Best Mattress For Your Sleep Style

Among the various considerations when purchasing a mattress, firmness and support rank at the top of the list, along with material and price. When it comes to firmness preference, the experience of what is comfortable is shaped by our sleep style. Tailoring your mattress choice to your sleep style can make a world of difference in the quality of your sleep. Although most online companies have sleep trials to test out your bed, you may want to develop a good sense of what you’re in fore before ordering. This information is important because all mattresses endear themselves to different kinds of sleepers.

What is Your Sleep Style?

There are three basic sleep styles: back sleepers, side sleepers, and stomach sleepers.

If you aren’t sure what your sleep style is, pay attention to the position you are in when you fall asleep and when you wake. If you have a partner, you can ask them about your sleep position. It may take some time to figure out, but in the end it will serve you well because you can then make a more informed decision on the type of mattress that would best suit you.

Each sleep style has certain features that work best for them. Back sleepers sleep best on mattresses that are medium-firm, while side sleepers sleep best on a soft mattress, and stomach sleepers on a firm mattress.

The Back Sleeper: Medium-Firm Mattress

While not the most popular sleep position, it is best for your body. It puts your head, neck and spine in healthy alignment, taking pressure off of your back – as long at the mattress is appropriate for back sleepers.

Snoring, sleep apnea, and acid reflux are common problems that are worsened by sleeping on your back. Often raising the head of the bead, such as with an adjustable bed, or an extra pillow to raise the head a little will alleviate those problems.

Type: Memory foam mattresses or hybrid mattresses are good because they will conform to your body, providing the right amount of support. Innerspring mattresses can also be a good choice if you can’t find a memory foam that you like.

Tip: Start with a plusher mattress and work your way to medium-firm. You may find that a medium-plush is a great fit. Find what is right for you.

The Side Sleeper: Soft Mattress

Most people, around 75%, are side sleepers. However, being popular doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its drawbacks. Side sleepers can experience back, hip, and shoulder pain due to misalignment of the neck, spine, and hips. If you are a side sleeper and you sometimes wake with a numb arm, hand, or leg, it is probably your mattress.

Side sleepers can also benefit from a long pillow tucked between the knees while they sleep as well as a side sleeper pillow that correctly supports the neck. This relieves the pressure from the back, neck, and shoulder by keeping the body aligned.

Type: Soft and plush is a good place to start when looking for a side sleeper mattress. You may be tempted to just get a mattress topper that is made for side sleepers but be aware that it might not be enough. Look for anything from ultra-plush to medium mattresses to find what works. Try different types of mattresses before settling on one. Even if you have your heart set on a memory foam, you might find that a pillowtop innerspring is more comfortable for you. Don’t lock yourself into just one; try several and explore your options.

Memory foam is a good choice because it will conform to the contours of your body, giving you support in the right places. However, a plush innerspring mattress can be just as comfortable. It comes down to personal preference.

Tip: When shopping for a mattress, lay down on it in the position that you sleep. Don’t get up immediately, stay there for several minutes. Pay attention to the comfort, support, and how your body feels as you lay on it.

The Stomach Sleeper: Firm Mattress

While this sleep position is nowhere nearly as popular as side sleeping, it is still more popular than back sleeping. Many doctors advise against sleeping on your stomach because it can strain the spine and neck. That doesn’t stop the roughly 16% of people who sleep this way though. And fortunately, there is a mattress that works for them.

When you are a stomach sleeper shopping for a mattress, you want to keep comfort and support at the forefront. That can be a fine line but try out mattresses until you find one that feels right. A thinner, flatter pillow is also a good choice when you sleep on your stomach.

Type: A good, firm memory foam mattress is the best choice for stomach sleepers. If you don’t care for memory foam, a good, firm innerspring mattress can be just as good.

Tip: A firm mattress that is made for people with back pain is a good choice for stomach sleepers. It might be tempting to go for a super plush mattress, but it won’t give your body the support it needs, and you could have back and neck pain as a result.

Couples: Adjustable Mattress

If you share your bed with someone, what do you do when their sleep style is different from yours? There was a time when this was a problem, but now there is no need for one partner to sacrifice sleep quality so the other can be comfortable.

You may be able to find a mattress that is somewhere in the middle and works for both of you. However, if that doesn’t happen, consider an adjustable bed. There are several king size models that are adjustable, meaning that they are split, allowing each partner to have the firmness or softness they need..

Tip: Shop together and stay together. Try the bed together and be honest as you discuss what you like and don’t like about each model. It is important for both of you to have a mattress that is comfortable.

Find Your Perfect Mattress

Getting a good night’s sleep starts with your mattress so you want to get the best one possible. By tailoring your mattress style to your sleep style, you can improve your quality of sleep, so you wake feeling more rested and have less pain.