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Best Mattresses for Stomach Sleepers in the US

Sleep Soundly, Stomach-Sleeper Approved!
Best Mattresses for Stomach Sleepers in the US
Tom Greenspan
Updated 
February 7, 2024

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It is commonly known that stomach sleeping causes various problems, including back and neck pain, but they can also be caused by the wrong mattress.

Even though stomach sleeping is quite rare among adults (accounting for 7.3% of the population), many prefer this position out of habit or personal predilection. Moreover, side and stomach sleepers also benefit from reduced sleep apnea and snoring since they keep your air passageway open. 

However, sleeping on your stomach can put excess pressure on your neck and back by compressing the spine. So, it’s very important to find the best mattress for this sleeping position. 

A medium-firm or firm mattress is preferred by most stomach sleepers. However, the preferred firmness level depends on body weight and type. So, let’s look at the best mattress options for stomach sleepers with different body weights and preferences!

5 Best Mattresses For Stomach Sleepers

1. The DreamCloud Premier Hybrid Mattress - Best Luxury Mattress For Stomach Sleepers

This hybrid mattress gives you the best of both worlds. While the responsive memory foam layers offer cushioning and pressure relief, the pocketed coils ensure good edge support and motion isolation. Moreover, this medium-firm mattress is made from a premium cashmere blend, which is highly breathable and gives you a comfortable layer to sleep on. Its material also works alongside the steel coils and foam layers to maintain optimal temperature for hot sleepers.

Drawback

DreamCloud’s Hybrid Mattress is quite expensive, so the purchase depends on whether you wish to invest a significant amount on a mattress alone.

Verdict

An ideal mattress for stomach sleepers, the DreamCloud hybrid mattress provides optimal edge support, pressure relief, and temperature regulation all in one place! Besides, the company offers a lifetime warranty and a 365-night free trial, so you’re welcome to test if the mattress firmness and specifications suit you. 

2. Nectar Premier Copper Memory Foam Mattress - Best Mattress For Lightweight Stomach Sleepers

The memory foam mattresses from Nectar are known for their gel-infused goodness, which conveniently molds according to your body curvature and weight. But this premium copper-infused foam mattress goes one step further with its heat-wicking technology. This technology responds to the sleeper’s temperature and remains cool using copper fibers. Furthermore, Nectar’s copper-infused medium-to-firm mattresses provide proper support and cooling and relieve pressure around your joints.

Drawback

A Nectar mattress is comparatively affordable compared to the ones from DreamCloud, but you need to pay more to upgrade to a hybrid mattress.

Verdict

With gel-infused memory foam and ActiveCool copper fiber technology, this is one of the best mattresses for stomach sleepers. And you can sleep on this supportive mattress for 365 nights, during which you can ask for a refund in case of dissatisfaction.

3. Puffy Mattress - Best Mattress For Combination Sleepers

Endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association, the Puffy Mattress is ideal for various sleeping positions, so it also works for combination sleepers. This memory foam mattress is designed with five foam layers certified by CertiPUR-US, providing you with a soft surface and proper alignment. Scoring medium-firm on the firmness scale, this luxury firm mattress reduces pressure around your neck and back, helping you enjoy a good night’s sleep on your stomach. 

Drawback

This firmer mattress is heavy on the pockets, but keep on the lookout for their special discount code to significantly reduce the price.

Verdict

Designed with a gel-infused Cooling Cloud technology, the Puffy Mattress is helpful for stomach and hot sleepers to regulate optimal body temperature. Moreover, its bottom layer of firm-core support reduces movement and provides complete motion isolation to prevent sleep disturbances.

4. Helix Plus Mattress - Best For Heavy Stomach Sleepers

A hybrid mattress with high-density latex foam layers, the Helix Plus gives you proper support and pressure relief for all sleeping positions. This slightly firmer mattress with individually wrapped coils is ideal for heavier stomach sleepers since it provides a solid base and good motion isolation. Moreover, these innerspring mattresses from Helix come with two cover options - the TENCEL or GlacioTex Cooling cover. Both offer optimum cooling and breathability, but the latter is more advanced. 

Drawback

The Helix Plus Mattress tends to lose its density over time, so you might have to use a mattress topper to extend its longevity.

Verdict

Unlike other hybrid mattresses, Helix Plus is free from harmful chemicals and offers different cooling upgrades which help you sleep comfortably. Besides safe delivery and a 10-15 years warranty, Helix also allows you to pay for this foam mattress in installments. 

