Everyone Had One In Their Home In The '80s — And Our Joints Are Terrified Of The Comeback

In today's day and age, the concept of a mattress filled with water can sound slightly ridiculous. However, the idea made perfect sense in the '80s since waterbeds were all the rage back then. The waterbed industry had gone from being valued at $50 million a year in 1977 to a whopping $2 billion a year in 1989 (per L.A. Times). Part of that boom could be attributed to the perceived health benefits of waterbeds. 

The invention was believed to be a game changer for those dealing with back pain since it supposedly contoured around the body to provide back support. Additionally, waterbeds were marketed as hygienic, dust-mite repellent, and well-suited for those with allergies. However, they ultimately proved to be one of the many '80s fads, as they made up for a mere 5% of the mattress market by 2013 (via Sioux City Journal). Alas, the world's love affair with waterbeds wasn't over just yet. In the 2020s, several TikTok creators began discussing waterbeds and their popularity, prompting others to look back on the experience of using one. 

While some folks appreciated how the bed's cooling effect helped them sleep better, others valued it for being sturdy and comfortable. With all this discourse, it's unsurprising that Verified Markets predicted that waterbeds might make a global comeback between 2025 and 2033, with the market size growing by 6% and reaching $1.9 billion. However, considering all the health downsides of regularly using a waterbed (such as its impact on the body's joints) and everything that happens to your body when you sleep on a bad mattress, it's probably a good idea to reconsider buying into the nostalgia. 

Speaking to Better Homes & Gardens, David Cartlidge, vice president of product innovation at Mattress Firm, said that waterbeds were mostly just good for nostalgia. "They don't provide the essential elements of a great mattress, proper support, pressure relief, and temperature regulation, all crucial for spinal alignment and restorative sleep," Cartlidge stated. Meanwhile, in a post for his website, spine surgeon Dr. Stefano Sinicropi wrote that the lack of firmness in a waterbed could also cause a person to sink too low into the mattress, which in turn could cause spinal misalignment. 

Failing to sleep in a neutral position on a waterbed could also lead to joint issues and lower back pain. Additionally, the hips and shoulders might face added pressure due to the lack of even weight distribution on a waterbed. To top it all off, the lack of lumbar support in traditional waterbeds didn't do much for the joints and back, either. 

With all of this in mind, it's great that there are plenty of different kinds of mattresses that are really great for your back. For some, sleeping on a waterbed might not be quite as comfortable because the water can sometimes slosh around, especially when another person moves around in bed, and make noises that disrupt sleep. And you could basically say goodbye to sleeping for a night if the water heater that came with the bed stopped working because the bed would become too cold to lie on. We all know that plenty of things happen to our brains when we're sleep deprived — and none of it is good.