The Best Mattress For Stomach Sleepers
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Most experts agree that sleeping on your stomach is not recommended. In the prone position, as its known, the natural curvature of the spine is flattened or contorted. Both are a recipe for morning discomfort. And because your body is tilted slightly to the side to accommodate breathing, muscles all along your back are stretched for extended periods, putting you at risk of developing back, neck, and hip issues.
All this being said, many still prefer sleeping in this position. Sometimes its the only position that feels comfortable when you have pain or other sensitivities. Sleep habits are hard to break. As such, we knew we had to uncover the top mattresses available to stomach sleepers to ensure the most beneficial nights rest possible.
If youre one of those people on the hunt for the best mattress for stomach sleepers, there are a few things to keep in mind. Typically, a firmer mattress is best since there will be less lumbar sinkage into the mattress. In fact, using a pillow to prop up your pelvis may ease some of the strain. Most importantly, you need proper support to help maintain the angle of your spine.
What Makes A Mattress Work For Stomach Sleepers
If you regularly sleep on your stomach, you will need to look out for mattress types that promote proper back support. This is because your lower back will tend to sink as you sleep on your front. A standard mattress will allow this sinking which results in a restless nights sleep as your body works to find a more comfortable position. This means waking with ongoing continuous pain, which if left unchecked can become extremely problematic long term.
A medium to firm mattress type is, therefore, the perfect solution for a stomach sleeper as it will work to support your entire body as you sleep and relieve any pressure points, such as the hip area. Therefore, you wake pain-free each morning.
Distributes Your Weight Evenly
The mattress also needs to distribute your weight evenly over its surface. Some mattresses work for back and side sleepers, but not so much for stomach sleepers, as they can cause your midsection to sink too deeply into the mattress.
The best mattresses will have ergonomic features that support your sleep position, meaning they dynamically redistribute your weight if you move during sleep.
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Is It Bad To Sleep On Your Stomach
Even though sleeping on your stomach may feel comfortable at first, there are a few ways it may be hurting you over the long term. First, its very difficult to keep the spine in alignment when youre lying on your stomach. Especially on a softer mattress, you run the risk of having your spine bow in at the hips. This can put extra pressure on the muscles, joints, and discs. Over time, this may lead to numbness, tingling, and back pain because the pressure may wear down the cartilage around the joints .
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Second, sleeping on your stomach can cause pretty serious neck pain. When youre in this position, it forces your neck to rest at a strange angle. In order to breathe, you need to turn your neck 90 degrees to the left or right.
If youre using a thicker pillow, your neck will be angled up, taking your spine further out of alignment. Because of this discomfort, it may make you sleep poorly. You will need to reposition many times throughout the night, and this can potentially cause you to wake up over and over again.
That being said, stomach-sleeping isnt all bad. If you snore, for example, or suffer from sleep apnea, doctors may suggest that you sleep in this position. It can open the airway and allow people to get the proper amount of oxygen.
Also, if you deal with indigestion, heartburn, or other stomach issues, lying on your stomach can help.
Choosing The Right Pillow
Along with your mattress, your pillow can also affect your spinal alignment. A pillow thats too low or too high will fail to keep your head, neck, and spine aligned. Side sleepers should opt for a pillow thats as high as the space between the ears and the tip of the shoulders, and back sleepers will need a slightly thinner pillow that supports the neck without curving it too far upwards. Stomach sleepers usually need a flatter pillow, or sometimes none at all.
Some people with scoliosis relieve pressure on the spine by tucking an extra pillow between the knees when lying on the side, under the lumbar area or shoulder blades when lying on the back, or under the hips when lying on the stomach.
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Factor In Your Weight
How firm should your mattress be? That will depend on your weight. Those of average weight between 130 and 230 pounds, around 9-16 stones should look at medium-firm models, around a 6 on the firmness scale. Lighter people, meanwhile will be better suited to a medium, around a 5, while heavier people will be looking at a 7 or above.
That said, its difficult to get too specific here, because everyones body is different, and firmness scales really do vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. So therell be a lot of trial and error involved, either by trying out mattress in a store or by taking advantage of lengthy free trial offers at home for online purchases.
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The Importance Of Pillows
When it comes to stomach sleeping, the right pillow is as important as the right mattress. Put simply, if you lie on your front, youre better off with a thinner and flatter pillow, which reduces the angle of your head and neck.
Also, if you find your mid-section is sinking too much on your current mattress, you may find that lodging a pillow under your pelvis can be a quick fix, to help keep your spine in a better alignment.
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Best Mattress For Side Sleepers
The Saatva Classic mattress model uses all the features side sleepers need without giving up the decadence of a high-end brand.
