What is your sleeping position? Are you a side sleeper, a back sleeper, or a stomach sleeper? If you are not sure, try to think of the position in which you wake up in the morning; that is most likely the position you slept in for the majority of the night. Knowing your “sleeping position” is important in determining the mattress that will provide you with the best comfort and support.
Side Sleepers
This is the most common sleeping position. Sleeping on your side can promote spinal alignment and alleviate snoring. However, it also means that more pressure is placed on your hips and shoulders, which can lead to pain in these “pressure points” if your mattress is not well suited for you.
For side sleepers, be careful that the mattress you choose is not too firm, as this may cause pain in these pressure points over time. A medium or soft mattress that will contour to your body shape, providing pressure relief and still providing support, should feel best for you. For example, Tempur-Pedic mattresses are one of the top mattress brands in the industry known for this contouring that they feature on their logo!
Back Sleepers
If you are a back sleeper, you might find that mattresses which are even just a little bit too soft result in you waking up feeling achy. Too much “give” can be a problem for back sleepers. A firm or medium-firm mattress offers a balance of support and comfort, helping to keep the spine in a neutral position.
If you sleep best on your back, there is an increased likelihood that you may snore sometimes. Snoring may result in you waking up feeling groggy and not so well rested. In that case, you might consider an “adjustable base” to go underneath your mattress. Adjustable bases are mechanical bed frames that lift the head of the bed and usually the feet too, many have other features as well. Lifting the head of the bed up can help substantially with snoring, and make a huge difference in how rested you feel in the morning. We’ll have more on this in a later blog
Stomach Sleepers
Stomach sleeping can be a tricky position as it can strain the neck and back. If a mattress is too soft your body may arch too much, so a more firm mattress is typically recommended for stomach sleepers. It can help keep your body on a more even plane and reduce the likelihood of the lower back sinking into the mattress.
You might find a firmer than expected mattress feels best. Make sure to spend time in your natural sleeping position on the mattress you are testing to make sure it feels comfortable.
Combination Sleepers
Many people switch between different sleeping positions during the night. Tossing and turning, and sleeping in multiple positions during the night may be just another sign that you need a new mattress. If you're a combination sleeper, we recommend thinking: what position am I in most often when I wake up?
Make sure to try lying in each position when you are shopping for a new mattress, and spend some time in each position, especially that sleeping position you wake up in the most.
What’s the take away from all this?
When you are out shopping for the right mattress, make sure you test the mattress in your personal sleeping position to find what works best for you!
You can rest assured that our trained staff at each of our four locations are here to help find the right mattress for you. And you can take comfort in our 90 day comfort exchange; if it turns out that the mattress you selected is not the right fit, we will help you find the right one and exchange your mattress with no restocking fees.
Stay tuned for our next blog in the series The Basics of Buying: A Mattress Shopper’s Guide
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