Restorative stomach sleeping doesn’t always come easy. Though the position can be quite comfortable at first, over the course of a night, it can put unnecessary strain on the neck and lower back. Therefore, it’s important for stomach sleepers to find a mattress that supports a healthy spine alignment throughout an entire evening.
The best way to achieve this is to snag an ultra-firm mattress. Though firmness doesn’t always equal support (we’ll go into this more later!), a firm structure is going to be better at lifting the spine into a neutral alignment than a softer one would be. In addition to firmness, you’ll also want to focus on bounce in your search, as buoyant mattresses are designed to position the sleeper more on top of the structure than in it, an important feature for those who like to doze in prone.
So, which mattresses fit the bill? We’re glad you asked! Below, we’re going to introduce you to some of our favorite beds for stomach sleepers. Then, we’ll go over the methodology we used to make our selections and wrap up the guide with a few tips you can use to improve your mattress search.
Firmest Support
Zinus Extra Firm iCoil
If you’re in the market for extra-firm support, we recommend going with the Zinus Extra iCoil Mattress, a supremely bouncy, firm, and supportive bed. At 7.5” tall, the iCoil Pocketed Spring system dominates the vibe, ensuring not only excellent spinel alignment for individual stomach sleepers, but also low motion transfer rates for couples.
Pros
If you like the bouncy feel of a traditional innerspring mattress, this Zinus model could be a fantastic pick for you as its thin foam topper doesn’t really get in the way of the coil system’s powerful lift.
In general, stomach sleepers could find a lot to love in this supportive vibe, as the iCoil system works to alleviate tension at the hips and promote a healthy spine alignment.
The tremendous bounce of the individually wrapped coils results in some great mobility, which could be a big plus for sleepers who need to change positions in the night.
Cons
There’s not a lot of contouring going on here, which could be a dealbreaker for folks after deep pressure relief.
Side sleepers, in particular, should stay away from this mattress as it’s not nearly gentle enough to support their needs.
Zinus Extra Firm iCoil
Zinus Extra Firm iCoil
If you’re in the market for extra-firm support, we recommend going with the Zinus Extra iCoil Mattress, a supremely bouncy, firm, and supportive bed.
It’s no secret that stomach sleepers enjoy the buoyant lift of a hybrid mattress, and there’s perhaps no better model out there than the Chime Express Hybrid from Ashley Furniture. Here, a 9” section of pocketed coils reigns supreme, resulting in a structure that bouncy and oh so very supportive.
Pros
Stomach and combo sleepers will likely enjoy the bed’s incredible bounce, which lifts the body up and out of the structure.
The bed also has a fantastic innerspring vibe, making it an excellent choice for stomach sleepers after a firm bed.
Another plus? All the materials in the bed are hypoallergenic, meaning they’re free of airborne pests, dust, and pet dander.
Cons
Side sleepers may find the structure just a bit too firm, resulting in some tension at the shoulders and hips.
Even though there’s a little bit of memory foam above the coils, you’re not going to get much body-contouring or sinkage from this bed.
Ashley Furniture
Ashley Furniture
The Ashley Furniture has a 9” section of pocketed coils reigns supreme, resulting in a structure that bouncy and oh so very supportive.
Though most folks who sleep in the prone position will want a bed with coils for bounce and lift, others will prefer the more gentle feel of foam. For this latter group, we suggest the all-foam Tuft & Needle mattress, a bed that packs a supportive punch with just two layers of foam. This straightforward design also features a cooling graphite infusion to help regulate temperatures throughout the night.
Pros
A big selling point for the Tuft & Needle is its cooling power, which you get via the breathable cover and graphite-infused comfort layer.
The T&N mattress is also an amazing value buy! When compared to other beds of its quality, this model is certainly more budget-friendly.
With its firm feel and supportive bounce, the T&N will likely work best for back and stomach sleepers.
Cons
With just two layers, the profile here is a tad thin, which could pose a problem for heavier sleepers who will likely push straight through the comfort layer.
