What Is The Difference Between A Natural Mattress Pad And A Topper?

Natural Mattress Pad

The natural mattress pad has become more and more popular, and it isn’t hard to see why. Not only do they make your bed more comfortable, so you can get a better night’s sleep, they can extend the life of an old mattress that you can’t quite afford to replace just yet. But there is often some confusion between a natural mattress pad, and a mattress topper. Is there any difference between the two?

The confusion is understandable! A natural mattress topper usually refers to a separate top layer for your bed that you place on top of your existing mattress. A natural mattress pad can also mean the same thing…but sometimes, it means a thin sheet or pad used to protect the mattress from stains. As such, it is also often called a mattress protector. Generally though, mattress pad and topper are used to mean the same thing.

A cotton mattress pad is usually used for protection purposes. It is sometimes also called a mattress cover. They are thin quilted covers with an elastic edge or straps, so it can fasten securely to your mattress. They are machine washable, and keep your mattress from absorbing sweat and body oils so it lasts longer. They are not, however, a way to add luxury to your bed, and will not provide any extra softness.

A natural mattress pad designed to improve the quality of your sleep will be much thicker, and made from natural latex, lambswool, alpaca wool or down or feathers. This will often be called a topper.

Wool pads/toppers are very soft and luxurious. Lambswool or an alpaca/wool blend have several advantages. Wool is naturally resistant to dust mites and other allergens, and also to mold. Although they keep you comfortable by wicking away moisture, they also dry out quickly, which adds to their anti-allergenic quality. Air pockets in wool act as insulators, so  a wool mattress pad will keep you warmer in the winter and also cooler in the summer. The only drawback is that wool tends to mat down over time, although they can usually be puffed back up with a good steam cleaning.

Natural latex, which comes from the rubber tree, is extremely durable and can last up to 20 years. Just like wool, it is anti-allergenic and does not harbor mold or dust mites. It can be more expensive to purchase, but the long lifespan may be well worth it. You can also get natural latex core pads, which have a wool or cotton cover. These have the best overall comfort level, but are also the most expensive of all natural mattress pads.

Down toppers are very luxurious, but need a good shaking out every so often because the down will clump up. Feathers tend to stay evenly distributed, and make a better choice over down…provided, of course, that you are not allergic!

So if you want to improve your sleep quality and add some luxury to your bed, a natural mattress pad that is thick (not thin) will do the trick. If it is called a protector or a cover, then it’s not what you want.