain an air mattress to be good for your back. In order for the bed to give your back adequate support, the mattress has to be pretty high pressure (aka pretty hard). You would have to fill it with as much air as possible each night to have a healthy sleeping posture.
When there is not enough air, the entire length of the mattress can ‘bow’ down in the middle, creating a bad angle for your back. This can happen very easily when you sleep on an air mattress, especially if you do so every night.
Air Mattresses Will Be Higher Maintenance Than Normal Mattresses
Taking care of your standard bedroom mattress is quite easy. All you have to do is flip it over from time to time to make sure it doesn’t wear down on one side. For blow-up mattresses, though, you will have to monitor it’s air level pretty consistently. The mattress will flatten out over time, but oftentimes you will have to top it off every few weeks if not every few days.
You will also have to watch for holes. Since the material isn’t overly durable, it is quite easy for holes to appear in the mattress. You will have to be on top of fixing those so it can be properly filled.
You Should Not Have Two People Sleeping on the Air Mattress
If you have a partner that will be joining you every night on the air mattress, it is highly recommended not to go that route. This is because air mattresses are very motion-sensitive. If your partner moves, even just a little bit, you will move too. If you are a light sleeper, it will be impossible to get a good sleep with a partner.
Here Are What Some College Students Have Said
A great way to find a reliable answer is to hear from people who have done the deed themselves. Let’s hear what college students say about sleeping on a blow-up mattress long-term.
- Putting on a memory foam topper helped.
- You will probably have to top off the mattress every 3-4 days.
- Position the bed near an outlet, so you can use an electronic air-pump to fill it up.
- The bed began to sink after three months of using it every day.
- After it begins to sink (about three months in), you will have to top it off every 1-2 days.
- Inflatable beds are not for people who have back pain. The air mattress does not have as good of support as regular mattresses.
- You will probably get very cold in the fall and winter.
- You will need a lot of blankets to make it feel like a regular bed.
- Invest in a rubber or PVC air mattress for more permanent use. These materials will be more durable.
Why You Shouldn’t Permanently Sleep on an Air Mattress
There are only a few benefits of using an inflatable mattress for long-term use. They are very cheap to buy, and you can easily move them around. So maybe if you are always traveling, an air mattress would be a good choice. Other than that, you should not sleep on an air mattress permanently. Here are the reasons why:
- It is bad for your health. Not only are air mattresses bad for your back, but they can affect your everyday life as well. You will probably not get the best sleep using them, and this can negatively affect your productivity at work or school the next day.
- They will only last for a few months, and then you will have to replace it. As the article has previously mentioned, it is fairly easy for the mattresses to get holes. Once holes start, your quality of sleep will decrease every day.
- They are not as comfortable as normal beds. If it isn’t obvious already, air mattresses are not as nice as normal beds. No matter how many blankets or pillows you put on the mattress, it will not feel as good.
- They are high maintenance.
Here Are Some of the Best Air Mattresses (If You Still Want to Buy One for Long-Term Use)
Up to this point, we have discussed why you shouldn’t use an inflatable mattress for long-term use. Although, people in certain situations might have good reasons to do so. In that case, here are some of the best air mattresses to use for permanent use.
1. Intex Dura-Beam Deluxe Comfort Plush Elevated Airbed
This is one of the best-rated air mattresses with over 26,000 5-star reviews. The Intex airbed is also one of the cheapest well-rated beds on the market.
The mattress comes in queen, twin, and full size, and the inflation time is under 5 minutes, which is great for people in a hurry. The bed has a soft flocking layer on the top, which makes it even more comfortable, and it is known for its comfort and durability.
2. Lazery Sleep Air Mattress
If you want to invest a bit more money for more durability, this option will be best for you. This five-star inflatable queen size bed goes for more than a hundred dollars and is available in twin, queen, and camping queen size.
The bed is very heavy duty and has a double-height inflatable mattress. There is also a built-in electric pump that will monitor the air level throughout the night. (You won’t ever find yourself on the hardwood floor in the morning.)
3. Ivation EZ-Bed (Queen) Air Mattress with Frame & Rolling Case
This bed will be the best choice for those who will be traveling a lot. The Ivation bed sits above ground and is remarkably easy to set up. You simply have to unzip the case, plug it into the wall, and turn it on. It inflates and unfolds itself, as well as folds itself back up, which makes for quick and easy packing.
This is more expensive than the others, but many reviews rave about the comfort of this bed and mention that it never rolls around.
4. Intex Prestige Downy Airbed Kit
This bed is for those who want the cheapest option out there but also want a durable air mattress. This twin inflatable mattress is not as expensive as the others and has over 1,340 5-star reviews. This is lined with soft flocking on the surface and makes for a more comfortable sleeping experience.
Since this option is pretty cheap, it does not inflate itself, so you will have to fill it up using the battery-powered pump. But users say this bed is comfortable and durable.
Conclusion
There are a few reasons why you should not sleep on an air mattress permanently. It will be bad for your back since air mattresses often deflate a bit through the night and create a dip in the bed, which makes for a bad angle for your back. Inflatable mattresses also require more maintenance than normal beds. Not only do you have to fix the holes that appear, but you will also have to top the bed off every 4-5 days with air.
Furthermore, if you sleep with a partner, the bed will move a lot throughout the night since the mattresses are very sensitive to movement. The bed will also only last for a few months after using it every night, so you will constantly be investing in a new bed.
