When a lot of people shop for mattresses with their significant other, they each lie down on the mattress for a few minutes and decide whether it's comfortable or not comfortable. If the mattress is comfortable, the couple might buy it. If it's not very comfortable, the couple will try additional mattresses until finding the right one. While this approach is common, it's not the best way to shop for a mattress because it's overlooking the movements that you make during the night. Few people lie down in bed and remain in that position for the entire night. Instead, people frequently make movements that may jiggle the mattress and wake up their partner. The best mattresses limit the transfer of motion from one side to the other, so assess each mattress you're considering through these movements.
Rolling From Side To Side
A lot of people roll from side to side multiple times overnight, both when they're asleep and when they're awake. You don't want this frequent movement to disrupt your significant other's sleep — nor do you want his or her lateral movements to disturb you. Take turns rolling from your left side onto your right side, and vice versa. Your significant other can assess how much movement he or she feels in the mattress while you make this movement and then switch roles.
Sliding Up And Down
Another movement that can potentially have an impact on your significant other is when you slide up or down on the mattress. For example, if you wake up in the middle of the night and find that you're jammed against the headboard, you might correct this position by sliding down toward the foot of the bed until you're in a proper position. Similarly, if you move to the end of the bed unknowingly while you sleep, you might adjust your position so that your feet aren't hanging off the end of the mattress. These are both movements to practice to note how much motion transfer the mattress allows.
Getting Up
People often get up to use the bathroom during the night, so this is another movement to test out with your significant other. The best mattresses allow you to swing your legs over the edge, sit on the edge briefly, and then stand up — all without creating enough of a motion transfer to rouse your partner. Take turns getting up out of bed and then getting back into bed while the other person notices how much movement this activity creates. When you find a mattress that is comfortable and allows for minimal motion transfer, you've likely found the right one to buy.