THE GIFT OF SLEEP - TOP TIPS TO CHOOSING THE BEST MATTRESS FOR YOU

[Advertisement - This post has been written in collaboration with Silentnight. All opions are 100% my own]

So you might remember that last month I visited the new Silentnight Showroom in Bristol to take a look at their range and get some much needed tips for a better nights sleep.

Being mama to a toddler takes its toll on the old eye bags and currently I’m sporting some fetching suitcases. Our current mattress had surpassed the ten year mark and we’d started waking with shoulder and back aches. Knowing it was time to switch it up we headed down to Silentnight Bristol Cabot Circus Showroom to check out their mattresses and have a one on one consultation with a team member, all of which have had training from a sleep specialist.

Silent Night is one of those brands that has stood the test of time and is a well loved UK name in the sleep department, providing good sleep for 70 years. Do remember the hippo and duckling TV ads in the 80’s? so cute *and possibly showing my age* but it did mean I was in good hands.

While Romi literally climbed, bounced and treated the experience as her own personal soft play, I was excited to learn more about their range, it turns out there are a whole host of choices when it comes to choosing mattress, all with different structures and fillings, each creating various forms of support and breathability, plus prices vary hugely depending on your needs. Thankfully the in-house team have great in-depth knowledge and were happy to talk through all the ranges, while using the sample cut away mattress to show you how they work from a technical view point.

Did you know that the average person doesn’t even lie down to test the mattress before they buy even though they are going to sleep on EVERY night! As we spend a third of our life in bed finding ‘the one’ is so important. So here are some top tips on choosing the right mattress for you and improving your sleep:

TOP TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE BEST MATTRESS FOR YOU

1. When choosing a mattress take time to think about your sleeping habits, did you know your sleep position could effect what mattress you should buy? Do you sleep on your back, front or side? Turns out sleeping on your back is the best sleeping position for your spine but if you sleep on your side like me, there is more pressure on your shoulders and hips, so you should opt for a medium/soft mattress to allow you sink in and support the natural curve of your spine, rather than a firm one.

2. When choosing your mattress you shouldn’t be afraid to put your feet up! You’d be surprised at how many people take a quick bum bounce check before purchasing, and in some cases even not at all. The advised amount of time to lie on the mattress is more than five minutes in your preferred sleep position. This will allow you to experience whether the firmness and pressure is right for you.

3. Have a partner who likes to party while they sleep is no fun. tossing and turning is a sure fire way to keep your loved one from getting that all important shut eye. The best tip is to choose a mattress that provides motion isolation, this basically means movement on one side doesn’t effect the otherside. Foam mattresses tend to be the best at this but if you get hot at night you probably want to look at buying a pocket sprung mattress like the Silentnight Mirapocket mattresses.

4. If you’re looking for a little bit of added luxury, think sleeping on a cloud effect, then look no further than picking out a Pillow Top or Box Top mattress, all have an additional layer of padding built onto the top of the mattress for added comfort, while still offering support.

5. If like me you are looking for an Eco Friendly option as well as a comfortable nights sleep then Silentnight have you covered with their Eco Comfort range. These mattress are fully recyclable and naturally fire retardant without the use of any nasty chemicals! To top it off each mattress has a unique Eco Comfort fibre layer made entirely from 150 recycled plastic bottles!

6. The average lifespan of a mattress is 10 years! Even though it seems like you’re saving pounds by eeking out a few more years, in terms of hygiene and comfort, it’s time to say goodbye and invest in a newer model. Good news is SilentNight are able to take away your old mattress for a fee and recycle it rather that you duping it in your local tip. Plus this mattress range is available for all ages, from cots to king size so it’s a win for everyone.


After rounding up Romi and testing out ALL the mattresses, I managed to take a seat with a coffee and run through our mattress needs, like a consultation of sorts.

I was especially taken by the new Eco Comfort Range that not only gives you a great nights sleep but is eco conscious and helps remove plastic from the ocean, that effectively means I’m helping the planet while I sleep. Especially as it uses 150 recycled bottles to create the fibre layer, preventing them from causing havoc to marine life and floating in our oceans

Thankfully Paul has very similar sleeping needs and quite frankly was happy for any mattress that didn’t dip in the middle, so we were very grateful to be gifted The Eco Comfort Breathe 2000, which arrived within a few weeks. Giving it a few hours to breathe I couldn’t wait to add fresh sheets and dive into bed. I’m thankful to report it is very comfortable and I’ve really noticed a reduction in how hot I get at night. Even Felix and Romi have made up excuses to hop into our bed so it’s definitely got their seal of approval, plus suddenly changing the sheets has become an exciting activity!

After understanding the time that goes into choosing the right mattress I would definitely recommend popping into your local Silent Night store, the team have a great understanding of what makes a great nights sleep and it feels like a brand you can trust, giving you a full 60 days to try the mattress at home and if it’s not right for you, you can send it back no questions.


You can find details and opening time of the new Bristol Cabot Circus showroom here.

