I’ve tried Avocado and Brentwood with various layers and I can’t seem to make them work for me. It seems there is always a hammocking effect which bothers my back. I am a back and mostly side sleeper so I need support and also comfort for the hips. I’m 5’8" and about 135 pounds and in my early 70s. I’m thinking that latex just doesn’t work for me because my back hurts and my hips hurt.
questions: 1. Is there a non-latex and also non-toxic mattress that you recommend?
2. Can mattresses be supportive and still come rolled up in a box or is the support compromised because of the compression?
Thanks you.
Hi Leegin.
Welcome to our Mattress Forum. 
Please note that I have deleted your duplicate post since we have now started a conversation here!
I’m sorry to hear of the hammocking you’re experiencing on your current setup. Can I ask how thick the comfort layer is? I ask because the “gaps” in your profile are not quite as deep as in side sleeping, and therefore a slightly thinner top layer will generally work a little better. In back sleeping in other words a slightly shallower cradle is needed. A good starting point for a back sleeper is 2" of softer material on top of your mattress and then increasing or decreasing from there depending on other factors like weight, preferences, or other sleeping positions.
None of the mattresses our Trusted Members offer are going to be toxic. Some may used polyfoams, memory foam, etc but these are all certified components. They may off-gas to an extent, but they are not toxic. As for a non-latex option that’s organic and all natural, you may be interested in My Green Mattress’ Pure Echo or the Greenguard Gold Certified Quail Memory Foam Mattress.
Definitely, as long as you don’t leave it in the box beyond the time designated by the company. This can sometimes cause permanent compression to certain components.
NikkiTMU
Thank you for your response. I didn’t quite understand what you meant about the gaps in my profile not being quite as deep as in side sleeping. Please explain. