Just because a mattress is an objectively good bed, it doesn’t mean it’s the best mattress for your sleeping needs. The best mattress for you is based on your sleeping position, weight and additional needs. When shopping for the best mattress for stomach sleepers, there are a few key factors you should keep in mind.
Most stomach sleepers will benefit from a firm mattress that keeps the spine from sagging and in neutral alignment with the neck.
Firmness level: Stomach sleepers have to be mindful of firmness level when shopping for a mattress. For most stomach sleepers, a slightly firmer mattress is best suited for your sleeping needs. We recommend medium-firm to firm mattresses for stomach sleepers; that way, your hips and spine are supported and comfortable. If a mattress is too soft, your hips will sink in, leading to back pain in the morning. However, if you despise a firm mattress, a medium mattress will be more comfortable — especially if you are a stomach sleeper with a sensitive chest.
Your body type: Another factor that will influence which mattress a stomach sleeper should select is body type. Depending on how much you weigh, you may put more or less pressure on a mattress, which can change how you interpret the firmness level. Petite people put less pressure on the mattress, meaning they don’t sink in as far. This means they will perceive the mattress as firmer. Heavier people will find that mattresses may feel softer because more pressure is put on the bed.
Mattress construction: A big thing to keep in mind is what your mattress is made of. A lot of this comes down to your preference for the feel and durability of your mattress, although there’s more to it than that. All foam mattresses are budget-friendly and come in all ranges of firmness levels, but they typically aren’t best suited for heavy people because they don’t provide enough support. We recommend that plus-size sleepers opt for mattresses with coils like a traditional innerspring or hybrid mattress that combines pocketed coils and comfortable foam layers.
The different types of mattress construction include:
- Innerspring: Innerspring mattresses are the traditional type of bed — the one in your grandma’s house. They feature a layer of coils as the base. Coil types include pocketed coils, continuous-wire coils or offset coils. Innerspring mattresses boast thin comfort layers on top of the coils for comfort. Some innerspring mattresses have pillow top options for side sleepers. Stomach sleepers benefit from innerspring mattresses because they provide even support across the mattress.
- Foam: Foam mattresses are made entirely of either memory foam, polyfoam, latex foam or a mix. All-foam mattresses are often budget-friendly and provide an ample amount of pressure relief. Stomach sleepers have to be careful with all-foam mattresses, especially if they are heavier, as they can sink too far in and wake up with back pain. It’s best to stick to firmer all-foam mattresses as a stomach sleeper.
- Hybrid: Hybrid mattresses combine the best parts of both innerspring and foam mattresses. This type of mattress strikes a really good balance between comfort and support thanks to the coils and varied comfort layers. Your stomach won’t sink too far in, and there are plenty of foam layers to provide pressure relief.