Its totally customizable you can select in between 3 different firmness degrees, heights, as well as dimensions and also is made with high-grade, environmentally friendly products.
We recommend side sleepers select the deluxe firm mattress model, the typical firmness level, for the ideal combination of support and also suppleness.
Saatva additionally has excellent client service. They make the process hassle-free by supplying at-home arrangement for your brand-new mattress model and elimination of your old mattress model at no added fee.
Mattress Kind: Hybrid
Customer Score: 4.8 out of 5
Firmness: Medium Best Dual Sided Mattress For Stomach Sleepers
Trial Period for Returns: 180 nights
To purchase:
What Makes The Leesa Hybrid Stand Out
- This mattress combines coils with high-density memory foam and performance foam to create a truly excellent support system for stomach sleepers.
- If you prefer to sleep on your mattress rather than sinking into it, the Leesa Hybrid should be a great fit for you. Youll feel contouring while still being able to move around.
- Its also a good bed for back sleepers and heavier people.
The Ghostbed Original is a great option for stomach sleepers who dont want to break the bank. This all-foam bed-in-a-box is made with supportive memory foam, so it should keep the body in alignment throughout the night.
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I What To Know About Sleeping On Your Stomach
Stomach sleepers sometimes get a bad rap, but there are some benefits to this sleeping style.
Primarily, sleeping on your stomach can be great if you have digestive problems. This position can help reduce heartburn and reflux, as well as lower the risk of snoring and sleep apnea, since your throat and tongue wont block your airway.
However, this position can be incredibly taxing on your back and neck, which well get into further in the next section.
Most Comfortable Mattress For Stomach Sleepers: Helix Dawn Luxe
Many stomach sleepers want a firm, bouncy mattress that feels luxurious and minimizes sinkage. If youre looking for a such a mattress, you might want to consider the Helix Dawn LUXE, an upgraded version of the original Helix Dawn.
Helix offers six mattresses in firm, medium, and soft feels, with each of the three firmnesses tailored to back/stomach sleepers or side sleepers. The Helix Dawn is the firm option made to support back and stomach sleepers. The Helix Twilight model is the equivalent firm model for side sleepers, for anyone curious.
The mattress cover is a quilted pillow top with Tencel, a cool fabric that promotes heat dispersion. Under the mattress cover is gel visco foam, a high-density material that establishes a firm feel. The second layer is Helix Dynamic Foam, a material that contours to your body for full support.
The transition layer is poly-foam for ergonomic support, helping the mattress take on your body weight. The main support comes from pocketed coils and a DuraDense foam base. The coils are arranged to provide a softer feel under the shoulders and firmer under the hips.
What separates the LUXE model from the basic Dawn model is the zoned support, the pillow top, and the Tencel fabric.
The Helix Dawn LUXE includes a 100-night sleep trial and a 15-year warranty.
HELIX DAWN LUXE
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Is Sleeping On Your Stomach Bad For You
You may have heard that sleeping on your stomach is bad for you. While its true that sleeping on your stomach isnt as good for your spine as sleeping on your back or side, the best type of sleep is deep sleep.
If sleeping in other positions means that youre not able to achieve deep sleep and enter the REM sleep cycle, sleeping on your stomach might be the better position for you.
The best way to protect your spine and prevent back pain is to sleep with your spine in a position that encourages a neutral curve.
- Return policy: 100-day trial
Price: $$$Charles P. Rogers offers an eight-layer comfort system that includes latex foam and a highly responsive spring system. Its flippable to provide different firmness options, and it comes with a billowy, removable pillow topper for added comfort.Considerations: The combination of firmness options and highly responsive springs make this a good buy if you switch from stomach to side in your sleep, or if you and your partner have different sleeping preferences.
More Tips To Support Your Spine & Neck When Sleeping On Your Stomach
Avoid bringing your leg up towards your side as this twists your hips and can cause lower back pain.
Ensure your neck isn’t twisted at an awkward angle – sleep on a pillow for stomach sleepers or no pillow at all.
Train yourself to sleep on your side by supporting your body with a pillow to prevent it from rolling over.
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Best Mattress For Tossing And Turning
Of course, many of us don’t stay in the same position each night. We may switch between sleeping positions to get more comfortable, or we fall asleep in one position and wake up in another!
If you change position frequently during the night, you may find that a medium pocket sprung mattress is the best option for you. This type of mattress gives you the support you need if you turn over onto your back, but the softer comfort you need if you also sleep on your side.
If you and your partner sleep in different positions, we recommend medium pocket sprung mattresses for the same reasons. It’s the best of both worlds – without much compromise!
Worst Mattresses For Stomach Sleepers
The worst mattresses for stomach sleepers are softer, less supportive, and more prone to sagging under the weight of the torso. Too much sinkage can throw the spine out of alignment and increase muscle and joint pain.
