Mattress Ruined??? What Happens If You Sleep on Your Memory Foam Mattress Before 24 Hours?

How Long to Let Your Memory Foam Mattress Expand?

The general rule is to give your new memory foam mattress 48 hours to expand and inflate to its proper size.

The real answer is not that simple. Every memory foam mattress has its unique requirements.

The following chart shows what each manufacturer recommends. Below that we go over where the 48 hours comes from and if you can immediately sleep on your new mattress.

Mattress Expansion Times For Each Manufacturer

ManufacturerTime
amerisleepCan lay on it right away but could take 8 hours for the corners to expand fully and you should wait 2 hours before putting sheets on.
BEDBOSSShould decompress in 24 hours, but let it sit for 2 hours before moving it to the bedroom.
Bedinabox“It expands in about 3 minutes” is what I got when I emailed them. This seems too fast; I would still give it a few hours to be on the safe side.
CasperCan expand and be ready to sleep on in a few minutes but keep in mind that some will take longer.
Classic BrandsAllow 24 to 72 hours for the mattress to regain its full shape. If the mattress gets to its full height, it’s ready to use.
Dreamfoam Bedding6 to 7 hours from opening.
HelixGive it 2 hours to regain its shape, and you’re done.
LaylaWill take its full shape within minutes, and you can sleep on it right away. If you’re sensitive to smell give it a few hours to air out.
LeesaMay take up to an hour to expand but give it 24 hours to fully expand and be at its best
LinenspaUp to 48 hours but they do say you can jump on it as soon as you like. If anything they say your body heat can help speed up the expansion process.
LUCIDUp to 48 hours, but if it’s fully expanded after 24 hours you can go ahead and sleep on it.
LullWill do most of the expanding in 2 to 5 hours and fully expand in 24 to 48 hours.
MLILYShould be ready in 24 hours. Walking on it while it’s on the floor can help speed up the process.
NectarBetween 24 to 72 hours to expand.
Nest BeddingYou can sleep on it right when you open it, but it can take up to 24 to 48 hours for it to fully expand.
Olee Sleeplet it expand up to 72 hours
PuffyAllow it to expand and breathe for a few hours before putting bedding on it.
Signature SleepWait at least 48 hours.
Tuft & NeedleOnly takes several hours to reach the proper specifications, but in some cases, it may take up to 5 days.
TuloAllow it to sit for an hour before using it.
Zinus48 to 72 hours to fully decompress. Zinus recommends you sleep on the mattress during this time as it helps to full up the mattress. If after a week it hasn’t expanded, please contact them.

Don’t see your mattress? Go ahead and give it a couple of hours to expand, but let me explain why.

Can You Sleep on a New Memory Foam Mattress Straight Away?

The reason why you wait 24 hours, 48 hours or 72 hours is an old saying that people keep repeating.

As shown from the chart a significant number of manufacturers report shorter times and a good bit suggest sleeping on the mattress the first night. The reason is for your constant movements, and body heat loosens the foam. The more lose the foam, the better it expands.

Where The 48 Hour Memory Foam Expansion Time Came From

The first generation of memory foam mattresses is where this wait time wives tale came from. More time was needed for older memory foam mattresses to air out there odors.

The mattresses today don’t smell as bad; I would still recommend letting them air out for a few hours to absorb the smells of its surroundings. I know it sounds odd, but it’s well worth doing.

What if my mattress says to wait a few hours? – Well, it’s better to play it safe than sorry. The people that best understand your mattress are the ones who made it.

What If Your Memory Foam Mattress Is Not Inflating?

No need to worry if your memory foam mattress is not expanding; here is what you do.

Get the mattress flat as possible on the floor. Wearing clean socks walk on the mattress. The constant moving around combined with your body heat expands the mattress. I like to think of it as a mattress massage.

After massaging the mattress place it back on the bed frame and sleep for a few nights.

Keep in mind: New mattresses are like new shoes; they need to be broken in. Over the years you have gotten used to your old mattress, so the new one is going to feel different. We tend to forget this because we only buy mattresses every decade or so.

What To Do After Your Memory Foam Mattress Has Expanded?

I mean, you spent all this money you probably want it to last as long as possible?

If you want your mattress to last, you need a mattress protector*.

Your mattress is a giant sponge, and it will soak up all the sweat, soda, dead skin and other nasty stuff you do in bed. Those liquids sit there not only making the mattress dirtier but destroying the function of the structure. It’s hard to work correctly when “waterlogged” with juices.

Plus, modern-day mattress protectors feel and look like regular bed sheets. I even have a review on the very one I use on my mattress. They’re not even that expensive either; I consider it crazy when people don’t use something so practical and affordable.

FAQ

How Long Should You Leave a Memory Foam Mattress Before Sleeping on It?

It’s best to let your memory foam mattress expand for 48 hours. If you can’t give 48 hours then allow the mattress to expand for 6 hours before sleeping on it.

What Happens If You Sleep On Your Mattress Too Soon?

If you sleep on your mattress before it’s expanded it’s not the end of the world. In fact, many mattress manufacturers recommended you sleep on it the first night because your body heat helps to expand the foam.

I would not worry about it too much. The goal is to give the mattress a few hours before you sleep on it. It can take some mattress a whole week to reach its correct size and sleeping on it won’t hurt.

It’s Been A Week And The Mattress Has Not Expanded.

If it’s been a week and the mattress has not expanded correctly then, unfortunately, you have a defective mattress.

The good news is that this is usually rare. If it’s been a week no need to keep fighting it, contact the company you bought it from to check out the return policy. If you’re curious about returns and what they do with the old mattress check this out.

If you have to return the mattress and want a new one I’ve had good luck with Zinus Green Tea Mattress.

2 thoughts on “Mattress Ruined??? What Happens If You Sleep on Your Memory Foam Mattress Before 24 Hours?”

    • To be honest, if your mattress has inflated to its correct size go ahead and sleep on it. If anything the heat of your body and moving around will help to expand it even more. The 48 hours is a “safe” number that they give out to “blanket” cover most mattresses. Most people don’t need to wait that long and most people’s mattress inflates within hours of getting it.

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