Sleeping positions are deeply personal.
Some can’t snooze unless they’re on a certain side of the bed, while others need a combination of a pillow fort and one leg flung out of the duvet to help them drift off.
The most common way to sleep is on the side, in the foetal position. The most unusual? On your front.
According to YouGov’s Sleep Study 2022, some 8 per cent of Britons snooze face-first, making the position only a shade more popular than people who sleep flat on their backs all night long (7 per cent).
Front sleeping is not a position any sleep expert is wild about because it leaves your spine misaligned and unsupported, and increases the risk of back, neck and shoulder pain. It also leaves your face more prone to wrinkles as one cheek will always be pressed into the pillow.
If you want to try and change your position, it will take some training - and a long body pillow can help to keep your unconscious form in a healthier stance.
Whether you’re trying to change, or can’t sleep any way but on your front, a firmer mattress can help keep you supported while you’re in the land of nod. A harder bed eases the pressure on your joints and means you won’t dip forward, exerting unnecessary pressure on your back. Using thin pillows means your neck won’t be left at an awkward angle, which should reduce pain in the morning.
If you’re a stomach-sleeper on the hunt for a new mattress, we’ve found the best mattresses that promise to give you the support you need.
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Simba Hybrid Luxe Mattress
Bringing together the best of both worlds in 10 luxe layers, Simba’s latest mattress can provide relief to anyone feeling the achy effects of sitting all day by a WFH desk on an ill-fitting chair.
It uses 6,000 titanium Aerocoil springs set over three layers with slices of open-cell foam, bamboo wool and high definition edge support layers in between to create a comfortable layer on which to spend eight hours a night.
It all sits on a zoned Simba-pure support base, giving your limbs and joints support from the foundation up. In terms of tension, it’s firm, but not hard.
Foam can often make you overheat, especially if you’re a hot sleeper to start with, but Simba has engineered the layers to allow for air flow throughout so sweaty mornings are a thing of the past. Free delivery.
Buy now £1379.40, Simba
Silentnight Ruddington Combination Mattress
Bringing together 2211 edge-to-edge springs with layers of TCPP free memory foam and other comfort layers, this hypoallergenic mattress offers the best of both worlds. It has a firm tension rating but that doesn’t mean it feels like you’re kipping on a slab of stone. Instead that layer of memory foam cups and supports the body without leaving you with that sinking feeling.
Springs are arranged in advanced Mirapocket support which means your weight is spread evenly across the mattress and also prevents you rolling into your partner in the middle of the night. Meanwhile the Purotex cover keeps moisture at a minimum leaving you feeling fresh and ready for the day by the morning.
Buy now £999.00, Dreams
Silentnight 1400 Pocket Luxury Ortho Double Mattress
As well as 1400 springs to keep you aloft, Silentnight’s mattress also features tufting which adds to the feeling of luxurious support. Whatever your sleep position, you’ll feel supported and cared for as you sleep, aided by more layers including one made with fibres from recycled bottles adding an eco edge to the design.
Perfect for anyone suffering from back pain issues, this bed also has edge to edge support - there’s no sinking in the middle or rolling off the side here. A soft damask cover completes the luxe look and feel of the mattress and while it doesn’t require flipping it will benefit from turning from time to time. Comes with a five-year manufacturers guarantee.
Buy now £419.00, Argos
Flaxby Nature’s Dawn All Seasons Pocket Sprung Mattress - double
Going one better than the bestselling Flaxby Nature’s Halo mattress, this model features up to 3520 super strong springs helping to keep you and your back supported all through the night.
A layer of mini springs give extra support and the mattress benefits from thick layers of moisture-wicking, climate-controlling British wool and cotton, helping you feel cool and comfortable every time you climb into bed. The feeling of supreme comfort is furthered with a soft damask cover surrounding the top of the design.
This mattress is single-sided which means it requires rotation once a week for the first three months, but then just once a month. Everything is handmade right here in the UK and it comes with a 40-Night Sleep Guarantee as well as a one-year guarantee.
Buy now £999.00, Dreams
Sleepeezee Hampton 2400 Pocket Double Mattress
British wool and cotton team up with 2400 pocket springs in this mattress to offer superior firmness for those who like their bed on the harder side.
After a long hard day, slip between the covers onto the sumptuous single-sided pillow top layer, which, covered with a hand-tufted damask cover, makes for a blissful night’s sleep. The cover also features Tencel, a moisture-wicking, temperature-regulating fibre that means you won’t wake up a hot sweaty mess. Air vents help the feeling of comfort.
Buy now £599.00, Argos
Relyon Memory Superior Ortho Support 1500 Pocket Mattress
This extra firm bed from Relyon’s mattress is an investment in your health. All details have been designed with support front and centre; from the 1500 pocket springs that constantly adjust as you move, to the moisture-wicking cotton blend layer and rebound layers that ping back up the moment you get out of bed.
The mattress is hypoallergenic, so ideal for allergy sufferers looking to say goodbye to morning sneezing fits. There’s edge-to-edge support, giving you more surface to snooze on and stopping you from falling off. The whole lot is covered in Belgian damask, adding an element of elegance to the mattress.
Buy now £583.20, Mattress Next Day
Sealy Millionaire Orthopaedic Mattress
Perfect for sleepers who require a little extra support in the mattress department, Sealy’s Millionaire Orthopaedic mattress is exclusive to Mattress Online. Like many in its range, the bed uses Sealy’s Posture Tech Core Support spring system to keep your back aligned even when you’re sleeping. The mattresses offer super firm tension, which also makes it more comfortable for overweight people. Above the layer of springs, there’s plenty of padding and a damask cover to luxuriate on. Hand tufting ensures all the fillings stay in place.
Buy now £327.55, Mattress Online
Sealy Newman Ortho Firm Support Double Mattress
Flipping a mattress is necessary to keep the filling even, but there’s no need to with Sealy’s extra-firm model. Thanks to its PostureTech Core Support spring system it promises to offer a consistent level of support, night in, night out. The twice-tempered coils and tufted surface also means you won’t roll into the middle and into your bedfellow in the middle of the night.
Buy now £405.00, Argos
M&S Ortho 1500 Pocket Spring Extra Firm Mattress
With individual pocket springs all working independently to support shifting weight, M&S has supportive mattresses all stitched up. The hybrid model includes a layer of foam for additional comfort and there are air vents to keep air circulating, keeping things smelling and feeling fresh. It’s an extra firm bed which will give your back the support it so richly needs.
Buy now £699.00, M&S