The overall firmness of the mattress could also be an issue for side sleepers, who tend toward gentler structures for pressure relief at the shoulders and hips.
Tuft & Needle
Tuft & Needle
The all-foam Tuft & Needle mattress, a bed that packs a supportive punch with just two layers of foam.
A latex hybrid can be great for stomach sleepers after a ton of bounce, as they combine the natural buoyancy of latex with springy coils. There are a lot of these models on the market, but our favorite is the 10” Latex Hybrid from Linenspa. It’s got a straightforward construction composed just of latex and coils, so nothing gets between the sleeper and its supportive vibe.
Pros
Combo sleepers might really enjoy the feel of this mattress, as it’s bouncy enough to allow them to move around and change positions with ease.
It could also work well for younger folks who need to be able to spring up and out of their mattress.
And finally, the mattress is relatively affordable, so might be good for college students, people moving into a first apartment, or homeowners shopping for a mattress for a spare bedroom.
Cons
There’s not a lot of contouring to this mattress, so probably won’t jive with folks who need deep pressure relief at the shoulders, hips, or lower back.
That being said, side sleepers may find the structure too firm for their specific sleep needs, which tend toward a more pressure-relieving feel.
Linenspa
Linenspa
The 10” Latex Hybrid from Linenspa has a straightforward construction composed just of latex and coils, so nothing gets between the sleeper and its supportive vibe.
But stomach sleeping isn’t just for adults! If your child enjoys the prone position, you may want to consider snagging this bed from Signature Sleep. A top layer of supportive high-density poly foam is complemented by a tall layer of pocketed coils, ensuring your little one will remain positioned squarely on top of the bed throughout the night.
Pros
This is an ultra-supportive mattress, so could be great for young sleepers as their bodies grow and change.
It’s also super bouncy, making it a great fit for sleepers who need to move around and change positions in the night.
Stomach sleepers will enjoy the extra lift they get at the hips, which help to set their spines in a nice, neutral alignment.
Cons
If you prefer a softer feel, you’ll want to keep on looking, as this is one supremely firm mattress.
Additionally, it’s not the most cooling, so may not be a good fit for sleepers who tend to overheat at night.
Signature Sleep
Signature Sleep
The Signature Sleep has a top layer of supportive high-density poly foam is complemented by a tall layer of pocketed coils, ensuring your little one will remain positioned squarely on top of the bed throughout the night.
Now that we’ve gone over our picks, let’s discuss the methodology we used to pick them. Below, we’ll walk you through the most important factors to consider when buying a mattress to satisfy your stomach-sleeping needs.
Firmness
First and foremost, you’ll want to consider firmness. Stomach sleepers will want to land on a structure that’s super firm, typically in the 7.5-8.5/10 range. For reference, the industry standard for medium firmness is 6.5, so you’ll want to skew slightly higher than that for your own mattress.
And why so firm? Because firm mattresses are typically better at lifting the sleeper up and out of the structure to promote healthy spine alignment. It’s crucial that a stomach sleeper feels as though their hips are in line with their shoulders; otherwise, they may experience uncomfortable bowing in the lumbar region. .
Support
But firmness isn’t the same thing as support, so don’t just go with a bed because it’s hard as a rock. Instead, find a mattress that actively supports the hips and lumbar region, the two most sensitive zones for stomach sleepers. Stay on the lookout for beds with individually wrapped coil systems or foam layers that have been zoned for support. These key words and phrases typically indicate that a brand has taken a more nuanced approach to support, which could benefit you greatly!
Materials
When it comes to specific bedding materials, some are better suited to stomach sleepers’ unique firmness and support needs than others. If you’re going all-foam, focus on high-density poly foam and latex. These two materials provide a lot of lift and bounce, which helps to position the sleeper more on top of the structure than in it.
Though all-foam beds are technically fine, we recommend stomach sleepers consider opting for either a hybrid or innerspring mattress. The added support of a coil system can do wonders for this group, especially when it comes to positioning the hips in line with the shoulders.
