Choosing the right level of mattress firmness is dependent on your sleeping style or position. If you choose a mattress that is too soft or too firm, you might find it hard to get a good night’s sleep, or worse, you will wake up with aches and pain. Knowing your preferred sleeping position is very important when you are buying a mattress.

The three sleeping positions are side, stomach and back. There are, however, quite a few that sleep in multiple positions. For optimum comfort and support, you should consider the suggested firmness level for a particular sleeping position.

Sleeping on your Back

If you sleep on your back, you want a mattress that can support your lower back so that the spine is in an optimal position while you sleep. For this, a medium firm mattress is recommended. Medium firm is also referred to as the “luxury firm” and it means it is not too soft and not too firm.

Sleeping on your back on a mattress that is too firm or too soft can lead to poor body posture. This will cause muscle strain and lead to aches and pain, particularly in the lower back area.

Sleeping on your Side

The side sleeping position is the most common out of the three. For this, you can go with either a soft or a medium firm mattress. When you sleep on your side, your shoulder and your hips will experience pressure so the best mattress for this is one that can provide pressure relief. A softer mattress can provide enough “give” to reduce the pressure on your hips and shoulder. This will ensure that your spine is in a straight line while you sleep, eliminating discomfort.

If a mattress is too firm, your shoulder and hips may experience excessive pressure and this will lead to tossing and turning. Tossing and turning can greatly reduce the quality of your sleep. Also, a firmer mattress can lead to a bad posture while sleeping and as you know, this will result in body aches and pain.

Sleeping on your Stomach

A firm mattress is recommended for people that usually sleep on their stomach. The main concern when you are sleeping is your body posture and the best way to have a good posture when you sleep on your stomach is to sleep in a firm mattress.

A mattress that is too soft can cause neck and back pain because your chest and stomach can sink further than you want it to. This can strain your neck and the muscles on your back.

No Set Sleeping Position

There are people that have no set sleeping position. They either sleep using a combination of the two or all three of them. For this type of sleeper, the most recommended level of firmness is a medium firm because it is the most balanced.

Summary

The right level of firmness is very important in choosing a mattress. You should be aware of your sleeping position and choose the right one for you so as to eliminate the potential of developing body aches and pain.

If you are the only one that’s going to use the mattress, choosing a mattress is easy because you only have to worry about your preference. However, problems may arise if you are going to be sharing it with somebody. There are ways to deal with this particular issue and we’ve covered them on our buying guide for couples.