To help prevent poor alignment and discomfort, stomach-sleepers may want to avoid the following:
- A mattress with a deep pillow-top. A cushiony outer layer can feel plush and cozy to sink into, but is more likely to cause a painful curvature of the neck and spine. A thick pillow-top could also make breathing more difficult
- A mattress made of softer memory foam. Stomach-sleepers are more likely to shift and change position during the night, which could be more difficult on a less-firm memory foam
- A hyperelastic polymer mattress. These mattresses typically have open cells of relatively bouncy material and a resilient feel. Hyperelastic polymer is responsive, making it easier to change positions, but may not offer the pressure relief and firmness that most stomach sleepers need
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What Is The Best Type Of Mattress For Stomach Sleepers Our Recommendations
As weve mentioned before, one mattress will not work for the masses. Weve curated this list of the best types of mattresses for stomach sleepers that take body type, temperature, and budget into consideration.
- Our Expert Pick Noah Allen Plush: This medium-firm mattress combines a medium-feeling comfort and firm support to give stomach sleepers the best of both worlds.
- Best Value Dublin Deluxe: This medium-firm lumbar support mattress ideal for back and stomach sleepers looking for great value in an everyday mattress.
- Best for Heavyweight Sleepers Geneva Copper Latex Hybrid: A medium-firm mattress that is ideal for all sleeping positions with copper-infused latex for pain relief.
- Best for Hot Sleepers Cannes Plush: A medium comfort mattress that has two cooling layers for a comfortable sleep with the spinal support your body needs.
- Best Young Adult Paris: This firm-feeling mattress provides your body with a cozy embrace and additional back and lumbar support for your spine.
Please remember that when you are looking for a mattress you need to take into account your weight, height, and weight distribution in addition to your sleeping position. Shop with one of our experts at one of our locations or chat online today to help find out what is the best mattress for you.
Ready to shop online for a stomach-friendly mattress? Build your sleep profile and the perfect bed for you!
Mattress Type And Composition
There tends to be three main mattress types, and these include soft, medium, and firm. Some models fall in-between these categories, such as combinations of soft to medium and medium to firm but these are the most popular types. However, what works well for one person will most certainly not be guaranteed to work for another especially if you sleep on your front. If youre a stomach sleeper, the pros and cons of sleeping on one of these mattress types include:
Soft Mattress Types: Though they may initially feel soft to lie on, overnight once youve taken to your front, they will encourage an almost sinking feeling. Though this may feel cushiony and comforting to some sleepers, for those stomach sleepers, it means a lack of support and a significant cause of pain the next day.
Medium Mattress Types: These can be a good solution for some stomach sleepers if they find themselves taking up multi positions throughout the night. They offer an adequate level of support but not for prolonged periods, so if you combine stomach sleeping with other positions you may be okay with their type.
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Best Mattress For Heavier Sleepers: Loom & Leaf
Dont be leery of its sticker price Saatvas Loom & Leaf gel memory foam mattress is an investment that yields a big return for years to come. Heavier stomach sleepers will be amazed at Loom & Leafs ability to maintain the natural curvature of their spines throughout the night.
Mattress Advisor experts found that test subjects of all different body types reported near-perfect spine alignment regardless of their size, earning the Loom & Leaf a 9 out of 10 in this category.
The Loom & Leaf high-quality foam construction also responds pretty well to movement, which is a plus if you tend to shift around or even change up your sleep position while you sleep. It scored an 8 out of 10 during testing for responsiveness.
The Loom & Leaf mattress has two firmness levels to choose from, either relaxed firm or firm. While the firmer option is better for heavier people who sleep on their stomach, the relaxed firm is still a good choice if you insist on something a touch softer.
- Mattress Type: Gel Memory Foam
- Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5
- Firmness: Relaxed Firm, Firm
Loom & Leaf Mattress, $1,899 for a Queen
Best Mattress Model For Pressure Alleviation
The GhostBed Flex is an affordably-priced hybrid version constructed of 6 layers, consisting of a quilted cover, 2 layers of memory foam, two layers of polyfoam, as well as a layer of pocketed coils.
It completes 13 inches thick, as well as it has a firmness ranking of 6 on the 10-point firmness range..
With gel-cooling innovation, the comfort of memory foam, as well as a durable innerspring coil layer, the GhostBed Flex can suit several kinds of sleepers.
The GhostBed Flex includes fantastic edge support as well as individually covered coils which reduce movement transfer, making this a finest mattress model for couples.
Mattress Model Type: Hybrid
Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5
Firmness: Medium-firm Best Dual Sided Mattress For Stomach Sleepers
Trial Period for Returns: 101 nights
To get:
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