As we've learned, many elements come into play when it comes to shopping for the right mattress. And as previously mentioned, while the construction of a mattress is highly important, your personal sleeping style, or position, is also a determining factor in what makes a good mattress for you personally. We take a closer look here at the mattresses that cater to your specific sleeping style. *NOTE: While "Sleep Number" adjustable beds and high-end memory foam mattresses can deftly fit any sleep style with focused support, we've found that these are not the most budget-friendly choices. So we're keeping our recommendations to conventional mattresses in this buying guide.The most common sleeping style, side sleepers require a mattress that doesn't put stress on their shoulders and hips and instead relieves pressure from those body parts. This usually means a mattress that is slightly softer is a good option because it allows the sleeper's body to sink just a little into the mattress.
A slightly softer mattress is also good because it accommodates the body's natural curve and keeps the spine aligned. Our mattress pick: Simmons Beautyrest Classic pocketed coil mattress.For people who sleep in this style, support for the lower back is crucial. Therefore, it's best to avoid very stiff spring mattresses since they have a tendency to push against the spine and not provide the correct curvy support. At the same time, a mattress that is too soft will not give enough support to the body and the back. A medium-firm mattress is a good choice. Our mattress pick: Laura Ashley Aurora Collection innerspring mattress.This sleeping style requires a firmer and stiffer mattress that keeps the body afloat instead of sunken. Many stomach sleepers may suffer from lower back pain, which has prompted them to this sleeping style where spine alignment is at its most minimal. Our mattress pick: Serta/Perfect Sleeper innerspring mattress. Combination of all Styles. Typically most people fall into this sleeping style category where it's a combination of all of the above, which means that there's a lot of movement in bed.
For this style, it's important to pick a mattress that is personally suitable to you for your comforts -- one that's not too stiff for your side sleeping and not too soft when you turn on your stomach. But in general, it's been said that combination sleepers have found mattresses with innerspring pocket coils or those made from latex foam to be highly comfortable. Our mattress pick: Sealy latex foam mattress. What have you found to be the mattress that works best for your sleeping style? Let us know in comments.Sleepopolis is supported by readers. Product links on Sleepopolis are referral links. If you use one of these and buy something Sleepopolis makes a little bit of money. See how it all works here. For many people, sleeping on their stomach is considered the best sleeping position, despite the fact that it can also be the most harmful. For this guide we’re not going to debate the pros and cons of stomach sleeping (we’ll save that for another time), but instead we’ll focus on helping to ensure you get the very best sleep possible on your stomach.
So without any further adieu let’s dive into the best mattresses for stomach sleepers! Want to see the full list of recommendations for stomach sleepers? Click here to jump down to the summary. Stomach sleepers go to bed night after night in one of the worst sleeping positions for your body. That being said, the proper mattress and pillow can help to overcome the negative effects of stomach sleeping. Proper support for your back, a medium to slight firmer feel, and choosing the right pillow are essential to getting a good night’s rest on your belly. A mattress with these traits will provide your body with the support it needs to sleep through the night and wake feeling refreshed and pain free. When sleeping on your stomach, getting the proper support helps to promote a restful night’s sleep and is critical due to the amount of pressure that is localized at your body’s midsection. Be sure to consider the following key characteristics when shopping for your new mattress.
For stomach sleepers, support may be the number one concern. Whether you realize it or not, your mid-section carries an intense amount of pressure and weight throughout the day. When you sleep on your stomach, that pressure continues to build up in your torso and that pressure can not only lead to a restless night’s sleep, but also prolonged back pain. In order to prevent that discomfort, look for a mattress that has great support. Foam mattresses are well known for their consistent support through layers of responsive and pressure relieving foam that conform to the natural curves of your body. Spring or hybrid mattresses can also a good fit provided they have adequate support, contouring hug, and an appropriate level of firmness (see below). Stomach sleepers keep a very flat profile which results in fewer gaps between your body and the mattress. The best mattress for stomach sleepers should be on the medium to slightly firmer side, around a 4-7 on the firmness scale (where 10 is the most firm).
A medium to slightly firm mattress keeps your back from arching and causing stiffness. By comparison, a mattress that is too soft will cause your pelvis to sink down, resulting in the misalignment of your spine. This may cause you to wake with lower back pain or pain elsewhere. This pain can be nagging and reoccurring if you don’t have an appropriate firmness level to help keep your body in alignment. In the population of stomach sleepers, there are many that prefer soft mattresses. If you find yourself in this category, look for a mattress that has either 1) highly advanced foam or other materials that provide both softness and support (some advanced foams do this) or 2) a mattress that has a thin, but soft foam or pillow-top type layer (mattresses with traditional padded covers can provide this, while still offering the support needed). The right level of firmness is perhaps the most critical factor for stomach sleepers. With the right firmness level you’ll eliminate and prevent many back issues.
However, even a firmness level that is just slightly wrong can cause significant pains. I’m a stomach sleeper and my body tends to prefer a firmness of 4-6 out of 10. I’ve tested numerous mattresses that are slightly softer (3-3.5 out of 10) and slightly firmer (7 out of 10). In both of these scenarios I awake with back pain. It’s common for shoppers to put a lot of effort into selecting the right mattress, so why not put the same about of attention into choosing the right pillow? While there are many different styles and densities of pillows, stomach sleepers do best with flatter pillows. Unlike back and side sleepers, which need more and a different type of support, stomach sleepers require pillows that help keep the body as flat as possible. Because your body lays so flat against the mattress, it’s important to use a pillow that continues that position from your head to your feet. An overstuffed pillow can elevate the head too much and cause pressure points or spinal misalignment in your neck.
As a stomach sleeper myself I know the importance of a proper pillow. Pillows for me tend to be very good or very bad (not much middle ground). The vast majority of the time the attribute that makes them a bad pillow for a stomach sleeper is simply the height. Other important pillow factors for stomach sleepers include: moldability, huggability, and cooling. If you’re on the hunt for a new pillow I would highly recommend the Nest Easy Breather pillow. It is leaps and bounds better than any other pillow I have tested to date in terms of meeting the needs of stomach sleepers. It’s a type of shredded foam pillow (noodled foam) that comes in latex and memory foam version (they feel basically the same). Additionally, it’s fully adjustable, so you can make it the exact height you need. Balanced feel, good bounce / hug, great support. Simple design, but great feel. Slightly firm feel at a 7 out of 10 firmness.$799 Great support, balanced hug, very good cooling. Best in the medium for stomach sleepers (available in 3 firmness levels).