by The term air bed refers to a sort of inflatable mattress that can be used indoors or outdoors. They’re often made of polyvinyl chloride or PVC for short, and they date back to the 19th century. Air beds are very popular because they can add extra sleeping space to your house for guests and can also be used for medical reasons, including relieving back pain. Read on and start implementing these air bed long-term use tips and tricks, today.
To use an air bed long-term, use a mattress topper for added comfort, place the air bed on a soft surface to avoid puncturing, elevate the air bed off the ground, add a headboard to create the effect of a real bed, and adjust the air bed firmness for maximum comfort.
An air bed that can be used both indoors and outdoors. Source: Amazon.Benefits Of Sleeping On An Air Bed
It may be surprising to know that sleeping on an air bed can be beneficial to one’s health and physical wellbeing.
The benefits of sleeping on an air bed are that they relieve and prevent back pain, improve circulation, and control bedsores.
Unlike memory foam or innerspring mattresses, air beds provide a firm, flat surface that can keep your body in the best sleeping position for a better night’s sleep. When a regular mattress sags, it can agitate your spine, resulting in back pain. The only way to fix this is by replacing the whole mattress.
However, an air bed can be inflated regularly, keeping it firm to prevent or relieve back pain. This is because an air bed allows for better spinal alignment which relieves back pain and can even prevent it from happening in the first place. With an air bed, you can adjust its rigidity to meet your needs.
Air beds can also improve blood circulation while sleeping. You can purchase certain air beds that alter pressure points, improving blood circulation while you are sleeping even if you’re not moving. According to this article from Avacaremedical, air beds can control bedsores when a patient is unable to move while sleeping. They keep the body in motion by alternating pressure points.
To learn more, check out our article on the benefits of an air bed.
Is Sleeping On An Air Bed Harmful?
Despite the benefits mentioned before, sleeping on an air bed can actually be harmful in some cases.
Sleeping on an airbed can be harmful to infants under 15 months old, if a person’s temperature needs to be regulated, or if the airbed is of inferior quality.
According to this article Public Health Post, a study shows the direct correlation between air beds and infant death. According to the Customer Product Safety Commission, placing infants who are 15 months or younger on inflatable mattresses can cause them to suffocate while sleeping. The study shows that there were 108 infant deaths due to suffocation on air beds between 2004 and 2005. Thus, it’s not advisable to use an air bed for infants who are under 15 months old. For those over 15 months old, air mattresses can be used but with caution.
Air beds have low-temperature regulation because of the synthetic materials they’re made from, like vinyl. They don’t regulate heat well, causing you to perspire heavily at night. With regular use, this can be harmful to your skin. According to this study, which investigates the effects of air beds on bed climate and sleep, air mattresses cause higher humidity and do not regulate temperature as well as futons do.
An air bed that is of inferior quality won’t provide enough support to keep your body in a healthy position for sleeping. This may cause incorrect spinal alignment and result in back pain. A poor-quality air bed could be softer and might lack an adjustable inflation level feature which could lead to bad quality sleep, especially with long-term use. Even with a high-quality air bed, if you can’t adjust the firmness of the air bed, it won’t give you enough support and could be harmful to your back.
How Does Long-Term Use Affect An Air Bed?
If you use, or are planning to use, an air bed for an extended period of time, there are a few simple things that you can do to make sure that you get the optimum use out of it.
Long-term use of an air bed can cause it to deflate faster, put unnecessary pressure on the seams if inflated and deflated regularly, and pose a higher risk of puncturing.
Using your air bed regularly for a long time will cause it to deflate faster. You can fix this by inflating your air bed regularly. Use the built-in pump, if available, or any type of external air pump to fill your mattress until it’s as firm as you want it. If you don’t have a pump, you can try using a vacuum cleaner in reverse, or a hairdryer on its coldest setting. If you want more tips to fix an air bed that deflates overnight, check out our article.
Though it’s very easy to re-inflate an air bed, the long-term inflating and deflating of an air bed puts pressure on the seams, which can damage it over time. Deflate the air bed as little as possible to keep it in good condition over a long period of time. If your air bed valve does break, this step-by-step guide to air bed valve replacement could be helpful.
Long-term use of air beds can also make them more exposed to punctures. This is common because they’re easy to pop with a sharp object. Store your air bed in a place away from anything sharp that could pop it. You also want to make sure you choose a heavy-duty air mattress that can hold a lot of weight. Take a look at how to choose an air bed that holds 400 pounds or more for additional information.
Additionally, did you know that you can replace an air bed bladder? Be sure to read our article that explains how to replace an air bed bladder for all of the information.
Tips For Sleeping On An Air Mattress Long-Term
It is possible to use an air bed long-term as though it were an actual bed, by following these tips:
To sleep on an air bed long term, use a mattress topper for added comfort, place the air bed on a soft surface to avoid puncturing, elevate the air bed off the ground, add a headboard to create the effect of a real bed, and adjust the air bed firmness for maximum comfort.
Tip 1. Use A Mattress Topper to Make the Air Bed More Comfortable
Adding a mattress topper can make your air bed much more comfortable and keep you relaxed while sleeping. Toppers are usually made of foam and other supportive materials, so they can reduce the pressure on your back and provide more comfort while you sleep. Mattress toppers are a clever solution to avoid excessive perspiration on summer nights. They create an effective barrier between your body and the surface of the bed, keeping you cooler. For more tips on using a mattress topper for your air bed, check out our article.