5. Signature Hybrid Mattress - Best Hybrid Mattress For Stomach Sleepers

Brooklyn Bedding incorporates an advanced Variflex memory foam into its mattress, which offers excellent buoyancy and breathability, giving you a comfort layer. The pocketed coils inside the memory foam mattress provide zonal support that effectively targets your pressure points for pain relief. And besides motion isolation, the Signature Hybrid mattress comes in three firmness levels on the firmness scale - soft, medium, and firm options. 

Drawback

The firmness level isn’t very accurate. So, go for a firm mattress if you prefer medium, and likewise, choose the medium-firm option for a medium-soft mattress.

Verdict

This affordable memory foam is shipped directly to your doorstep from the factory to cut down extra costs, giving you a premium sleeping surface. Moreover, its 120-night free trial and 10-year warranty equip you with enough time to test it and make an informed decision.

FAQ

1. What to look for in a mattress for stomach sleepers?

A memory foam mattress that is highly rated among side sleepers may not be comfortable for people who sleep on their stomachs. These are some of the important factors to keep in mind while choosing a mattress for stomach sleepers:

a. Firmness Level

Stomach sleepers generally need to be on the lookout for the firmness scale while choosing a mattress. A firmer mattress is advised for this sleeping position so that your hips, back, and neck are given enough support to relieve pressure.

If you go for a softer mattress, then there will be higher chances of your hips sinking in, putting excess pressure on the spine.

b. Mattress Construction

Depending on your preference for the feel and durability, you need to choose the kind of construction that suits the stomach sleeping position. For heavier stomach sleepers, we recommend purchasing an innerspring mattress with individually wrapped steel coils for better support and motion isolation. 

c. Body Type

The firmness level that will give you optimal support and comfort highly depends on your body type and weight. If you’re on the heavier side, there will be more pressure on the mattress, so ideally, a firm mattress will work best for you. However, if you’re petite and lightweight, a medium-firm or even soft mattress will give you enough support for a good night’s sleep.

2. What are the different mattress types for stomach sleepers?

We’ve already mentioned that mattress firmness depends on your personal preference and body type, especially if you’re a stomach sleeper. Besides a supportive plush pillow, people who prefer this sleep position require the right balance between support and cushioning. Let’s look at some types of mattresses that will offer the same:

a. Innerspring Mattresses

They are usually thicker mattresses with steel coils or pocketed springs, which are commonly found in older households since they were one of the first types of mattresses manufactured.

These coils are typically incorporated at the base of the mattress, and there are three kinds of coils available - pocketed coils, offset, and continuous wire coils. Moreover, innerspring mattresses offer thin layers and an additional pillow option, which provides even support throughout the surface.

And since they strike the right balance between comfort and support, the innerspring type is considered to be the best mattress for stomach sleepers.

b. Foam Mattresses

These are entirely made from memory foam, latex foam, or polyfoam - some mattresses even provide a mix of all three. Memory foam and latex mattresses are good budget options and provide significant pressure relief. You can also opt for an organic mattress with chemical-free and environment-friendly foam options. 

However, stomach sleepers must note that an all-foam mattress can sink if they’re heavy. So, we recommend stomach sleepers look for higher mattress firmness.

c. Hybrid Mattress

This combination of innerspring and memory foam mattresses provides the best of both worlds with the spring support and cushiony, comfort layers. And since it strikes such a perfect balance, it is a favorite among stomach sleepers.

3. Is Stomach Sleeping Bad For Your Body?

As a stomach sleeper, you might be able to reduce the chances of your snoring in this sleeping position. 

But it is also very risky for your back and neck since it provides excess pressure due to most of your body weight being put in the middle. Sleeping on your stomach can lead to improper spinal alignment and neck pain since you need to turn sideways to breathe. Moreover, doctors advise against this position, especially for people with GERD, since it can aggravate acid-reflux-related issues.

So, if you can’t immediately change the sleeping position, it’s time to get better support by switching out your softer mattresses. Go for firm mattresses since they prevent your hips from sinking in and changing your spinal alignment. Moreover, you can use thinner pillows that don’t require shifting your head too much.

4. What kind of pillows should stomach sleepers use?

Stomach sleepers should use thin pillows coupled with luxury-firm innerspring or all-foam mattresses. Thin pillows help align your neck with your spine, keeping it in a straight position.

Contrarily, a thick or tall pillow will kink your neck all night, leading to serious neck pain. You should switch to comfortable mattresses for stomach sleepers to further prevent the issue.

