Mattresses for Combination Sleepers
Are you the type of person who does not sleep on a specific side of the bed or in a similar position? If yes, then you're on the right page. We know that when buying a new mattress, it's no easy feat, and for people like you, who sleep in multiple ways, it can be challenging to find the right one. It can be overwhelming looking for one that suits your needs when many mattresses are advertised for people who sleep on their front, side, and back.
There are mattresses for people who like to sleep in different positions, and they are known as combination sleepers. This term means someone who sleeps in two or more positions during the night. Just because you or someone you know sleeps in different combinations does not necessarily mean it's wrong. It's not correct or better than any other single sleeping position. Combination sleepers may contribute to more circulation in their body and reduce the numbness of the limbs. But, if you are a combination sleeper, you must always have your spine in line with your pelvis and shoulders. If the spine is not aligned in any of the three positions, it could cause many aches and pains in the shoulders, neck, hips, and lower back. To reduce this risk, today, we're going to provide insights on excellent mattresses for combination sleepers. But, before we go any further, why don't you check our top picks?
What is the mattress for combination sleepers?

When finding the best mattress for combination sleepers, you have to consider the mattresses contouring abilities. If you're someone who turns a lot, you will need to have a mattress that hugs your posture. This will allow for greater pressure relief, and it will support you better during your sleep. Similarly, you may want to opt for one that has little motion transfer, so when you're changing positions, you don't wake your partner up or even yourself from the movement of the bed. Finally, you will want one that equally distributes the support levels across your body. But it's important to know that there's no best mattress for combination sleepers; it's completely subjective; it depends on your preferences and your body weight.
Best types
As highlighted earlier, combination sleeper mattresses can be a personal preference. However, here are some great mattress types that might benefit you:
Hybrid mattress
This is a mattress with multiple layers that incorporates foam and spring to aid comfort and support. The purpose of this mattress is to give combination sleepers the best of both and contribute to a good night's sleep. The top part of this mattress contains a comfort layer that has memory foam and an innerspring. This comfort layer must be a minimum of two inches thick to provide adequate support. They provide an ample amount of bounce and are great for pressure points, which is suitable for comfort sleepers. Their individual pocket springs on the mattress help aches and pains and provide support in all areas. Similarly, the foam parts of a hybrid mattress provide cushioning and contour your body to allow you to have a good night's sleep. On average, these mattresses last between 6-7 years. On the contrary, a hybrid mattress does not provide motion isolation as the steel coils and create movement. Plus, these mattresses tend to be more expensive due to their density and the range of materials that make them.
Memory foam mattress
Memory foam is a unique mattress, as it does not have any springs that can poke or interfere with your turning in your sleep. If looked after well, these mattresses can last around 6-7 years. Memory foam materials have a polymer inside of them called polyurethane. This material helps absorb body heat and mold to you according to your body posture. Similarly, it also helps supports pressure, restlessness, joints, and more. This is a mattress that is also optimal for anybody's sleeping position, which is great for combination sleepers. Even if you sleep in multiple positions, it will allow you to enjoy the comfort and remember your sleeping positions. Many of these mattresses are also hypoallergenic, so another plus is that it does not trigger your allergies! On the contrary, this mattress does tend to get hot easily in comparison to other mattress style. Therefore, combination sleepers often look at getting copper infused memory foam or gel memory foam.
Gel mattress
Gel mattresses are also similar to memory foam mattresses; however, they retain less heat. Alongside this, they have gel beads that are comfortable to sleep on and contour the shape of your body. The material is incredibly supportive no matter what side of the bed you sleep on, and it provides sufficient alignment of your spine.
Latex mattress
A latex mattress contains rubber and can have foam and springs inside of it. Generally, latex comes in two options which are either synthetic or natural. Most of the time, it's natural latex such as Dunlop or Talay used in a mattress. Talay has more holes and is softer, whereas Dunlop is durable and dense. Latex mattresses provide a springy feeling and are incredibly responsive. It has many cooling properties, which means no matter what position you sleep in, your body can cool down easily. In addition to this, they're perfect for pressure relief and have great motion isolation, and don't make any noise when moving. On average, these mattresses can last between 7-8 years. If you're a combination sleeper and looking to have a latex mattress, then you should be wary it's a lot more expensive than other types. This is because of the natural ingredients in them, which raise the price tag.
Benefits of using mattress for each sleeping position