Quilted covers and top layers of memory foam should generally be avoided by stomach sleepers, unless they’re quite thin. Otherwise, the sinkage could offset the alignment of the hips and shoulders, causing unnecessary discomfort in the night.
Pillows
In addition to landing on a firmly supportive mattress, stomach sleepers will want to be extra wary of the pillows they use. We suggest going with a pillow that’s soft, short, and compressible enough to keep the spine aligned to relieve pressure in the lower back. You can go with whatever material feels best to you, just make sure the loft is low so you don’t break your stomach-sleeping flow.
Sleepopolis Tips
Still feeling a little lost? No worries! We’re going to close out this guide with a few handy tricks you can use to make your mattress search a breeze.
Pay extra close attention to a bed’s top layer. A thick section of memory foam, for example, may be great for side sleepers, but could cause stomach sleepers quite a bit of discomfort. In general, you’ll want to make sure the top layer of foam is no more than 1-2” thick.
Edge support is going to be another crucial buzzword for stomach sleepers. When a brand says that its mattress features “edge support,” it basically means that the sides of the bed are as sturdy as its center. This indicates more uniform support, which is a great thing for those who doze in prone.
If your partner doesn’t need a mattress quite as firm as you do, you may want to consider going with a “split firmness.” This means the bed is divided in half and features two different firmnesses on either side.
All in all, the biggest thing to remember is that you want to keep a straight line all the way from the crown of your head to your feet. Any mattress that supports this alignment is likely to work wonders for stomach sleepers.
Wrapping Up
Well folks, that’s it for our guide to the best mattresses for stomach sleepers! Though everyone’s search will look a little different, if you keep the focus on firmness, support, and neutral spine alignment, you’ll be well on your way to securing the perfect bed for your stomach-sleeping needs.
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Logan is the content director of Sleepopolis, which means he not only reviews new mattresses every week, but also curates all the comparisons, best of pages, and video guides on the site. He takes a straightforward, honest approach to his reviews and endeavors to give viewers an objective look at each new product he tries out. Logan has perfected his method by personally testing over 200 different mattresses, so he’s not only able to discern the overall vibe of a specific bed, but to contextualize its feel within the bed-in-a-box market as a whole.
Of all the sleeping positions, stomach-sleeping is the least common. Some of us may sleep on our stomachs periodically, but people who do so for the majority of the night are a rare breed. In fact, just 16% of us stomach-sleep on a routine basis.
As physical therapist and Sleepopolis Expert Network member Dr. Keith Poorbaugh tells us, stomach-sleeping can be tricky. We’ve outlined the pros and cons of this position so you can decide if it’s right for you.
The Helix Dawn is the firmest model Helix Sleep offers. It uses strong support to provide a great feel for back and stomach sleepers. The hybrid build provides good bounce and mobility so you’ll be able to change positions easily too.
The Helix Dawn is the firmest model Helix Sleep offers. It uses strong support to provide a great feel for back and stomach sleepers. The hybrid build provides good bounce and mobility so you’ll be able to change positions easily too.
The Helix Dawn is the firmest model Helix Sleep offers. It uses strong support to provide a great feel for back and stomach sleepers. The hybrid build provides good bounce and mobility so you’ll be able to change positions easily too.
The Helix Dawn is my favorite mattress for stomach sleepers this year. This extra-firm bed does a great job alleviating tension in the lumbar region. Not only is it firm enough to ensure sound stomach-sleeping, but it’s also supportive enough to set stomach sleepers’ spines in a healthy, neutral alignment.
While support means different things for different styles of sleeping, for stomach sleepers, it means lifting the hips in line with the shoulders. When the hips dip, it can cause back pain. The Helix Dawn ensures stomach sleepers are getting all the support they need, which is why I like it so much. This mattress also sleeps cool and comes at an affordable price point, so I’d highly recommend any stomach sleepers out there check it out!
Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers with Back Pain – Saatva
Price: $887 - $2,174
Saatva Mattress
The Saatva is firm enough to keep the hips and shoulders aligned, which is important for stomach sleepers. This healthy, neutral position will help in relieving discomfort associated with back pain.
The Saatva is firm enough to keep the hips and shoulders aligned, which is important for stomach sleepers. This healthy, neutral position will help in relieving discomfort associated with back pain.
The Saatva is firm enough to keep the hips and shoulders aligned, which is important for stomach sleepers. This healthy, neutral position will help in relieving discomfort associated with back pain.
For those interested in more of a traditional innerspring feel, I’d recommend taking a look at the Saatva mattress. What’s most notable about this bed is its special coil-on-coil construction in which two rows of coils are stacked on top of each other. This results in a resoundingly firm feel, which could be ideal for stomach sleepers struggling with back pain.
Stomach sleepers most often experience back pain when their mattress allows their hips to sink into bed and fall out of alignment with their shoulders. The Saatva’s bouncy support prevents this issue, which makes it a great option for preventing or alleviating back pain. And if you find that the Classic Saatva isn’t quite supportive enough for your needs, the brand also makes the Saatva HD, an ultra-firm model designed for heavy sleepers.
Best Mattress for Side and Stomach Sleepers – Layla Hybrid
Price: $1,299 - $1,899
Layla Hybrid Mattress
The Layla Hybrid is a flippable mattress with both a soft and firm side, making it a good choice for side and stomach sleepers. The foam on the soft side contours to your body, while the firm side comforts and supports.
The Layla Hybrid is a flippable mattress with both a soft and firm side, making it a good choice for side and stomach sleepers. The foam on the soft side contours to your body, while the firm side comforts and supports.
The Layla Hybrid is a flippable mattress with both a soft and firm side, making it a good choice for side and stomach sleepers. The foam on the soft side contours to your body, while the firm side comforts and supports.
Stomach sleepers that switch between their side and stomach in the night need a bed that’s firm yet gentle, supportive yet deeply pressure-relieving at the shoulders and hips. It’s a tricky balance to strike, unless, of course, you’re stretching out on the Layla Hybrid.
This mattress offers a one-two punch of pressure relief and support by incorporating both gentle memory foam and sturdy pocketed coils into its design. So, you should get enough lift at the hips while dozing on your stomach and enough cozy comfort at your shoulders when turning onto your side, ensuring sound sleep in both positions. I should also add that the mattress is technically flippable with a “Soft” and “Firm” side, allowing sleepers to experiment with different comfort levels before landing on the one that’s right for them.
Heavy people fed up with unsupportive mattresses will find a lot to love about this luxury mattress. It has a bouncy and supportive feel, which is especially good for combination sleepers and back sleepers.
Heavy people fed up with unsupportive mattresses will find a lot to love about this luxury mattress. It has a bouncy and supportive feel, which is especially good for combination sleepers and back sleepers.
Heavy people fed up with unsupportive mattresses will find a lot to love about this luxury mattress. It has a bouncy and supportive feel, which is especially good for combination sleepers and back sleepers.
Though all heavy sleepers need to pay attention to the support of their mattresses, firm support can be an especially important factor for plus-sized stomach sleepers. Why? Well, these dreamers need even more bolstering at the hips to ensure an even spine alignment as they snooze.
Enter the WinkBed Plus, a bed built to support the needs of exactly these kinds of sleepers. Not only does it have a sturdy coil section, but it’s also outfitted with a layer of zoned support, which provides extra lift to the hips. This combination of materials produces an exceedingly firm feel that should leave the sleeper positioned squarely on top of the structure. I should also mention that the WinkBed features a cooling cover made of Tencel, which is an extra-nice perk for hot sleepers.
Best Foam Mattress for Stomach Sleepers – Bear Mattress
Price: $695 - $1,095
Bear Mattress
I appreciate the firm and responsive feel of the Bear mattress. Its combination of support and pressure relief makes it an awesome option for anyone struggling with back pain, especially stomach sleepers.
