Soft Side Waterbed Information

Foam Side Rails

• Resembling a conventional innerspring mattress, the softside waterbed comes in all the standard bed sizes. This type of waterbed includes a cover with foam side rails that hold the mattress in place. These foam rails give stability and shape to the water bladder and provide edge support similar to an innerspring mattress. Most quality foam rails are thinner at the top and wider at the bottom and weigh at least 2 lbs.

Water Bladders

• The water bladders are the actual "mattress" of the softside waterbed and provide the standard sleep flotation of a conventional waterbed. These bladders come in one or more sections or in a tubular format. Within the bladders are fibers known as baffling that control the water's movement. The extent of the baffling is dependent on the type of water bladder, with more baffling needed for a single bladder that covers the entire mattress.

Covering

• The mattress covering on a softside waterbed is entirely different than for the conventional waterbed, where you're lying directly on the water bladder or bag. Softside covers are made with upholstery in a variety of materials such as latex foam, cotton or memory foam. To maintain the basic principle of a waterbed, the covering is generally no thicker than 4 inches, which maintains the waterbed's flotation aspect.

Heater

• Although waterbed heaters are optional, they are recommended. The bladder's room temperature water is generally not warm enough for sleeping comfort. A person's skin temperature is usually about 86 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the recommended temperature for a softside waterbed.

Foundation

• Even though the softside waterbed resembles an innerspring mattress, the box spring foundation that accompanies an innerspring doesn't provide enough support for the waterbed's weight. A softside waterbed needs a firm foundation such as a wooden base with center cross beams. Foundations such as this are covered in the same material as the softside mattress, to make a matched set.