If there is one thing all the research I have done has taught me, it’s that everyone seems to be utterly confused about how firm or soft their mattress should be. The chances are that just because you think you prefer a firm mattress as opposed to a soft one, this might not be the right one for you.
Confused? I know I was!
So, for this section of my website, I’m going to deal with a few points that should help you through this “little” dilemma.
Side, Back, or Front
If you’re someone who prefers to sleep on their back, it’s likely a medium mattress will suit you better. The reason for this is you need more support for your back (as you’re sleeping on it). The softer the mattress, the less support you have and this can lead to an uncomfortable night’s sleep as well as unwanted back pains in the morning.
Side sleepers on the other hand may do better with a medium to soft mattress. In fact, sleeping on your side is one of the healthiest positions for anyone. This is because your spine is allowed to fall into its natural curve which in turn takes unwanted pressure away from it, and it also allows your joints to keep a more neutral position. The reason a less firm (or medium to soft) mattress is better in this respect is that they conform well to the natural curves of your body.
For front sleepers, a medium to firm mattress is advisable because the last thing you need is to sink deeply into the padding beneath you. As you might have guessed, this position is the least common and if you do sleep on your stomach, the chances are you’ve ended up doing this in order to try and alleviate various aches and pains across your back, neck, and shoulders.
A Combination of All of the Above
This is where it can get confusing. Not everyone falls asleep on their side and wakes up in the same position. Actually, if you’re thinking about changing your mattress, a good test to do before you make a decision on what type of sleeper you are is to take note of what position you fall asleep in and see if you wake up the same way.
Many people sleep using a combination of back, front and side positions although this could be deemed as tossing and turning, which really isn’t any good for you. This could be a sign that all is not well with your current mattress, or that it might be time to seek the help of a medical professional about the aches and pains you’re experiencing.
In Answer to the Question
Well, whilst I have covered the types of mattresses that are generally considered best for various sleeping positions, this is in no way a strict rule. After all, personal preference comes into play as well. What I will say is that if you can at least eliminate certain firmness types, this will cut down the amount of time you spend looking for the perfect mattress so you can, at last, get a good night’s sleep.
Anns is a contributor at FoamNights. We are committed to providing well-researched, accurate, and valuable content to our readers.