Combination sleepers sleep in more than one position during the nighttime. Typical positions combination sleepers can sleep in are front, back, and side. Generally, combination sleepers can have good health benefits such as increased circulation, greater oxygen intake, less likely to snore, less likely to have numb limbs, and more. Alongside these advantages, certain sleeping positions can contribute to better health, for example:
- Side sleeping: Side sleeping tends to be one of the most common sleeping positions. When a combination sleeper sleeps on their side, they will have better airflow. It provides the lungs with a greater capacity to inhale air and get to other areas of your body. Because of this, it also reduces your chances of snoring, helps digestion, and takes the pressure off your main organs like your lungs and heart.
- Back sleeping: Mattresses can help your back by keeping it aligned due to the constant contact between the back and the mattress. It also reduces any sinus build-up, tension headaches and lowers your chance of having acid reflux.
- Front sleeping: When sleeping on your stomach, you can reduce your chances of having sleep apnea and snoring. However, out of all the three sleeping positions, this is often the unhealthiest one. The reason being is that it stops the natural curve of your spine and causes great pain in your back. Similarly, when sleeping in this position, there is a greater risk of you straining your neck due to your head being twisted and slept on from an unnatural position. If you are a combination sleeper who regularly sleeps in this position, you should be cautious and try to sleep on your front or side more.
What mattress firmness is best?

Out of many types of firmness, if you're a combination sleeper, then generally you a specific type of firmness that applies to you. Firmness is calculated on a scale from 1, which is the softest, all the way to 10, which is the firmest. Ultimately, the firmness of a mattress is often based on your body weight, and the heavier you are, the higher the firmness rating should be. To give you an idea, here is a breakdown of some bodyweights and firmness required for combo sleepers:
- Weighing less than 130lbs - If you are a combination sleeper and weigh under 130lbs, this is classed as a lightweight category. To help optimize your sleep, you will want to have a mattress that is medium-soft, which will allow you to sink into the mattress when sleeping slightly.
- Weighing between 130lbs-230lbs - If you fall into this weight category, you're classed as an average sleeper. If you are an average sleeper, you will want to have a medium-soft or medium-firm bed to optimize your spinal position and take press off certain areas of your body.
- Over 230lbs - Finally, if you weigh over 230lbs, you won't want to sag into your bed, and you will want to have a medium-firm mattress to help you.
On average, many combination sleepers go for a medium-firm mattress and rank 5/10 or 7/10 on the firmness scale. This is because it gives the mattress a good balance between pressure relief and supports other areas of your body. It also helps your spine aline better and provides you with a healthier sleep.
Conclusion
The best mattress for combination sleepers is a subjective choice. Generally, mattresses that are memory foam, hybrid, latex, and gel can provide the support you need for different sleeping positions. Memory foam out of them all tends to be the most affordable but does retain quite a bit of heat, so you will want to opt for a gel or copper-infused memory foam. Similarly, the most common type of firmness combination sleepers opt for is medium firmness, around 5-7/10 on the firmness scale. This allows the spine to curve naturally and does not cause any pressure. Don't just buy based on this rating, though; you should go out to a showroom and try them and lie in different positions to see if it's comfy for you before you buy.
FAQ
What does it mean to be a combination sleeper?
A combination sleeper means you sleep in different positions during the nighttime. Typically, there are three sleeping positions such as back, front, and side. This means you either sleep in two of these or all three, changing between them in your sleep.
Is a soft or firm mattress best for a combination sleeper?
A firm mattress is better for a combination sleeper as it provides adequate support for your pressure points and, most importantly, your spine when sleeping. At the same time, a softer mattress will cause you to sink down and cause a lot of problems with your joints.
Is it bad to sleep on your stomach?
Out of the three sleeping positions, sleeping on your stomach is the worst. This is because your spine isn't aligned naturally and can cause back problems. Similarly, your neck can become twisted and cause you not to intake as much oxygen.
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