What Is The Best Mattress For A Stomach Sleeper?

What Is The Best Mattress For A Stomach Sleeper?

Are you a stomach sleeper? If you’re nodding along, are you also waking up in pain?

Still nodding along? The culprit could be your mattress. As a stomach sleeper, you’re putting a lot of strain on your neck and back, which can cause pain anywhere from your neck right down to your lower back. It’s harder to keep your body in line if you’re not sleeping on the right mattress, because without the right support, your hips can really dip down as they take your body weight. This puts your back out of line.

By now you will be wanting to find out: what is the best mattress for a stomach sleeper?

I’ll take you through some mattress basics, so you’re armed with the information you need to know about buying a mattress as a stomach sleeper. I’ll also point you towards some further reading about mattresses I think could be a great match for you and your needs.

BUT FIRST:

This short video from The Sleep Foundation goes into a bit more detail about the most common sleeping positions. Sleeping on your stomach is discussed last.

What Does A Stomach Sleeper Need From A Mattress?

In general, stomach sleepers need a mattress that is firmer than all other sleepers. This is because sleeping on your stomach puts a lot of pressure through your hips, which can make your lower spine dip. A firm mattress will stop this dipping and help you keep your back in a better position. I  recommend you search for mattresses that are rated at least 7 out of 10 on the mattress firmness scale (1 is feather soft and 10 is rock hard, 6-7 is considered medium firm).

If you are a heavier person, you may need an even firmer mattress. Here is a link to an article with more specifics on what heavier people need from a mattress. Here is a link to a detailed review of mattresses designed with heavier people in mind, one of which is rated 9 out of 10 for firmness.

How’s that different from what other people need?

• Side sleepers put a lot of pressure through their shoulders and hips when they sleep. They need a mattress that is going to yield to the pressure going through those two points. This means side sleepers need a softer mattress than back sleepers. If a side sleeper sleeps on a firm mattress, they can experience shoulder pain or a numb arm. You can read my article about sleeping on your side here for more information.
• Back sleepers distribute their weight the most evenly of all the sleeping positions. They need a mattress firmer than side sleepers but not as firm as stomach sleepers. This generally provides the best support for their spine. You can read my article about sleeping on your back here for more information.

What Is The Best Mattress For A Stomach Sleeper?

Like I have said in every article I have written for sleeping in every position, there is not going to be one answer that is best for YOU as the individual customer. There are some mattresses I recommend for a wider range of people, and some I only recommend for a very small group of people. In this part of the article I’ll cover some general requirements you have as a stomach sleeper, and recommend a few mattresses for you to go and read more about.

There are a variety of mattress materials and prices available in the market today, you are spoilt for choice! I will run through the materials so you can decide which one you might like best, but you will want to make sure of these basics when making your choice:

• high quality materials, including a comfort layer that is at least 3 inches thick
• the right firmness level for your needs
• a sleep trial of at least 100 nights (this gives you precious, risk free time to test drive the mattress)
• a warranty of at least 10 years

What about material type? I do not believe there is one particular material that is better for stomach sleepers than others. It comes down to personal preference. Some people love the hug and slow, conforming sink memory foam provides, others like the bounciness of latex. If you were to ask me for my personal opinion, I would say latex or a hybrid containing latex, purely because its really durable and responsive to weight.

• Latex: natural latex is durable, non toxic, and should be sustainably sourced. Latex is known for its ultra responsiveness to pressure, and bouncy feel. It is naturally good at dissipating body heat.
  • One of my favorite all latex mattresses is the Pure Green Mattress, by Sleep on Latex. Sleep on Latex also make an incredibly popular latex mattress topper, which is available in a firm option.
• Foam: there are a variety of foam options available. Memory foam is hugely popular, and many companies have created their own foams which are pretty much memory foams, but they will call them “proprietary foams”. Memory foam has a slower response to weight than latex, which creates that well known memory foam “hug”. Memory foam is not inherently good at dissipating body heat, but technologies such as gel infusions and ventilation systems have made newer memory foams perform a lot better in this regard. Keep in mind as a stomach sleeper you are more likely than other sleeping positions to feel hot on a mattress as you are putting more body surface area on the mattress.
  • One of my favorite memory foam mattresses is the Snuggle-Pedic, because it can be fully customized to the exact needs of the customer (for no extra charge).
• Hybrid: a hybrid mattress will have a pocket coil support system and a comfort layer made up of either latex and/or memory foam. A hybrid would be an excellent option for you because the springs offer great support, and you can still try out memory foam with less chance of sleeping hot (because air can flow around the coils)
  • One of my favorite hybrid mattresses is the Avocado Green Mattress, which has latex as the comfort layer and New Zealand wool in its cover. I have actually recommended this mattress in my article about every sleeping position. If you share a bed with someone who has different sleep requirements to you and doesn’t mind a firmer feel, the Avocado is a really great option in my opinion.
  • One of the firmest mattresses I’ve come across is the IDLE Sleep luxury firm hybrid, which is rated a 9 out of 10 for firmness. This is a great option for stomach sleepers looking for a really firm mattress. Find out why I think it’s the best firm mattress around here.

That’s it, folks!

If you have any questions or opinions, please leave me a comment, I’d love to hear from you. If you’d like to check out more mattresses that could be a great fit for stomach sleepers, this article will really help you. It is based on the best mattresses for heavier people, but heavy people and stomach sleepers both demand the support these mattresses provide so I think it’s a good read for you. READ NOW