Do you fall asleep on your side and wake up lying on your tummy? Combination sleeping is prevalent among sleepers, including me as a self-confessed freestyler. We qualify as combination sleepers since we use more than one of the three common sleeping positions: back, side, and stomach. Some gravitate toward a specific position while others shift multiple times on the course of their sleep. According to experts, a combination sleeping position is best for people with poor circulation. However, there’s one crucial point to consider – the best mattress for combination sleepers.
A lot of factors are at play here. Weight is one thing to consider as the mattress has to withstand the compression and movement. But regardless of body type, the mattress should be comfy no matter what sleeping position the user prefers.
More about combination sleepers
The common challenge among combination sleepers is achieving spine alignment. One moment they are lying flat on their backs and then twisted on their sides on the other. This poses a threat to heightened pressure points on the hips, shoulder, lumbar area, and shoulders.
Many combination sleepers wake up with body pain. When this happens, there’s something wrong during their slumber. Here’s what you need to know about the three basic sleeping positions and its combination:
Stomach sleeping
Switching to stomach sleeping while dozing isn’t an advisable position. It puts the weight on the midsection plus it arches the spine backward. Aside from possible lower back and chest pain, neck discomfort will also take place as sleepers crane their head on one side. For women, sleeping on their tummy can cause pain on the bust area. Still, it would help if you get the best mattress for side and back sleepers.
Side sleeping
A lot of people fall asleep on their sides. As the most common sleeping position, side sleeping reduces the chance of snoring and it also reduces the strain given that there’s proper sleep support. However, this is said to give sleepers wrinkles. For women, their breasts tend to sag on one side which could be painful. However, side sleeping in combination with stomach sleeping might balance the disadvantages of the latter. As long as you don’t have any special physical condition, side sleeping shouldn’t be a problem.
Back sleeping
This sleeping position is the best so far if we’re talking about spine alignment. However, those who have big tummies like overweight people and heavily pregnant women can be prone to back pain. Since the body will shift the weight at the center, the hip will bear the brunt of the compression. It’s also associated with loud snoring and heartburn. Anyway, back sleeping combined with side sleeping would be excellent for sleepers.
Take note that some sleepers may gravitate towards two of these sleeping positions. Aside from that, combination sleepers may prefer fetal, yearner, freefall, and more in combination with other poses. Others would be shifting to all of the mentioned positions and more. They are commonly referred to as freestyle sleepers.
Regardless of the combination, sleepers may wake up with pain if they don’t use the right mattress. The biggest enemy here is pressure points. If these aren’t released, lingering discomfort can be observed.
Am I a combination sleeper?
Each of us has a unique breakdown of hours we spend on a particular sleeping position. I can say that it’s rare for a person to stay in a single sleeping position all throughout the night. At one moment or another, a side sleeper will lie on his back and then turn on his original position.
I think all of us are combination sleepers. It just happens that many of us have a heavier preference toward a sleeping position.
The answer to whether you are a combination sleeper or not is a bit tricky. You can shift in different positions overnight and then wake up on your dozing spot. It’s important to know what type of sleeper you are so you can get the best mattress for combination sleepers. Still, you can assess your sleeping patterns by thinking of the following points:
Do you wake up in the same position as the one you sleep in?
If yes, then there’s a possibility that you’re not a combination sleeper. But like what I’ve said, you might be shifting multiple times at night.
Do you experience lingering pain on the same spot on your body?
If yes, then you’re probably sleeping like a log in the same position for hours. This is usually a sign that you stick to a single sleeping position. Anyway, you might still benefit from using the best mattress for side and back sleepers.
What does your partner observe?
One guaranteed way of knowing whether you are a combination sleeper or not is asking your partner about it. Does he or she see you shifting to different sleeping positions at night?
Top Picks for Combination Sleepers
Have you finally decided to say goodbye to sleepless nights? While that is a big step to take, I’m here to help you out. The best way to guarantee that you are comfortable in different sleeping positions is to find a mattress that caters to your needs. To narrow down your search, here are five awesome mattresses for combination sleepers:
Comparison Chart
The New Purple Mattress, with Soft 4″ Smart Comfort Grid Pad and Cooling Comfort-Stretch Cover (Queen)
Casper Sleep Mattress
Specs
4-layer foam construction
Breathable open-cell hypoallergenic latex
Bed-in-a-box type
100-night sleep trial
10-year standard warranty
If you love the feel of memory foam, this Casper mattress will be the best choice for combination sleepers. It has four layers of foam that have excellent bounce and contouring effect. However, a common complaint about memory foam it’s too hot to sleep on. The good thing about this Casper bed is it contains a layer of hypoallergenic open-cell latex that makes it breathable and cool to the body.
Casper provides the right sink and bounce which is perfect for sleepers who prefer multiple positions. One thing you should know as a combination sleeper is that a very firm mattress is a no-no. It makes your back arch when you’re lying flat and it curves your spine when you lie on your side.
