National Bed Month is observed in March every year throughout the U.K. This awareness event was founded by the National Sleep Council and the National Bed Federation in the U.K. to promote the benefits of good sleep. Throughout the month, the event aims to encourage people to sleep better and advise them how to do so, by getting the right amount of sleep, for example. Besides the importance of sleep itself, the month is also intended to raise awareness about the importance of a quality bed and how it contributes to ensuring a proper night’s sleep.
History of National Bed Month (U.K.)
National Bed Month is observed in March every year throughout the U.K. This month was instituted by The Sleep Council, U.K., and the National Bed Federation to raise awareness around the importance of sleep.
Sleep is an essential need for human beings, like food and water. It’s a naturally occurring state where the mind and body rest and achieve a state of altered consciousness with decreased reaction to stimuli and muscle activity. Since most people sleep on beds and mattresses, the quality of the beds and mattresses is essential to a good night’s rest. Poor quality beds can cause sleeplessness, emit dangerous and toxic fumes, or trap dust and debris, causing illness.
Beds need to be picked or made to suit the people who will be sleeping in them. The bed frame itself must be a few inches longer than the tallest person. For two people, the ideal width of the bed is between 53 to 79 inches. This ensures that both people have sufficient room to wriggle and will not disturb each other if they move in their sleep.
Mattresses need to be changed every seven years or so, or as soon as they show signs of wear and tear like sagging, mildew, and stains. The type of mattress depends on how people sleep. Side sleepers could do with a soft to firm mattress that won’t pinch any nerves.
To maintain and care for the mattress, it is important to use a mattress protector and rotate the mattress every six months to ensure that there’s no sagging.
National Bed Month (U.K.) timeline
The oldest bedding in the world is discovered and is recorded as being grass bedding made over 200,000 years ago.
As wealth increases, people in Europe begin constructing wooden bedsteads that are often elaborately carved.
With the changing fashions in bedding, feather pillows are introduced to Germany from France in the 18th century.
James Marshall introduces the first mattresses that have individually wrapped pocketed coils, which come to be known as spring coil mattresses.
National Bed Month (U.K.) FAQs
What does N.B.F. approved mean?
N.B.F. approved refers to the seal of approval by the National Bed Federation that guarantees that the mattress is built to safety standards and is of good quality.
Do mattresses have fire labels?
The U.K. safety specification requires fire labels to be sewn onto mattresses.
Is pillow-top or plush softer?
Pillow-top mattresses are softer than plush-top mattresses.
National Bed Month (U.K.) Activities
Talk about the importance of sleep
An important part of observing National Bed Month is discussing why sleep is important, and why good beds are necessary. Many people forgo sleep for work which may lead to the deterioration of their health.
Get a new mattress
Most people don’t give their mattress a second thought from the day they buy it. Try to keep in mind the year you bought it and see that it gets replaced at least every seven years.
Clean your bed
Because we spend a lot of time in our beds, we need to ensure that it is kept clean. Wipe down your bed frame, spot clean and vacuum your mattress, and change your sheets regularly to ensure good sleep.
5 Facts About Beds That You Probably Didn’t Know
Beds deteriorate significantly in seven years
In seven years, a bed could have deteriorated as much as 70% from its original condition.
We spend lots of time in bed
In seven years, an average person would have spent upwards of 20,000 hours in bed.
There was a century of beds
The 17th century was known as the century of magnificent beds with elaborate and sumptuous beds being constructed for and owned by royalty and nobility in Europe.
The largest bed is 11 feet long
One of the largest beds in the world, the Great Bed of Ware is 11 feet long, and about 10 feet wide.
There’s a convertible piano bed
Made in 1865, the bed was designed to fold into an upright piano, as a space-saving measure.
Why We Love National Bed Month (U.K.)
We love sleeping in
We love getting some extra Zs and we think this is an opportunity to sleep in. We want to get some extra sleep while we can.
We want to discuss sleep
Most people don’t give sleep enough importance and would rather spend their time working. We want to talk about the importance of sleep so more people can get the rest they need for optimum health.
We want a good mattress
We think mattresses are underrated and not enough people focus on getting good ones. We know a good mattress can make all the difference, so we want to take this opportunity to buy quality.
National Bed Month (U.K.) dates