Is there a better feeling that crawling into bed, exhausted from the day, and falling into a deep sleep? Maybe the feeling of waking up rested… no matter what, sleeping well is truly an amazing feeling.

Having the correct mattress for your sleep needs and habits is an important step in helping you get the best sleep possible. And while weight, height, room size and preferred firmness are often considered when choosing a mattress, one factor that is often overlooked is sleep position. In fact, determining the position that a person sleeps in for the majority of the night will affect what kind of mattress one should choose.

There are three basic sleep positions (and then a couple more that build are variations of these). They are: sleeping on the back, the side and the stomach.

Back Sleepers

Let’s start with sleeping on the back. For back sleepers, it is important that their back is protected and supported. Pressure relief is mostly needed for the small of the back, or the lumbar spine. Being a back sleeper and having the wrong mattress firmness can lead to back problems like soreness and stiffness.

When choosing a mattress as a back sleeper, a good place to start is one with about two inches of softer material, or “comfort layer”, on the top of the mattress, and then adding or subtracting from there.

Side Sleepers

Next we have people who mostly sleep on their sides. This is the most common sleep position in the world and is sometimes referred to as the fetal position. We’ll call it side sleeping.

Side sleepers have a little more to think about than back sleepers, that’s because more bony parts of themselves press into the mattress, like shoulders, hips and knees. Therefore, the “comfort layer” should be a little softer and/or thicker. Most people will start at about three inches thick and then work up or down from there. Again, too much or not enough material to sink into can lead to aches and pains in the morning.

Stomach Sleepers

Finally, the last type of sleeping position is stomach sleeping. Stomach sleepers are the rarest form of sleepers, these folks need to choose a mattress firmness and a comfort layer that won’t lead to lower back issues. For example, if a person is sinking their pelvis into the mattress too much, it can lead to an over extended arched back and a painful morning.

Related Article: What Is The Best Mattress Size?

In this case, stomach sleepers should consider something quite firm, and with a flat pillow, especially if they are the type to not move around much during the night. Starting with one inch of a comfort layer is smart, and then adjusting from there.

Of course, most people in the world are combination sleepers, falling asleep on their sides and waking up on their back, for example. But normally people will have a position that they feel most comfortable in and will spend the majority of their sleep time resting a certain way.

No matter the case, investing in a mattress that is right for a person’s body and preferred sleep position has huge benefits. Not only will it help allow a person to get a good night’s sleep, it will mean that they are waking up well rested and without any aches and pains. And, as mentioned, there’s almost nothing better in the world than that.

If you are thinking about investing in a new mattress and are in the White Rock, Surrey or Langley area, stop by our mattress store! Our incredible staff will be able to answer your questions and show you a selection of mattresses that are the right fit for you.

Sleep well!