Best Mattresses for Combination Sleepers

If you change sleeping positions throughout the night, you’re a combination sleeper. Most people are. This is why you might find yourself lying on your stomach or on your side when you wake up even though you were lying on your back when you drifted off to sleep, for example.

Combination sleeping is not in any way unusual. However, most mattress manufacturers make beds with a specific sleeping position in mind. What if you need a mattress for a mix of two or three different sleeping positions?

Key factors

To find the best mattress for combination sleepers, consider the following pointers:

1. Support

No matter what sleeping positions you tend to combine, always consider a mattress that provides adequate support to ensure spinal alignment. Combination sleepers can benefit the most from mattresses with stable support layers no matter how many positions they alternate.

2. Comfort and softness

The necessary thickness of a comfort layer depends on one’s sleep position, weight and personal preference.

• Side sleepers benefit from the thickest comfort layers, as these allow the hips and shoulders to sink in and keep the spine in a neutral position. 
• Back sleepers need a thinner comfort layer.
• Stomach sleepers require the thinnest comfort layer to prevent the spine from collapsing or curving unnaturally as the torso sinks into the mattress.

If you’re a combination sleeper, you’ll be more comfortable with a mattress containing a comfort layer that’s a bit thinner than what’s needed for the position you sleep to the most. For example, if you spend more time sleeping on your side than, say, on your back or stomach, choose a comfort layer thickness that's a little thinner than what's ideal for side sleepers.

3. Motion isolation

Since combination sleepers will be switching positions throughout the night, they need to be able to do this without too much bounce and without disturbing or waking their sleeping partner. To ensure this, check your potential mattress for motion isolation.

4. Firmness

When it comes to mattress firmness, it all boils down to one’s personal needs and preferences – whether medium, medium-firm, firm or extra-firm latex mattress – although medium-firm organic mattresses provide the most adaptability for all sleeping styles.

• Stomach and back sleepers or combination sleepers who want a thinner comfort layer should consider getting a mattress containing a firmer support layer or a single thick layer.
• Side and back sleepers or those who want a thicker comfort layer and don’t move around as much at night would do well to get a with a conforming support layer that can be combined with a thinner comfort layer.
• Finding the perfect mattress can be a tough and frustrating process for combination sleepers, as there are several factors to consider. Also, if you have a new dominant sleeping position, your mattress requirements could also change. All our Hevean Signature organic latex mattresses are component based which allows us to tailor the comfort to any sleeping style from the comfort of your home with our 120 Day Layer Exchange

Your weight is also a crucial factor, as your build can influence how much or how little support you receive from a mattress when you're lying down in a specific position.

Mattress options for combination sleepers

The following types of mattresses are great options for combination sleepers. How do they stack up against each other?

• Innerspring mattresses with pocket coils – These are the most popular mattress category as they provide adequate lumbar support at a reasonable price. However, you need to check the thickness of the comfort layers to prevent sinking into the bed too much when you are lying on your stomach. Also, the support provided by an innerspring mattress can deteriorate over time.
• Natural or organic latex mattresses – These usually have a great core comprising support and comfort layers, allowing them to provide combination sleepers with superior conformity to the body, as well as pressure relief. Mattresses with a latex core also come highly recommended in providing medium-firm support for combination sleepers. Natural latex is also very durable and offers just the right bounce for combination sleepers, who tend to move around a lot in their sleep.
• Poly and memory foam with thick support layers –These could also provide the support needed by combination sleepers. Memory foam is elastic enough to bounce back to its original form when combination sleepers change positions, although the response time of memory foam is slower than that of latex. Both poly and memory foam can provide pressure point relief and excellent conformity to the body. However, foam is generally less durable than latex. Also, this foam tends to trap body heat, so consider the use of cooling technology or materials for a comfortable night's sleep.

Aside from innerspring, natural latex and poly/memory foam mattresses, you can also check out hybrid mattresses, futon mattresses and adjustable air mattresses.

Finding the best mattress for combination sleepers is mostly a matter of personal preference and priorities. But if you ask us, we’d recommend natural latex mattresses, as these are not only supremely comfortable, supportive and durable, but they are also hypoallergenic, antibacterial and Eco-friendly – just like the ones we make at Nature’s Embrace.

Please contact us if you have any questions about how our mattresses are supremely adaptable and can be fitted to any sleeping style.