3 Tips For Buying a Mattress Based On Your Sleeping Position
By Jordyn Weinberg
Have you ever laid down for a nice rest, only to find your partner is starfish sprawled across the bed? Or have your friends teased you upon finding out you prefer to sleep stick-straight all night long? Everyone has a favourite sleeping position, even if other people just don’t get it. Whether it’s on your side, back or stomach, you deserve to get the most comfortable sleep possible. We’re going to take you through our tips and tricks to find the most supportive mattress, no matter what your preferred way to sleep is!
1. Side Sleeping
Side sleeping is the most common sleeping position, with 54 per cent of adults gravitating to it. It’s generally considered an optimal way to sleep because it promotes a neutral spine, meaning it maintains your back’s natural curves throughout the night (compared to other positions that may twist or bend it out of shape). There are a few different positions side sleepers might prefer:Fetal PositionThe fetal position is when you sleep on your side, with your limbs curled up like a ball similar to a fetus in the womb. It’s a very popular way to sleep, favoured by more than four out of ten people. This is a healthy way to sleep as it reduces stress on your back, especially the lower back.The YearnerThe yearner is when you sleep on your side with one leg and one arm outstretched, as if yearning for something. Similar to other side sleeping positions, this promotes spinal alignment and keeps airways clear. The disadvantage is it can put pressure on your shoulders and arms, which could lead to discomfort overnight.For side sleepers searching for a mattress, an important factor for them to consider is great pressure relief. This is because side sleeping increases the pressure on one side of your body throughout the night. A pressure-relieving mattress will cradle the side of your body and offer more support for your neck, shoulders, and hips, reducing any discomfort you may feel.
2. Back Sleeping
Back sleeping is the second most common position. It has lots of benefits, like providing a more even distribution of your body weight. It can help people with neck pain by taking advantage of gravity to keep your neck and spine straight. Additionally, it doesn’t put pressure on your face like side or stomach sleeping does, which can help prevent wrinkles. As with side sleeping, back sleeping has a couple of variations:SoldierSoldier is when you sleep on your back, completely straight. This can be beneficial because the straight posture keeps your spine aligned while you sleep. The even distribution of weight also helps reduce neck and shoulder strain.Hot Tip: To improve spinal alignment for your lower back, you can try putting a pillow underneath the back of your knees when you go to sleep. We recommend the Endy Customizable Pillowbecause you can add or remove shredded memory foam to suit your needs.StarfishStarfish is when you sleep on your back with both arms and legs splayed out to the sides in the shape of a star. People who experience shoulder pain may prefer this, as it keeps both shoulders comfortably outstretched. Starfish sleepers may stretch out like this to distribute their body heat, unlike fetal position sleepers who stay compact throughout the night and could overheat. If you prefer starfish, you are likely a hot sleeper and may value sleeping on a mattress with cooling capabilities.Back sleepers searching for a mattress should ensure they choose an option with proper support. A supportive mattress helps with weight distribution and prevents back sleepers’ lower back from sinking in too deeply, which can cause misalignment and discomfort. The best way to achieve this is by finding a mattress with responsive foam that feels comfortable on the back and distributes weight evenly.
3. Stomach Sleeping
Ranking at the bottom as the least common sleeping position, only 16 per cent of adults sleep on their stomach. There is less variation, but stomach sleepers may rest with one leg bent or with both legs outstretched. Sleeping this way is typically not advised as it causes strain on the neck and back.Hot Tip: If you are sleeping on your stomach, placing a pillow under your hips will better align your spine for a healthier position.For those who are avid stomach sleepers, our top recommendation is to choose a medium-firm mattress for the best level of support. Medium-firm offers the perfect balance, conforming to your body without letting it sink too deeply into the mattress. For stomach sleepers with improper spinal alignment, this can help maintain a healthier neck and back.From all the sleeping positions we mentioned, you may favour one or a combination of several. Whether you toss and turn in your sleep, or stay more stationary, the best way to maintain a healthy sleep no matter your preference is by choosing the right products to support you. The Endy Mattress and Endy Hybrid Mattressare great choices to keep you comfortable all night long. Some key benefits are:
They offer pressure point relief, which improves comfort in all sleeping positions, but especially for side sleepers whose shoulders and hips can dig into a mattress.
For back sleepers, a supportive mattress helps maintain proper weight distribution, which is especially beneficial for the lower back. Endy’s proprietary Comfort Foam is the perfect responsive material to provide support and distribute weight evenly.
Both mattresses are medium-firm, which is recommended for all sleeping positions to get the best level of support - a particularly important consideration for stomach sleepers.
An added bonus is that they use open-cell foam to provide airflow and keep you cool! This is great for starfish sleepers who get hot throughout the night and need more breathability in their mattress.
Don’t sacrifice your sleep. With the right mattress, you can achieve comfort in any sleeping position!
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