The Best Mattresses for Stomach Sleepers

If you’re having trouble find the best mattress for stomach sleeper, there’s a reason for it. Sleeping on one’s stomach or in a prone position is unpopular and usually not recommended.

However, if sleeping this way comes naturally to you, the best thing you can do is to find a good mattress that provides the support you need, especially for your back and head. But before that, let’s explore the pros and cons of stomach sleeping first.

Pros and cons of sleeping on the stomach

As a stomach sleeper, you may already feel comfortable and content with this sleeping position as it’s natural for you. However, from a medical point of view, stomach sleeping is the worst sleeping position of all.

Sleeping in a prone position usually leads to the following outcomes:

• Back and neck strain: When you sleep on your stomach, it causes your torso or midsection to sink into the bed, leading to your spine arching into an unnatural position. This happens because most of your weight is distributed to the core. So when you wake up in the morning after sleeping on your tummy, you may experience back and neck pain — no matter how comfortable you may feel sleeping this way.
• Nerve pain: Since the spine houses the spinal cord, which is the nerve centre of the body, sleeping on your stomach can add stress or pinch the area along your spinal column. This can cause nerve pain in any part of your body.
• Wrinkling: Side and stomach sleepers tend to develop more wrinkles. The reason for this is that their pillows habitually come into contact with their faces, so the small creases that form during contact can turn into wrinkles over time.

While there are many downsides to sleeping on one’s stomach, one advantage it provides is that it is a beneficial sleeping position for those suffering from sleep apnea or who snore heavily. Lying on one’s stomach keeps the air passage clear, the same way as sleeping on one’s back does.

What to look for in a mattress

Since sleeping on one’s stomach is stressful for the back and neck, it’s essential to find a mattress that supports the spine. It should keep your back properly aligned and prevent your body from sinking too deeply so it doesn’t curve unnaturally.

Another important factor to consider in finding a good mattress for stomach sleepers is ensuring it distributes your weight evenly on the surface so your midsection is also adequately supported. Additionally, the right mattress should help ease any pressure on your joints and muscles.

With a good mattress, you can benefit from not only quality, restful sleep but also a reduction in your usual morning aches and pains.

The right mattress type

Most mattresses in the market aren’t designed for stomach sleepers as most people are either back or side sleepers. But when it comes to mattress firmness, firm mattresses with a soft top layer are considered ideal for stomach sleepers.

However, to choose the best mattress, you also need to know what benefits each mattress type provides.

1. Memory foam

Memory foam mattresses are known to be generally supportive and help with reducing motion transfer. However, most memory foam mattresses are too soft can can cause your lower back to collapse or sink out of alignment. So, always consider this if you plan to get a foam mattress.

2. Hybrid

A hybrid mattress is typically made using a combination of materials like memory foam, latex and coils. The support layers of a hybrid mattress may be sturdy enough to prevent your midsection from sinking while keeping your spine in a neutral position. Make sure you choose one with a soft top layer to keep you comfortable.

3. Innerspring

High-quality innerspring mattresses generally provide even support that can keep your lower back from falling out of alignment. Just like in a hybrid, consider getting one with a soft top for your comfort.

4. Natural latex

Natural latex mattresses can provide the cushioning your body needs while ensuring the proper alignment of your spine. Latex mattresses also disperse body weight across the surface better than all-foam mattresses, so you get pressure relief and no sinkage. Additionally, organic latex mattresses like the ones we make at Nature’s Embrace are the eco-friendliest option on this list.

Tips to sleep better on your stomach

Aside from choosing a good mattress for your preferred sleeping position, keep the following tips in mind to reduce aches and pains in the morning when you wake up:

• Try using a thin pillow or no pillow at all so your neck can stay aligned with your spine and to prevent shoulder pain.
• If you must use a head pillow, place a thin pillow underneath your pelvis to support your hips. Make sure the top of the pillow reaches your lower abdomen, with its other end somewhere near your mid-thigh.
• Consider sleeping with your forehead in an angle relative to your head pillow and avoid turning your head to the side. This requires some getting used to, but it’s better for your upper back.

Sleeping on your stomach might not be the most ideal position. However, by choosing the right mattress and practising these stomach sleeping tips, you can get the support your back needs and wake up refreshed from your sleep.

Please contact us if you have questions about what mattress best fits your sleeping style.