I appreciate the firm and responsive feel of the Bear mattress. Its combination of support and pressure relief makes it an awesome option for anyone struggling with back pain, especially stomach sleepers.
I appreciate the firm and responsive feel of the Bear mattress. Its combination of support and pressure relief makes it an awesome option for anyone struggling with back pain, especially stomach sleepers.
If you love the feel of memory foam but are concerned an all-foam mattress may not give you the support you need, the Bear Original mattress may be the perfect option for you. Coming in at just above a 7 on the firmness scale, this bed is firm enough to promote a healthy, straight spine, but has a little bit of give for that hug from memory foam that so many love.
Another concern stomach sleepers have is the breathability of a mattress. Memory foam has a bad reputation for trapping body heat, which may make it uncomfortable for people with their faces buried in the mattress. The Bear mattress works against that stigma and is one of the most cooling foam beds on the market.
The Leesa original mattress is a great choice for hot sleepers, as it sleeps quite cool with a breathable foam top layer. It should also be a hit for stomach sleepers who aim to keep their spine aligned in a healthy position.
The Leesa original mattress is a great choice for hot sleepers, as it sleeps quite cool with a breathable foam top layer. It should also be a hit for stomach sleepers who aim to keep their spine aligned in a healthy position.
The Leesa original mattress is a great choice for hot sleepers, as it sleeps quite cool with a breathable foam top layer. It should also be a hit for stomach sleepers who aim to keep their spine aligned in a healthy position.
Overheating when sleeping at night can be a problem for a lot of people. The Leesa mattress helps with this by providing features that keep you cool all evening long. Underneath its cover is a breathable poly foam comfort layer, which is the primary way the mattress keeps you from getting too warm. While less dense than latex, the foam responds to body pressure and creates a surface that’s just as cooling as latex.
This mattress is great for stomach sleepers since it helps keep the spine, hips, and shoulders properly aligned. And when it comes to support, the firm mattress offers plenty. For all these reasons, stomach sleepers concerned about getting too warm at night should consider going with the Leesa mattress.
The DreamCloud Mattress is a luxury hybrid mattress made with layers of memory foam and pocketed coils. It offers a great amount of firm support that stomach sleepers should really enjoy.
The DreamCloud Mattress is a luxury hybrid mattress made with layers of memory foam and pocketed coils. It offers a great amount of firm support that stomach sleepers should really enjoy.
The DreamCloud Mattress is a luxury hybrid mattress made with layers of memory foam and pocketed coils. It offers a great amount of firm support that stomach sleepers should really enjoy.
If you’re in the market for a bouncy hybrid that’ll make stomach sleeping a dream, then you’ve gotta check out the DreamCloud mattress. As with any hybrid model, this bed combines gentle foams with springy pocketed coils for a one-two punch of pressure relief and support.
While there are a ton of hybrids available online, I particularly like this one for stomach sleepers because its top layers of foam are soft, but not too soft. What I mean is that they provide plenty of pressure relief at the shoulders and hips without causing the lumbar region to dip out of alignment with the rest of the torso. This results in an even line from head to hoof, which is ideal for those who sleep in prone. Plus, the bed is a fantastic value given the high-quality materials used in its construction.
The Puffy is a medium-firm bed-in-a-box that is great for lighter stomach sleepers who love a memory foam feel. It also does a good job of reducing aches and pains, thanks to its balance of support and pressure relief.
The Puffy is a medium-firm bed-in-a-box that is great for lighter stomach sleepers who love a memory foam feel. It also does a good job of reducing aches and pains, thanks to its balance of support and pressure relief.
The Puffy is a medium-firm bed-in-a-box that is great for lighter stomach sleepers who love a memory foam feel. It also does a good job of reducing aches and pains, thanks to its balance of support and pressure relief.
