What is the Difference Between a Mattress Pad, Mattress Topper, Pillow Top, and Featherbed?
There are a variety of mattress toppers and mattress pads that you can use with your existing mattress. A mattress topper and a mattress pad are both designed to work with your mattress to increase comfort and extend the life of your mattress. Sometimes the words mattress topper and mattress pad are used interchangeably, but there are a variety of toppers and pads constructed of very different materials and designed to fill very different needs.
Unlike a pillow-top mattress, which is a mattress that cannot be flipped because of the added pillow-top feature, a mattress topper is completely separate from the mattress. Isotonic memory foam mattress toppers have become very popular in recent years. The theory behind the comfort of foam is the absence of springs and the way it molds to the body.
While many people find comfort in the molded support of foam, others prefer the softness of feather beds. Feather bed mattress toppers may be filled with synthetic down or genuine down. Like the foam mattress pad, the feather bed topper is held in place atop the mattress by the fitted sheet. Down is comforting to many sleepers because it is warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather.
Though a mattress topper and a mattress pad are frequently considered the same thing, they are actually different. A mattress pad is usually not as thick as a mattress topper and is most often made of quilted cotton or synthetic material. While a mattress pad can provide additional padding to a mattress, they are most often used to protect the mattress. Also, a mattress pad typically fits the mattress like a fitted sheet rather than just lying loose on top. Many parents use a mattress pad on their children’s beds to protect new big-kid mattresses from nighttime accidents. Mattress pads are also convenient because they can be washed in large-capacity machines.
If you are considering a mattress topper or mattress pad for your bed, you should first determine what need you want it to fill. Visit retailers who have various mattress toppers on display for testing. Many upscale department stores sell mattress pads and toppers in their white goods section and have placed them on display beds. In some cases, you can extend the life of an existing mattress by using a topper, but if your mattress is worn or non-supportive, you may have to consider purchasing a new mattress.
Written by J. Beam