A mattress topper can make your air bed much more comfortable. Source: Amazon.comTip 2. Place the Air Bed On A Soft Surface to Protect It from Getting Punctured
One of the best ways to protect your air bed from getting punctured is to place it on a soft surface. Air beds can be punctured easily if they are exposed to any sharp objects. You can simply place a mat or a rug under your air bed. This tip also reduces any squeaky noises the air bed makes when it’s placed directly on the floor, which can be irritating for some people.
Placing your air bed on a rug or mat protects it from sharp objects and reduces the noise caused by movement, giving you a better night’s sleep. Source: BestwayIf you’re worried about your air bed getting punctured, you might also be interested in learning how to choose between an air bed vs. memory foam mattress for camping as well. Even if you’re not using the air mattress for camping, there may be some useful information for you.
Tip 3. Elevate The Mattress Off the Ground
You could sleep better on an air bed by elevating it off the ground can help. The easiest way to do this is just to rest it on a box spring mattress. This makes it easier to get in and out of bed. The lower your bed is, the more pressure will be put on your knees, which can cause knee pain. Also, using a boxspring makes an air mattress feel more like a regular bed. This can make you more comfortable while sleeping and allow you to keep an air bed as an alternative to a real bed.
Tip 4. Create a Headboard to Make it Look and Feel like a Real Bed
If you want to use your air bed long-term, you should make it look like a real bed. One of the things you can do is to create a headboard for it. A headboard helps to create a cozy ambiance and adds a personal touch. You can do a couple of things to create a headboard. The easiest is to just use the wall. Place your mattress near a wall and use pillows to create a comfortable area to sit up or lean against You can also get a built-in headboard upholstered in soft materials that can be even more comfortable.
A headboard can be created to be used with an air bed to give it the appearance of a real bed. Source: Pinterest.com Tip 5. Adjust the Air Bed’s Firmness to What Works Best for Your Body
The best thing you can do to keep your air bed as comfortable as possible is to adjust the firmness of the bed. A very firm bed can be as bad as a very soft one. You need to adjust your air bed to what works best for your body. Check out which problems bother you in the chart below and look for the corresponding solution.
| Air Bed Problem | Solution |
| Deflating Easily | Inflate the air bed regularly to keep it firm and flat according to your sleeping position and preferences. |
| Too Soft | Use an external pump or the built-in pump if available, to adjust the inflation level of your air bed. Keep testing it until you find the perfect firmness for you to sleep on. |
| Low-Temperature Regulation | Use a mattress topper to create a barrier between your body and the surface of the air bed. You can also use cotton sheets or blankets. |
| Vulnerable to Puncture | Place it on a soft surface and make sure to remove any sharp object around it during inflation. You can use a mat or a rug. |
If you’re going to be using your air bed more permanently, you might also be interested in these tips to fix an air bed that is cold as well. Additionally, be sure to take a look at our air bed price guide so you know what you’re getting yourself into.
How To Make An Air Mattress Look Like A Real Bed
Some people prefer using air beds for the long term instead of a regular bed. However, they still want to maintain the atmosphere in a bedroom that a real bed would. It is possible for you to make your mattress look like a real bed by creating a headboard, placing it on a box spring, and by adding a mattress topper. All of these ideas were already discussed and are easy to implement.
It is possible to make an air mattress look like a real bed by incorporating a headboard, placing it on top of a box spring, and adding a mattress topper.
Air Bed Hacks for Added Comfort
Air beds are very practical to use both indoors and outdoors. You can use the following hacks to help make your air mattress even more comfortable.
Some practical air bed hacks for increased comfort include warming the air bed with insulating material during winter, cooling the air bed with cotton sheets during summer, and using DIY techniques to patch up an air bed when it is leaking overnight.
Hack 1. Make Your Air Bed Warmer
Air beds are more likely to keep you colder on winter days. Use an insulating material on the surface of your air bed to keep it warmer. For example, use a blanket or a sleeping bag to form a barrier between yourself and the air bed. This will also make you more comfortable.
You can use a sleeping bag by spreading it on your air mattress to make it warmer. Source: Flawlesssleep.comHack 2. Make Your Air Bed Cooler
The material of the sheets you use on your air bed can keep it either warm or cool. To keep your air mattress cooler, use cotton sheets. Cotton can absorb moisture and perspiration without absorbing body heat. This can keep your bed cooler during the night.
Cotton sheets help regulate your temperature, keeping you cooler. Image from AmazonHack 3. Make Small Repairs Yourself!
If your air bed gets punctured, don’t worry! You can make small repairs yourself using affordable repair kits which are available on Amazon. It won’t take much time and you don’t need a specialist to help you. You can also use duct tape to repair any puncturing. You will also be interested in learning how to deflate an air bed properly for storage. So make sure to check out that article too.
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Key Takeaways
- Maximize Comfort: Use a mattress topper to enhance the comfort of the air bed, which also aids in reducing excessive perspiration during warmer nights.
- Puncture Prevention: Placing the air bed on a soft surface like a rug or mat helps in preventing punctures and also minimizes noise caused by movement.
- Elevation: Elevate the air bed off the ground by resting it on a box spring mattress to ease getting in and out of bed, and to mimic the feel of a real bed.
- Create a Headboard: Adding a headboard gives the air bed a real bed look and feel, providing a cozy ambiance and personal touch to the setup.
- Firmness Adjustment: Adjusting the firmness of the air bed to suit your body ensures a comfortable sleep, preventing back pains and other discomforts.
- Temperature Regulation: Utilize insulating materials to warm the air bed during winter and cotton sheets to keep it cool during summer for a more comfortable sleep.
- DIY Repairs: Small punctures can be repaired easily with affordable repair kits or duct tape, extending the lifespan of the air bed.