Stomach sleepers who want to sleep on memory foam might do well on the Puffy mattress. The Puffy features a combination of cooling gel cloud foam and high-density poly foam to offer a balance of pressure relief and support. Lightweight stomach sleepers who enjoy a memory foam feel should like the Puffy. The Puffy’s special “gel cloud” memory foam offers the body-contouring feel memory foam lovers enjoy, but curbs some of the sinkage of traditional memory foam, which is important for stomach sleepers.
Side and stomach combination sleepers could also really like the Puffy, since it balances the softness and pressure relief side sleepers need with the firmer support stomach sleepers need. I’d highly recommend checking it out, especially if you’re on the lightweight side.
The GhostBed uses a combination of latex and gel memory foam for a one-two punch of pressure relief and support. This should especially benefit light stomach sleepers with the proper support to keep the hips and shoulders aligned.
The GhostBed uses a combination of latex and gel memory foam for a one-two punch of pressure relief and support. This should especially benefit light stomach sleepers with the proper support to keep the hips and shoulders aligned.
The GhostBed uses a combination of latex and gel memory foam for a one-two punch of pressure relief and support. This should especially benefit light stomach sleepers with the proper support to keep the hips and shoulders aligned.
I’m willing to bet you’ve never slept on a mattress that feels quite like the GhostBed. It combines latex with gel memory foam to give sleepers a slightly bouncy and supportive, yet hugging feel when they sleep. I should also note that while I like this mattress for light to average weight sleepers, it may be slightly too soft for a heavier sleeper on their stomach (or any position for that matter).
This mattress is available at a great value considering the materials that it is constructed with. It is also a solid option for those who change positions at night (combo sleepers), and I could see couples who have different preferences finding that this mattress suits both their needs pretty well. However, if you and your partner move around a lot at night, this mattress may not absorb as much motion as some other beds do. Wanna know more about this mattress? Read my full GhostBed mattress review.
The Plank mattress is an all-foam, flippable mattress with a firm side and an extra-firm side, which makes it great for stomach sleepers. Both sides of the mattress should provide them with the right level support they need.
The Plank mattress is an all-foam, flippable mattress with a firm side and an extra-firm side, which makes it great for stomach sleepers. Both sides of the mattress should provide them with the right level support they need.
The Plank mattress is an all-foam, flippable mattress with a firm side and an extra-firm side, which makes it great for stomach sleepers. Both sides of the mattress should provide them with the right level support they need.
The Brooklyn Bedding Plank mattress is one of the firmest mattresses on the market, meaning there is very little room for the sinkage when you lie on your back or stomach. That is always the main thing I look for when recommending a mattress to stomach sleepers, since it helps align their spine and hips. This mattress gives extra support around those delicate areas, making it ideal for those who want to maintain “perfect” sleep posture.
In fact, it’s my favorite firm mattress out there for stomach sleepers, who can occasionally find firm mattresses a bit too soft for their needs! If you’re looking for an ultra-firm feel, the Plank is the bed for you. This mattress also sleeps cool, making it attractive for those who tend to get hot at night. Read more in my full Plank mattress review.
Comfort. Many stomach sleepers find lying on their stomachs comfortable, and may fall asleep more easily in this position
Reduced risk of breathing-related sleep disorders. Sleeping on the stomach can help lower the risk of snoring and sleep apnea due to the position of the throat and tongue
Less heartburn. Stomach-sleeping may decrease the likelihood of heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease
Cons
Spinal alignment. Sleeping on the stomach can contort and put pressure on the spine due to the concentration of weight in the middle of the body and the effects of gravity
Muscle and joint strain. Reports of neck, shoulder, and back strain are common among stomach sleepers, especially those who sleep with both arms raised. One study found that using a computer or watching TV in the prone position can cause tension in the lumbar region of the back, while another showed that stomach-sleeping may disrupt breathing (1) (2)
Interrupted sleep. Muscle and joint strain caused by stomach-sleeping can result in repeated awakenings during the night. This can lead to sleep deprivation, which may trigger fatigue, irritability, trouble with learning and memory, and weight gain
The right mattress can help mitigate some of the cons of stomach-sleeping, but may not relieve them entirely. Proper firmness and support are key to sleeping with minimal tension on the neck and spine.
