Best Mattress for Stomach Sleeper With Lower Back Pain



Stomach sleepers are a small number – research and statistics suggest that 7% of the adult population prefers to get shut-eye on the belly. Given the risks of stomach sleeping, it is important that you find the best mattress for stomach sleeper with lower back pain.

Finding the Best Mattress for Stomach Sleeper with Lower Back Pain

Finding the right mattress is a battle in itself. Given the small number of stomach sleepers, there aren’t a ton of products geared to service this segment. The current buzz is memory foam, so you’d probably get a ton of suggestions for its use. They would be only half right.

Foam is an excellent material for the stomach sleeper, but simple memory foam will give way to weight and make things worse. Your mattress should have proper support and layers. Ideally, you want it to be comfortable, and at the same time prevent you from sinking into the mattress. A position like that should prevent undue pressure on the spine, and that will go a long way in easing back pains. Pair it up with a thin (or no) pillow and you’re good to go.

Here’s a choice of mattresses stomach sleepers susceptible to lower back pain should consider.

 

1 Leesa – Leesa Mattress, Queen, 10inch Cooling Avena and Contouring Memory Foam Mattress

Leesa is a fairly well known name in the world of mattresses, and is promising for stomach sleepers. They proudly claim that their Universal Adaptive Feel technology adapts to body types and all sleep styles, and this is something we must be looking at. The all-foam mattress has multiple layers with their Avena foam at the top layer, followed by a layer of memory foam. Together, these two form the comfort layer.

Avena is more resilient than memory foam, so it doesn’t allow your body to sink into the mattress. The polyfoam mattress is available only in a medium-firm option. And that stomach sleepers, is the option that works best for us. Medium-firm is the recommended option for stomach sleepers with lower back troubles.

The downside to Leesa Mattresses comes from its positives. All that memory foam can get you warm enough to wake up sweating. Avena foam is supposed to protect you from the heating effect of the memory foam, but I guess it has its limitations with body type.

Another problem buyers often run into (and important for stomach sleepers) is the smell. You don’t want to faceplant into a mattress that smells awfully of chemicals. However, it is generally seen that the mattress becomes way more comfortable in a few weeks. You’ll have to put the effort of waiting until it’s “housebroken”.

Pros

  • Durable mattress with excellent warranty
  • Comfortable for different sleeping styles
  • Motion transfer isolation
  • Variety of options in size and firmness

Cons

  • Even with the Avena layer, the memory foam mattress can sleep hot for several people
  • It takes some time before the “chemical” smell fades away from the mattress

 

2 Novosbed – The Novosbed Medium

Novosbed has received some serious love from people troubled by back aches. The Canadian manufacturer offers mattresses in soft, medium and firm options, the last two being the relevant ones for stomach sleepers.

The mattress gets around the “sleep hot” problem of memory foam by using high-density airflow foam as the top layer, followed by high-density memory foam. This setup allows the mattress to give way, but prevents it from cocooning the user into the usual hot and sweaty memory foam mattress. They also allow a bit of custom layering with their Comfort+ option. Simply unzip the top layer, add the cushioning of your choice, and zip it back up.

Cons for the Novosbed are the chemical smell from the mattress that will take some time to disappear.

Pros

  • Easily washable top cover makes for easier maintenance
  • Comfort+ makes it easier to have a customized comfort layer
  • Manages to avoid the sleep hot problem of memory foam

Cons

  • The initial chemical smell takes time to go away

 

3 Sleep on Latex – Pure Green Natural Latex Mattress – Medium Firmness – Queen

The Sleep on Latex Pure Green mattress has been a consistent champion in terms of customer reviews. It boasts of 100% natural latex foam paired with organic New Zealand wool and organic cotton. Elasticity of latex works exceptionally well in favor of stomach sleepers, stopping them from sinking into bed, while providing great support and comfort.

Latex allows for good temperature regulation, so you won’t have to worry about waking up sweaty or cold. Sleep on Latex generally recommends its firm mattress for stomach sleepers, though most have found the medium mattress to be better suited. The downside here is the weight, it weighs close to 120 pounds and might be a mild encumbrance while moving or setting up the mattress.

Pros

  • Made from organic, non-toxic materials
  • Great elastic support

Cons

  • The mattress is dense and heavy

 

4 Tuft & Needle – Tuft & Needle Queen Mattress, Bed in a Box, T&N Adaptive Foam, Sleeps Cooler with More Pressure Relief & Support Than Memory Foam

On a match in price and comfort, Tuft & Needle is the winner on our list. The mattress costs fairly less than its competitors on this list, and has excellent customer reviews. Tuft & Needle has a goal that is simple and straightforward; this is a mattress for versatile comfort, bells and whistles not included.

Two layers of foam make up the mattress, with their “Adaptive Foam” taking the upper spot. They claim the adaptive foam is pressure relieving and comfortable without bringing on the heat that memory foam mattresses are susceptible to.

