If you’re a stomach sleeper, then you have some nocturnal needs that might not be getting the attention they need on your current mattress. Proper sleep is paramount to all of the essential body functions, so ensuring you find the best mattress for stomach sleepers can greatly affect your overall health.
Our tips will help you determine which type of new mattress can help you get the best night’s rest.
Our Vote for the Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers
Mattress | Quality | Rating |
|---|---|---|
A- | 5/5 | |
B+ | 4/5 | |
A+ | 5/5 | |
B+ | 4/5 | |
B+ | 4/5 |
How Stomach Sleeping Causes Health Issues
Doctors really discourage those who sleep on their stomachs to work on breaking themselves of this habit. It can cause spinal strain, neck pain, and other issues. Stomach sleepers often don’t receive the support they need during the night, as this position causes the body to effectively sink into a mattress.
This disrupts the spinal alignment, and can make your back strain without your knowledge. Most of your weight will fall to your torso, causing an undue amount of stress on your back. Many recommend attempting to switch to side sleeping, but many find this a hard task.
Sleeping patterns are hard to change, and if you are a longtime stomach sleeper, it’s essential you find the right style of mattress to encourage proper spinal support.
The Battle Between Soft And Firm
You might have been told that plush is best for all sleeping positions, but stomach sleepers have special needs that can only be met by specific mattress types.
The best answer for stomach sleepers is a medium firm support level, with a comfortable layer that will allow your body to relax. There are a variety of mattress types that can provide this balance of cushion and a firm support base.
Sleeping On A Soft Mattress Is Detrimental
Mattresses that fall on the softer end of the spectrum can cause your back to arch. This arch can cause a great deal of pain, as your spine is not receiving the support it needs in this position.
Soft mattresses with an innerspring system may affect your sleep because of the contained coils; these can put stress on various parts of the body meaning your body weight is unevenly distributed.
Firm Mattresses May Inhibit Sleep
The answer to this question varies due to individual preferences, but generally if you’re stomach sleeper, a mattress that is too firm may cause sleep disturbances.
A lack of comfort materials could cause you to change your sleep position and wake up with extra aches and pains. It also may place too much pressure on various joints, meaning you’ll wake up with even greater pains.
Sleeping on your stomach is one of the least common sleep positions. This can make it more difficult to find a bevy of mattresses designed to cater to your sleeping preferences, but it’s essential that you find a mattress that gives you proper support.
Because you sleep directly on your stomach, the best mattress options are those that keep the chest and hips on the same plane as the rest of your body. Without firm support, you may find you experience back pain when waking up in the morning as the weight on these parts of the body may pull your spine out of alignment.
Most people carry the majority of their weight in the torso, and as such, those who spend the night laying on their stomachs are more prone to struggle with back pain and posture issues if they’re not sleeping on the best mattress for stomach sleepers.
Without proper spine support, you likely toss and turn throughout the night. These small disturbances, even if not enough to completely rouse you from sleep, can have detrimental effects on sleeping patterns.
The Types Of Mattresses You Should Avoid
Stomach sleepers should generally stay away from mattresses that incorporate thick pillow tops and extra cushioning. The lack of support in these plush options will cause the hips and chest to sink lower than the rest of the body and throw the spine out of alignment.
A Different Mattress Can Mean All The Difference
Those who tend to sleep tummy side have the flattest sleeping profile of all sleeping positions. Because of this, these type of sleepers may often experience hyperextension, which can cause a variety of aches and pains, especially in the pelvic and lower back area.
Due to this, thinner, firm layers of cushion can do the trick. It will prevent the back from swaying inward, and keep the pelvis on the appropriate sleeping plane. A thicker mattress can still work, but it must be the exact balance of firmness with a few layers of comfort.
Starting with a one-inch layer of cushioning and working your way up by preference can help you determine the exact mattress that suits your stomach sleeping needs.
Our Top Picks: The Best Mattresses For Stomach Sleepers
Mattress | Quality | Rating |
|---|---|---|
A- | 5/5 | |
B+ | 4/5 | |
A+ | 5/5 | |
B+ | 4/5 | |
B+ | 4/5 |
Signature Sleep Contour Mattress
With high-quality foam inserted between the mattress cover and its 15-guage coils, you’re sure to get a good night’s sleep even on your tummy. These coils are evenly spaced to ensure that you receive equal weight distribution.
It came shipped in an easy roll out method, compressed and compact. It took two days for the bed to expand to its normal shape, making it a quick and easy set up that was easy to perform.
We also like the low price of this option. It would be an excellent option for college students who may be moving a lot in the years ahead and only require an inexpensive mattress. Great sleep on a budget is something all of us can get behind.
Sealy Optimum Gel Latex Meadowcrest Queen Mattress
Once we tried this mattress out, we knew it was in contention for the best mattress for stomach sleepers. Not only is it a comfortable, cushioned mattress that feels great, it also offers a variety of features that make it a top-notch choice.
This mattress is hypoallergenic, and it contains the company’s OptiCool Gel Latex designed to regulate body temperature – that means you’ll stay cool in those hot summer months and toast warm in the winter months.
This mattress is also great for larger body types; its thick cushion and durable material are reinforced to last. If you’re of heavier weight and need a sturdy bed, this is your option.
Brentwood Home 13-Inch Gel HD Memory Foam Mattress
This is a luxury bed at its finest, and it’s the perfect option for stomach sleepers for several reasons. With 13 inches of mattress to rest on, the three inches of gel HD memory foam felt like the cherry on top of an already great package.
The wool sleeping surface was excellent; it seemed to instantly wick away sweat and our test sleeper mentioned they felt cool and refreshed until the morning. The material is designed to provide temperature appropriate feeling: cool in the summer and warm in the cold winter months.
The mattress immediately conforms to the curves of your body, meaning awesome pressure relief and proper spine alignment. This quality also meant little to no motion transfer, making it a good bed choice for couples.
Tuft & Needle 10-Inch Mattress
This mattress features a little bit of bounce, preventing the body from cocooning too far within and keeping the spine protected even through body movement during the night. This has the definite feel of memory foam or latex options with a cheaper price tag than you’ll pay for some of the luxury options.
We liked the localized movement feature; it makes it much easier to get in and out of bed without disturbing slumbering partners. You could drop something on one end of the bed and not feel it on the other.
This mattress also slept cool, with no overheating and no excessive envelopment. This would be a great mattress for stomach sleepers who are looking for a versatile mattress that will last them a number of years.
Dreamfoam Bedding Ultimate Dreams
This mattress truly exhibits the quintessential “medium” firmness. With 11 inches of mattress to rest on every night, your body will get the contouring support it needs. The base foam in this great mattress for stomach sleepers is sure to protect your back, core, shoulders, and hips.
We really enjoyed the pillow-top feel of this mattress. It was both comfortable enough to easily sleep on, but has a definite firm quality that makes it apparent your spine will get the help it needs during your REM cycles.
The foam core is also a great feature for couples as it eliminates the movement felt when another person moves on the bed. Never again will you wake up to your sleeping partner gets up for a glass of water.