Best Mattress Firmness for Stomach Sleepers
What does firmness mean when it comes to your mattress? Though firmness and support may sound similar, they have different definitions. Firmness refers to the initial feel when you first lie on a mattress. If the mattress immediately pushes back with a stiff sleeping surface, most people would consider it firm or very firm. Other mattresses have more of a cloud-like comfort with cushion that immediately contours around the body. This would be considered plush or soft. A balanced level of push-back, hug, and contour would be considered a medium feel.
Mattress firmness is described by a numerical one-to-ten scale, with one being the softest and ten being the firmest. Most soft mattresses measure around three on the scale, while extra firm mattresses measure around eight.
Mattresses that are considered appropriate for stomach sleepers generally come in at six to eight on the firmness scale. This level will prevent the back from arching out of alignment and keep the hips lifted in line with the shoulders. Anything softer could cause discomfort in the pelvis and lower back.
Body weight is also a factor when choosing a mattress. A stomach sleeper of average weight might consider a medium mattress, about a five on the scale, or a medium firm mattress, around six to seven. Mattresses in this firmness range will be soft enough to conform to the body without sinking excessively.. A mattress that measures above a seven may help prevent heavier stomach-sleepers from sinking too deeply and exacerbating joint and muscle strain.
Though the firmness of your mattress is an important factor in how comfortably you sleep, Dr. Poorbaugh warns that it may not be enough to undo existing sleep posture issues. Put simply, if you already suffer from back pain, you should avoid sleeping on your stomach.
“I advise clients to avoid stomach sleeping if they are experiencing any type of spinal pain,” he says. “The primary area of concern for stomach sleepers is spinal alignment. Even with proper pillow placement [discussed below], it’s difficult to maintain a neutral spine position in prone.”
If you’re a dedicated stomach-sleeper and want to be as kind as possible to your muscles and joints, make sure you have the right mattress.
What About Mattress Support?
After firmness, support may be the most important concern for stomach sleepers. Support describes the uniformity of the mattress surface and the way it conforms to the body. Sound support will help to bolster the lumbar region, lift the hips, and reduce tension in the neck and shoulders.
To find a bed with solid support, consider the following:
Firmness doesn’t always equal support, so pay attention to materials and construction. Hybrid beds utilize both foam and pocketed coils, and typically offer the most well-rounded support
When you try out a bed, make sure your hips and shoulders aren’t sinking out of alignment. Give your body a few minutes to settle before deciding if the support feels right
Focus less on the comfort layers and more on the support sections. Pillow-tops can be tantalizing, but stomach sleepers need to feel what’s going on underneath
Best Type of Mattress for Stomach Sleeping
A firmer, more supportive mattress can help reduce the discomfort and joint strain of stomach-sleeping. But which type of mattress is best for you? Mattress options for people who sleep on their stomachs include the following:
Latex is a responsive material with a slightly spongy feel. The responsiveness of latex can help reduce the “stuck” feeling that may occur with memory foam, making switching positions easier. Latex is known as a cooler material, making it a great choice for stomach-sleepers who tend to perspire or wake up hot. Latex is a natural material made from the sap of the rubber tree, and may be a good option for people with respiratory allergies or concerns about the environmental impact of their mattress.
Memory foam mattresses conform to the body and offer solid support and pressure relief. Though memory foam is known for sleeping hot, recent, more advanced memory foams sleep cooler due to their larger cellular structure. The thickness, density, and firmness of memory foam varies by mattress, brand, and price. In general, changing sleeping positions on memory foam is not as easy as it is with some other mattress materials. Memory foam is durable and typically makes for a very supportive mattress. If you think memory foam mattresses better fit your needs, I recommend taking a look at our memory foam mattress reviews!