*This post is in collaboration with Silentnight.

 I recieved a mattress and fee in exchange to an honest review of my shopping experience. 

All thoughts are 100% my own. 

HOW WELL DO YOU SLEEP? NATURAL SLEEP REMEDIES & ULTIMATE SLEEP GUIDE

Ever since the miscarriage, truth be told my sleep has been all over the place and I seem to be continuously sporting dark circles, bags and even a small suitcase under these eyes of mine. Imagine my horror as I approached the Chanel counter *insert me swooning over their product* in the hopes of a miracle cover up, only to be told that 'Darling Chanel can't fix this' and a circular finger motion that indicates the lady at the counter is not going near these bad boys. Oh how I laughed, then secretly had a little cry, being told by a relative stranger that you need sleep and water is the wake up call I needed to try and look after myself.

My sleeping habits tend to be completely erratic, some nights I'll fall into a restful slumber, others I'll struggle to drop off or most likely I'm tempted by the soft glow of the iPhone. Either way bedtime doesn't start until midnight or there after, and with a small boy to wake me in the early hours I'm not doing myself any favours.

So when Barker & Stonehouse asked me to trial some natural sleep remedies over a month as part of their Ultimate Sleep Guide I was all for it. I was sent a box of natural goodies to try once a week and feedback on how well it helped my nights. Each product was easy to use and it was interesting to see the difference each one. Here's a little weekly break down of my sleeping habits:

Week 1 - Relaxation CD
At first I found having music on after the lights went out a little strange, but once I focused on the soft wave sounds and let the melody wash over me it was very relaxing, and I found I was able to fall asleep very quickly. I didn't even wake when the music stopped! I would definitely say this is a great way to help those who struggle falling asleep.

Week 2 - Lavender Pillow Spray
It was interesting using a scent to help me sleep, I didn't do as well with the lavender but I think that's due to the association I have with the smell. At first I used too much and found it quite overwhelming when using it on my pillow, which meant I was struggling to get comfortable, however after I used a tiny amount and let it air off before bed, I did find it a little relaxing.

Week 3 - Cherry Juice
I was quite excited to try the cherry juice drink as I love cherries and I know the health benefits of this super food and how it supports healthy sleep. I found it very easy to use, I mean who doesn't like a fruit drink? Although I can't say it helped me fall asleep quicker, I certainly felt rested on waking, which in turn made me feel good throughout the day. I'm pretty sure this was doing some good but it didn't help me relax and switch off.

Week 4 - Hot Bath
This was probably the most effective at getting me to drop off quickly. I'm normally a shower person, using it to wake up in the morning. Using a hot bath with candles at night meant I got my body into a good night time routine and I found myself relaxing as the evening drew near. It did make me feel super sleepy and ready for bed, and I found I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

Overall it was interesting to see the part each natural remedy played in having a healthy nights sleep. For me I think having a routine which allows me to switch of mentally plays an important role, plus being in bed at a reasonable time rather than my usual 1.30am habit.

I always forget how important sleep is, aiding your body and brain to reset itself for a new day and process the 24 hours just gone. It effects everything from your weight, skin, concentration levels, moods...to be honest I'm surprised I've managed to function this long without a good rest. Thankfully taking part in this campaign has really helped me see the importance in switching off and taking care of myself.

How well do you sleep? Do you think natural remedies might help you drift off?

LET'S HIBERNATE // WINTER SLEEP TIPS

Is it just me or is anyone else's bedroom replicating the inside of Santa's grotto? With boxes piled high on wardrobes, bags sticking out from under the bed and with the arrival of a massive tree, furniture from the lounge has migrated its way into our junkroom bedroom making all feel rather cluttered.

This is the only part of the festive season that gets me in a grump, as much as I am never that organised, a super cluttered room full of things that don't belong there means I never feel like I've fully rested, even after some much needed beauty sleep.

So as usual I've been turning to my beloved Pinterest for bedroom interior inspiration in the hopes that something might spur me into a tidying frenzy. I love some of these spaces, so clam, cosy and light *sigh*.

Click to read more.

NEXT HOME & GARDEN EVENT AND SUPER SLEEP ADVICE

Last week we were invited along to the Next Home and Garden store at Cribbs Causeway Bristol, the first of its type to be launched in the UK, with the promise of a sleep expert and a world of super comfy bed options. We jumped at the chance hoping to gain insight into a more restful nights sleep and headed over to the first Next Bedshop, allowing customers to browse the largest range of bed and mattresses on offer in any Next store.

In typical style we were running late and arrived slightly soggy from the rain, but thankfully we were greeted with a hot drink and got cosy on a pocket sprung mattress ready to be filled with the secrets of sleep from author Sammy Margo of The Good Sleep Guide. F and Wilf played on the floor with their cars as I listened to the do's and don'ts checklist, making a mental note that literally everything in our room was aiding and abetting total sleep fail, and consequently adding to the designer black bags I've got going on under these eyes of mine. So here is some advice from the expert: