The memory foam mattress might be just the thing to get your bed-shy little boy into the sack at night after you tell him he's sleeping like an astronaut!

Memory foam mattresses are made from a material developed by NASA to increase the comfort of astronauts against the g-force during take-off. Sensitive to heat and weight, the foam molds to the shape of the body, providing perfect support to the body while it sleeps. It is called visco elastic foam – having viscous (liquid-like) properties that leave you with a feeling of weightlessness.

You might ask why this is so important. Sleeping on a firm, flat surface can put pressure on the joints and bones, making you more prone to tossing and turning in your sleep. Some body parts may be lying at an unnatural angle, meaning you wake in the morning with aching muscles and feeling unrested. Likewise if your mattress is too soft. A memory foam mattress is intended to stop all of that and ensure a good, deep sleep. It is said that the sleeping position on a memory foam mattress can even help alleviate the symptoms of conditions such as arthritis.

You may have that old problem where your partner prefers a different type of mattress to you. If that's the case, a memory foam mattress can be custom made to provide two entirely different sleeping areas so that you are both comfortable. You can also forget rolling together in the middle of the bed, as the nature of a foam mattress prevents the bounce which causes the roll - it slowly expands back to it's original state when the body moves off it, rather than springing back into place.

You might become overwhelmed by the choice in looking for a memory foam mattress. Two well recommended brands are Tempur-Pedic and Sleep-Aid. Both come with air ventilation systems to aid proper breathing and heat distribution throughout the mattress. If you can try out the mattress before purchase, do so. If not, look for the policy which will allow you to return the mattress if it does not suit you.