When it comes to supporting, Casper does it perfectly. As a side sleeper, I don’t feel any strain and it’s truly cool to sleep at despite the hugging effect. This mattress is like a support cloud but not too plush to the point that you’re bouncing everywhere. It’s the best mattress for combination sleepers, in my opinion.
Take note that this mattress will come in a box and will stabilize in a day or two. There would be a light chemical whiff, but based on experience, it’s normal for vacuum-packed beds. It will soon wear off after a few days.
What could be done better:
The edge support is a little below average. If you keep sitting on the sides of your mattress, it might feel a little squishy and sinking. But other than that, this is the best mattress for side and back sleepers.
New Purple Mattress
Specs
- Smart Comfort Grid of hyper-elastic polymer
- Plexus Side Panels for more breathability
- Motion isolation cushion
- No hammock effect
- 30-night sleep trial
The Purple mattress has been making a buzz on the mattress world. Their New Purple 4 is an innovation from the original Purple bed. It still bears the exclusive and patented high-elastic polymer grid top that conforms and stretches to almost every sleeping position (and it’s really color purple). It’s not a memory or latex foam bed which is interesting for combination sleepers.
Since Purple beds have open grid designs, it’s breathable even for hot sleepers. But based on my experience, this cooling feature isn’t one-of-its-kind. But the good thing is that Purple 4 is made for back, side, and stomach sleepers – guaranteed for combination sleepers too.
Purple 4 comes in a box but make sure that you got lots of helping when setting this up. It’s pretty (and comically) heavy even in its compressed form. Still, it’s worth the hassle because of the support this mattress gives. Not to sound exaggerated, but this is the best mattress for side and back sleepers I’ve ever slept on.
What could be done better:
The mattress itself is for the books, but I hope the 30-night sleep trial will be longer. Sure thing, it didn’t fail me, but it would add more leeway for finicky sleepers to get a good feel of the bed.
Sealy Copper Chill
Specs
- Bed-in-a-box type
- Spring and foam construction
- CopperChill technology
- Coil edge
- 10-year warranty
Convenience is one of the first things the Sealy Copper Chill offers because of its bed-in-a-box feature. Basically, a box will be delivered to you when you purchase one. Then, all you have to do is bring the package to your bedroom, take the mattress out, unroll it, and wait for 24 hours.
As a combination sleeper, you have probably experienced how frustrating and uncomfortable it is to sleep in a firm bed. Whether you sleep on your side or your back, your spine would suffer from strains throughout the night. To address this, the Sealy Copper Chill’s spring and foam construction guarantee that it’s as soft as it gets.
Sealy is quite proud of the CopperChill technology, which is also where they got the name of this mattress. Aside from the sturdy foundation and soft top layer, this mattress will keep you comfortable during the night because the memory foam keeps it cool.
In some mattresses, you may experience difficulty sleeping when you are nearer the edge of the bed. Thanks to Sealy’s coil-edge feature, you will have a larger bed space to sleep on. Even better, you can expect the mattress to be as soft and sturdy from the center to the edge.
What could be done better:
The 10-year warranty is no joke. However, it would have been better if it covered 25 years, which is what other mattresses offer. Additionally, Sealy does not offer a sleep trial, which means there is no returning it anymore once you’ve bought it.
The spring and foam build helps keep the mattress durable. Unfortunately for some, they also add a certain level of firmness to the mattress. Because of this, some combination sleepers, especially those who are pretty sensitive, would probably find it leaning towards firm mattresses instead of soft ones.
Leesa Studio Mattress
Specs
- Triple-layer
- Medium-firm
- Seamless
- 100-night trial
- Certified B Corp
- 10-year warranty
The Leesa Studio mattress is another top-quality option for combination sleepers. Its top layer is breathable memory foam, followed by another type of foam for pressure relief. The third and final layer is for maximum durability and whole-body support. The combination of these three layers makes the mattress a bit firmer than others.
Even though the Leesa Studio mattress is medium-firm, it still helps combination sleepers because of its bounciness and responsiveness to pressure. As a result, you won’t get stuck in one part of the bed. Additionally, the mattress is seamless, so you won’t feel annoyed or uncomfortable even when you reach the edge while you move in your sleep.
Another aspect you will love about the Leesa Studio mattress is that it comes with a 100-night trial. So, what does this mean for you? If, after 100 nights, you feel as if the mattress is not what you are looking for, you can return it and ask for a refund. Provided, of course, that it did not suffer any form of damage while it’s with you.
With their expertise in making quality mattresses, Leesa has also been awarded a B Corporation certificate. As such, you can rest assured that their mattresses meet the highest standard in environmental and social responsibility. That’s probably because they donate one mattress to those in need for every 10 they sell.
In conclusion, the Leesa Studio mattress can provide the utmost comfort for side, back, and stomach sleepers. Even if you move around your bed all night, you can expect that you won’t disrupt your sleep. Furthermore, the memory foam helps relieve the pain you might be experiencing in your hips or shoulders.
What could be done better:
The Leesa Studio mattress’s warranty is the same as the Sealy Copper Chill at 10 years. Again, it is indeed a long time, but it could have been an even better purchase if the warranty lasts for 25 years or longer.
