Mattress Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===Bladder mattresses=== Mattresses can also be made from [[Bladder|bladders]] of some fluid, notably water or air. These date to antiquity β goatskin bladders filled with water were used in Persia at least as early as 3600 BCE β and gained increased popularity in the 20th century with improved manufacturing. ; [[Air mattress]]: Air mattresses use one or more air chambers instead of springs to provide support. Quality and price can range from inexpensive ones used occasionally for camping, to high-end luxury beds. Air mattresses designed for typical bedroom use cost about the same as inner-spring mattresses with comparable features. Air bladder construction varies from a simple polyethylene bag to internally baffled, multiple chambers of [[latex]] (vulcanized rubber) or [[vinyl (fabric)|vinyl]] with bonded cotton exteriors.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://bedtimesmagazine.com/2006/06/whats-in-the-air/|title=What's in the air? {{!}} BedTimes|last=Nelles|first=Barbara|website=bedtimesmagazine.com|access-date=2016-03-08|date=June 2006|archive-date=2016-03-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301045755/http://bedtimesmagazine.com/2006/06/whats-in-the-air/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Mattresses may have a layer of foam above the air chambers for added cushioning, and may be enclosed in a cover. Some such beds are termed soft-sided air beds. Permanent use adjustable-firmness "airbeds" became popular particularly after market leader [[Select Comfort]] began a major marketing campaign around 2001.<ref name=":1" /> The original airbed was manufactured by Comfortaire in 1981, which was later purchased by Select Comfort. There are several other manufacturers. Some allow independent adjustment of each side of the bed. They are made in a variety of models from basic, no-frills ones that measure about 7β³ in height, to high-profile, 15β³ tall hybrids that contain several types of foam, pillow tops, and digital pumps with memory for individual pressure settings. Studies suggest that adjustable-firmness beds are better for back pain.<ref name=":2" /> Adjustable-firmness mattresses for medical use have special control mechanisms. In the 1990s self-adjusting air beds that automatically change their pressure periodically, or inflate and deflate several air chambers alternately, were introduced. The intention of these periodic changes is to reduce problems with decubitus ulcers ([[Bedsore|bed sores]]), though {{As of|2008|lc=on}} the effectiveness of these techniques was still being researched.<ref>[http://www.journalofnursingstudies.com/article/S0020-7489%2807%2900166-6/abstract Alternating pressure air mattresses as prevention for pressure ulcers: A literature review] International Journal of Nursing Studies, Volume 45, Issue 5, Pages 784-801 (May 2008)</ref> Air mattresses for camping are available which are filled with foam which itself provides little support, but expands when the air valve is opened allowing air to enter, so the mattress (nearly) inflates by itself. This is especially useful for campers who carry their equipment as, unlike with normal air mattresses, no pump is needed for inflating. Available brands include Aerobed, Coleman, [[Therm-a-Rest]] and others. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission advises consumers not to let infants sleep on air mattresses. This is motivated by reports of deaths, mostly infants younger than 8 months of age, who were placed to sleep on air mattresses, and either suffocated in a face down position on an air mattress or died due to suffocation after falling into gaps between the mattress and bed frame, or the mattress and adjacent furniture or wall.<ref>[https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo50325 Air Mattresses are Not for Infants.] Bethesda, MD: [[U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission]], 2012.</ref> ; [[Waterbed]]s: A waterbed is a mattress with water in its interior instead of metal coils or air. Waterbeds can be lined with different layers of fiber to achieve the level of firmness the user desires. Waterbeds are well known for providing support to the spine and other body parts, similar to the other mattress types. There are several options of support which range up to 100% waveless, where the user does not notice that they are lying upon a waterbed. Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page