A traditional coil mattress is made with a structure of steel springs throughout the bed. Coils usually make for a bouncy bed that transfers motion easily. Pocketed coils are less likely to transfer motion due to the material that encases each individual coil
Hybrid mattresses are crafted from a combination of latex, memory, other polyurethane foams, coils, or other materials. Hybrids achieve support and firmness using a variety of materials rather than one. Hybrid mattress are available in any firmness level, from soft to very firm. Take a look at some of our hybrid mattress reviews to see if one of these mattresses fit your sleeping style!
Pillow-top mattresses may be made of latex, memory foam, hybrid materials, or other mattress materials. “Pillow-top” describes the layer of plush material either filling or affixed to the cover
Tri-zone construction utilizes three different levels of comfort to support the lumbar region of the back and align the spine. The upper section of a tri-zone mattress is typically made of a softer layer that cushions and cradles the head and shoulders. A firmer foam is used for the middle zone to support the heavier torso and prevent it from sinking too deeply into the mattress. Making up the lower zone is a medium foam that supports the hips, glutes, and legs
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
The Right Pillows for Stomach-Sleepers
More than almost any other type of sleeper, those who sleep primarily on their stomachs have the most to gain from effective pillow use. As Dr. Poorbaugh points out, it’s not just about focusing on the pillow that goes under your head (though that’s important, too), but about getting creative with the ones you use along the rest of your body.
“To mitigate the risk of stomach sleeping for articular pain in the shoulder or spine, the best option is to utilize proper pillow support,” he says. “Pillows should be placed under the pelvis and shoulders to maintain neutral spine postures and avoid impingement of the shoulder.”
Research from the Mayo Clinic supports this idea, indicating that the only sure way to ensure proper support for stomach sleepers is to nestle a flat pillow directly under the pelvis. (3) The goal is to manufacture a lift, creating a neutral position for sound sleeping.
Not exactly sure what kind of pillow to go with? Our bedding expert Sarah breaks it down like this:
The goal is to find a pillow with a lower loft (shorter height) and an overall softer firmness level
Stay on the lookout for soft, short, and compressible pillows that won’t exert too much control over your posture
If stomach-sleeping is causing neck or back strain, you may want to break the habit. Try sewing a tennis ball into the front of your shirt or packing pillows around your body to keep you on your back or side. Try a supportive pillow that cradles your neck and head and makes it more difficult to sleep on your stomach.
What is considered the best position for sleeping?
Sleeping positions are a matter of personal preference, but most experts recommend back or side sleeping for optimal comfort, neck position, and spinal alignment.
Is it healthier to sleep on a firm mattress?
A mattress is a good fit for you if it’s comfortable, doesn’t cause or worsen aches and pains, and promotes a good night’s sleep. When sleeping on a firm mattress, the bones absorb most of the pressure and put less stress on joints and muscles. A firm mattress may be better for back and stomach-sleepers, while a slightly softer mattress might be the best choice if you sleep on your side.
Is it okay to sleep without a pillow?
Sleeping without a pillow or with a flatter pillow may actually be best if you sleep on your stomach. The less you lift your head while sleeping on your stomach, the less your arch your neck, which helps to lower the risk of back and neck strain.
Our Review Process
Our Sleepopolis reviewers personally test each mattress. We start by unboxing the mattress to figure out how difficult (or easy) it is to get the mattress from the box to the bed. Then, we spend time laying on the bed in different positions, taking time to assess it on our backs, stomachs, and sides. Next, we perform our Sleepopolis tests, using specialized tools to measure qualities like motion transfer, bounce, and pressure relief. Our last step is to open up the mattress and take a look at each layer. These steps allow us to give our final verdict on the mattress. Jump back to our mattress picks
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Logan is the content director of Sleepopolis, which means he not only reviews new mattresses every week, but also curates all the comparisons, best of pages, and video guides on the site. He takes a straightforward, honest approach to his reviews and endeavors to give viewers an objective look at each new product he tries out. Logan has perfected his method by personally testing over 200 different mattresses, so he’s not only able to discern the overall vibe of a specific bed, but to contextualize its feel within the bed-in-a-box market as a whole.