5. What is the best mattress for combination sleepers?

Combination sleepers use various sleeping positions, including side, back, and stomach positions, so finding the best mattress for them is challenging. While stomach sleepers benefit most from a medium to firm mattress, the side sleeping position works better with a softer one. This is because side sleepers require adequate pressure relief on their hips and shoulders.

The best mattress for combination sleepers is one made of memory foam with medium firmness. But you’ll still have to do some trial and error. 

Another good option for such sleepers is a hybrid mattress with wrapped coils that provide enough support while plush comfort layers help relieve pressure.

6. What mattress should stomach sleepers with back pain use?

Stomach sleepers usually suffer from back pain when their hips sink too much into the mattress. One way to prevent this is by ensuring the mattress doesn’t dip in the middle while you’re lying on it.

Preventing back pain when you’re a stomach sleeper is tricky - but you can consider switching to a medium-firm mattress to get enough support while asleep. We recommend innerspring, hybrid, or latex mattresses since their materials are more supportive than all-foam mattresses.

7. Are there any organic options for stomach sleepers?

The best organic mattress for stomach sleepers is usually made from natural latex and individually wrapped coils. You can also opt for ones with a natural down layer for extra comfort and a soft, cushiony feel. 

An organic mattress consists of cruelty-free, chemical-free, and eco-friendly materials - so look at the product description carefully. Moreover, you’ll find that wool, cotton, and latex are the only materials that’ll qualify as organic.

8. What are some tips for stomach sleeping? 

Even though switching your mattress and pillow to a stomach sleeper-friendly one does help reduce the risks associated with the sleeping position, you must consider other things, too.

The positions of your pillows can significantly reduce or increase the potential risks of stomach sleeping. Here are some tips for sleeping healthier in this position:

  • Either use a thin pillow or don’t use any pillows at all - you don’t want your neck and head to be angled away from the spine.
  • Stomach sleepers should place a pillow beneath their pelvis - this will provide support to their hips and take the pressure off their spine, promoting better alignment.
  • Always stretch in the morning to help your body get back to proper alignment and promote muscle strength immediately after waking up.
  • You can also put a pillow between your knees if the one under the pelvis isn’t long enough - this extra measure will ensure proper alignment of the hip bones.

9. Does sleeping on your stomach affect your face shape?

Definitely. Stomach sleepers have most of their faces on the pillow under significant pressure from their head. This combination of pressure, tension, and compression causes your face to wrinkle and distort over time. That’s why you’ll hear that stomach and side sleepers suffer from sleep wrinkles that significantly lead to premature aging, which can’t be reversed easily.

10. Is a memory foam mattress good for stomach sleepers?

The memory foam or all-foam type isn’t the best mattress for stomach sleepers, but it can work if it has the appropriate mattress firmness. If you want a memory foam mattress, go for a medium firm to firm one so that your hips are adequately supported throughout the night. A soft memory foam mattress will gradually sag or dip, leading to severe back and neck pain.

11. Which is the healthiest sleep position for adults?

Sleeping on your side and back is considered to be healthier than stomach sleeping. Both positions provide enough support to your spine while keeping it properly aligned. Moreover, it removes unwanted pressure from your spinal tissue and helps your muscle relax and recover throughout the night. 

That’s why you should correct the bad habit of stomach sleeping even if you purchase the best mattresses for stomach sleepers.

12. Which sleeping position is the best for your brain?

Side sleeping is proven to be beneficial for your brain since it helps the glymphatic system function optimally. This system in your brain is dormant during the day and active at night, and it is responsible for helping your body recover. So, it’s very important to do whatever you can to facilitate your brain’s functions, and side sleeping can significantly help in this case.

Final Thoughts

All five mattresses for stomach sleepers that we’ve mentioned in this article are the hybrid variety that offers a perfect balance between support and comfort. Among the five products, we recommend the DreamCloud Premier Hybrid Mattress as the top pick since it provides excellent edge support, motion isolation, and a breathable cashmere-blend top layer.

Furthermore, the Nectar Copper Foam Mattress wins the second position for its temperature-regulating abilities, cushiony layers, and innerspring bases. Consequently, the Puffy Mattress comes to a close third with its chiropractic benefits, ideal for combination sleepers. 

However, the final decision should entirely depend on your long-term sleeping goals, budget, body weight, type, and of course, your allergies and other health issues.

With that, we’ve concluded our brief review of the five best mattresses for stomach sleepers. See you next time!