Also, while it’s a matter of personal preference, some combination sleepers may not appreciate the firmness of the Leesa Studio mattress. If you are looking for a responsive but soft mattress, this may not be the best option for you.
Tuft & Needle Foam Mattress
Specs
- Antimicrobial protection
- Adaptive foam
- Cooling technology
- Greenguard Gold and CertiPUR certification
- 100-night trial period
- 10-year warranty
The first thing you will notice about the Tuft & Needle foam mattress is that it gives you the option to purchase antimicrobial protection. What this means is that mattress has its own technology for fighting off germs and bacteria. You will not only get a mattress that will support every sleeping position, but you will also have protection against infection and viral diseases.
This antimicrobial protection is verified by the fact that the Tuft & Needle foam mattress is certified by third-party organizations. These certifications include the Greenguard Gold and CertiPUR. Because of this protection, you can be sure that the mattress has an extended lifespan.
What sets Tuft & Needle apart from their numerous competitors is that they listen to their customers. Through this, they have developed an adaptive foam for the mattress. This foam is engineered according to the feedback they receive over the years.
As the name suggests, the mattress will adjust to your position to support your hips, shoulders, head, and back. This adaptive foam also has gel beads and graphite, something you wouldn’t find in latex or memory foam. Thanks to this, the Tuft & Needle mattress can keep you cool during the night.
What could be done better:
The main concern I have about this mattress is that it only comes with a 10-year warranty. The antimicrobial protection layer helps prolong its life. However, it would still be better if you can rest easy knowing that you have a longer warranty on your mattress.
Additionally, you also need to wait for at least three days before you can use the mattress. That’s because it takes quite a long time to expand fully.
Mattress features to look for
Still undecided what to choose? Here, I listed down some of the features you should look for as a combination sleeper. All these are based on my personal experience which may or may not apply to you:
Support
Support level is the number one aspect you should look for your bed. Since you’ll be shifting to different poses with different pressure points, a bed that can support all these is a catch. A piece with excellent levels of responsive is the best mattress for combination sleepers.
Durability
All of us want a mattress that can last long. For combination sleepers, durability is a must to ensure that every inch of the bed can support whatever position they gravitate to during sleep. Look at the quality of the materials and make sure that the construction is well done.
Firmness level
For combination sleepers, it’s best to steer clear on very firm mattresses. Stiff beds offer support but it doesn’t do well on releasing pressure points of different sleeping positions. A firm mattress could be good for back sleepers, but pain is looming once you shift to your side.
Comfort layer
It’s not enough that the mattress has a moderate firmness; it should also be comfy to sleep at. A comfort layer made of foam or grid polymer would be great.
Sleep trial
If your target bed has no sleep trial, look for another option. As a combination sleeper, it’s hard to tell your comfort level unless you try the bed on. Putting your money on it without the guarantee is a total waste. Sleep trials range from 30-365 nights. Make the most out of this allowance.
Mattress type and a combination sleeper
I’ve tried multiple mattresses over the years and I can tell you now it’s not always a bed of roses. Some are great, some are total steals. And for a back sleeper who’s quite unsure of his comfort level, choosing a new bed is a challenging task.
To save you from the hassle of trial and error here’s what I can advise you based on each mattress type
Innerspring mattresses
Proceed with caution if you’re a combination sleeper. Innerspring mattresses are tricky options and although many pieces are great, some of it could be extremely annoying. It has a lot of bounce and very little contouring effect. My bet here, though, is a pocketed innerspring bed. Still, look for one with a long night trial allowance so you can send it back if you’re not happy.
Latex and hybrid
These two types are fairly good for combination sleepers. It’s the best mattress for side and back sleepers. It’s the safest too if you have back or joint issues. Latex offers the right blend of responsiveness and contouring no matter what your sleeping position is. It also helps align the spine of combination sleepers. Latex beds and hybrid ones are long-lasting but beware of dud models.
Memory foam
I have two points here. First, memory foam is excellent for spine alignment and releasing pressure points. However, it’s a pain in the breathability aspect. If you’re bent in getting a memory foam bed, I suggest that you purchase one with a cooling layer. Anyway, the big advantage to foam mattresses is its ability to hold up for years.
Final Thoughts
Do you know what the most challenging part of being a combination sleeper is? It is waking up several times each night because I can’t seem to find a comfortable position to sleep in.
Thankfully, as technology progresses, we also get to widen our choices in mattresses. We can now choose from multiple brands and manufacturers and find a mattress that will accommodate our every need.
The most important aspect of choosing a mattress still depends on your needs and how well it suits you. Nevertheless, I can’t help but recommend the Tuft & Needle Adaptive Foam Mattress over the others.
Aside from its certificates, Tuft & Needle listens to their customers when developing their products. As such, you can guarantee that it is the best mattress on this list. The best part? The antimicrobial protection ensures you aren’t just getting a mattress for comfort but also for safety.
How about you? Do you think the mattress from Tuft & Needle is the best choice? Do you believe other mattresses can outshine their adaptive foam? Let me know in the comments below!