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). Gel polymer + polyfoam. Instant response, good bounce, great cooling. Pronounced sinkage / hug, great bounce. Nice softness, but backed with excellent zoned support. Good bounce, response, edges, and cooling. Available in two firmnesses (medium and luxury firm).$999 Fully customizable / personalized mattress. Can split for two different feels.$945 Coil-on-coil pillow top design. Excellent bounce, edge support, response, and cooling. Available in soft, medium, and firm.$999Mattresses For Different Sleeping PositionsSleeping on your stomach can be irritating to your neck and back due to the complete rotation of the neck to one side while in this position. not recommended that you sleep on your stomach, if you can't make the change to your side or back, keep the following in mind: Pick a mattress that is
soft enough on the surface to substitute for the lack of a pillow, as using a pillow while on your stomach will only push the neck further to a rotated andThis compression can be a source of irritation to the joints and soft tissue of the spine. Don't be fooled by all those promotions which state that firm mattresses are necessary for goodFirm mattresses work better for back sleepers than they do for side or stomach sleepers. This does not imply that a soft mattress will beA mattress that gives too much or bends inwardly will not be supportive enough for the spine. The best kind of mattress for a stomach sleeper will have a supportive density, but also have enough give to conform to the bumps and curves of the body, with a softer overlay to substitute for the lack of a pillow and provide more comfort for the muscles andA memory foam density will accomplish this the most effectivelyMemory foam is a visco-elastic, temperature sensitive polyurethane foam that has the ability to compress, but then slowly
come back to its original shape. Therefore memory foam does not place nearly the same resistance on the joints as spring, air, and other materials that bounce back more rapidly. The more memory foam heats up, the moreMemory foam mattresses are usually composed of 3 inches of the temperature sensitive visco-elastic foam, over 5 inches of regularMemory foam is usually found in 3-5lb. densities. 5lb. memory foam is more temperature sensitive, heavier, usually stiffer and bounces back more slowly (see right side below for an actual example of 5lb.4lb. memory foam will therefore be less temperature sensitive and less dense, more soft, less expensive, but also a little lessThere is a bed now that combines the two, so that the top layer is a 4lb. density and the next two inches are a 5lb. density. will give you that immediate soothing sensation, but still be a little firmer underneath for better support (see left side picture below for recommended
3-layer memory foam mattress). If your current mattress is still solid enough, you may only need a memory foam topper (center picture below). When lying on your stomach, always put a pillow wedge under one side of the pelvis and same side leg, thereby limiting the amount of rotation of upper spine. While this will still not be a perfect position, these tips should combine to keep your spine in a more correct alignment whileLeg spacers are recommended for side sleepers to help prevent torque on the spine from pelvic rotation. Stomach sleepers that want to break the habit can use a wedge like the one below to help keep you on your side, while moving with your body if you roll on your back (see picture below). Click Here to to purchase the recommended orthopedic leg spacer and memory foam mattress for your spine found at Relief-Mart (3-layer Memory foam mattress) (Memory Foam in action) Click here to purchase the recommended Memory Foam Mattresses