Its slightly firmer approach is excellent for stomach sleepers so there’s less worry about sinking in at the hips into the heat trap of memory foam. The same quality also helps keep your spine in better alignment. On the negative side, this is a “fits all sizes” approach on the generic mattress, which is perhaps not entirely desirable for stomach sleepers, especially if you can afford better option.

Pros

  • Simple, no-frills mattress at a competitive price
  • Built for several sleep positions as a baseline

Cons

  • The general approach may not be the best for stomach sleepers

 

5 Purple – Purple Queen Mattress – Hyper-Elastic Polymer Bed

Purple has its eyes and USP set on pressure relief. It uses a hyper-elastic polymer as the top layer, which the manufacturers claim changes the whole mattress game. The polymer adapts to your pressure points and cradles the shoulders and hips. Taking pressure off the hips can be very useful for stomach sleepers, and help with back ache.

Hyper-elastic polymer arranged in grids to handle pressure forms the comfort layer. Since most of this grid is empty, the sheets you use must be thin to allow airflow in and from the mattress. Two layers of high density foam follow the polymer layer, giving it a solid base.

Purple mattresses have a fair following with buyers sometimes expressing remarkably different and opposing opinions for the mattress. Several would swear by it, and there are those who absolutely hate it. Even so, the verdict is generally favorable to the Purple.

Since the grid gives way to pressure and turns to cradling, this could be a great fit for stomach sleepers and help alleviate your back troubles. Temperature neutrality is a huge positive. On the negative, stomach sleepers especially those sleeping without pillows probably won’t enjoy feeling the grid on their face.

Pros

  • Temperature neutral profile
  • More responsive than memory foam

Cons

  • Expensive, especially if you’re on a budget

 

6 Zinus – Memory Foam 12 Inch Green Tea Mattress, Queen

Comfortable sleep is a high priority, but not all stomach sleepers can drop the money several specialized mattresses demand. Zinus is a great option for those on a budget. Layered in order of comfort foam, memory foam, followed by two layers of high-density airflow foam, Zinus Green Tea mattress can be a good option.

The company claims that the green tea extract treatment of their mattress helps keep it smelling fresh, so you won’t have to worry about obnoxious chemical smells assaulting your sense. They recommend stomach sleepers pick thicker mattresses from their lineup, so keep your eyes on 12-inch or thicker mattresses.

Stomach sleepers dealing with lower back pains will find some comfort on this mattress, as the lower layers are designed to push greater support. There’s great edge support and that can be fairly useful for those who wake up in pain. However, there will be some sinking, so it is possible you run into sleep hot problems that the high density airflow foam can’t solve.

Pros

  • Excellent price point suited for budget shoppers
  • Great edge support

Cons

  • It sleeps warm, to say the least. Some will find it hot.

 

7 Sleep Innovations – Taylor 12-inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress

Like the Tuft&Needle mattress we saw earlier on the list, Taylor takes a no frills approach. It is designed for all sleep positions, including those who spend their night tossing and turning (though we’re sure the mattress hopes you sleep soundly rather than toss and turn!)

The medium-firm mattress will generally refuse to let your body sink, keeping your spine in a better position, thus working great for those worried about back aches and stomach sleeping. Top-layer on the mattress is a 2-inch cooling gel memory foam designed to keep users cool. This is followed by a layer of Air Channel foam, followed by Support Plus foam.

Pros

  • Sensible price point and purchase option
  • No-frills mattress for all sleep positions
  • Low motion transfer

Cons

  • Be prepared to deal with the chemical smell
  • General approach might not work best for stomach sleepers with back problems

Back Pain and Stomach Sleepers

Conventional wisdom is to have the spine properly aligned while we sleep. Evaluating the stomach sleeping posture has three main takeaways:

  • The head is placed far upwards on the pillow
  • The head has to be tilted completely to the left or right
  • The abdomen and hip area where we carry most of our weight sinks into the mattress and forces the spine into an awkward position

The easier said than done solution would be “stop sleeping on your stomach”, but changing sleep positions is not easy. Stomach sleepers take that position because it comes naturally, and is the most comfortable position. A good sleep posture is a better long-term solution. While we fight ourselves into a better sleep position, it is necessary that we find a solution that reduces the troubles of lower backache, starting with a mattress that provides the support our body (and spine) needs for a comfortable sleep.

Extras to Check Before You Buy the Best Mattress for Stomach Sleeper with Lower Back Pain

Well stomach sleepers, I do hope this list helps you find a solution. When out shopping for the best mattress for stomach sleeper with lower back pain, keep your focus on a mattress that works best for you. Mattresses can’t have a one size fits all approach, so take a look around for your custom needs. Prefer a mattress that offers you a fair length trial period so you can gauge the effects of sleeping on the mattress for a few weeks or months. Consider the mattress you buy as an investment and spend some time to check for expected durability and offered warranty.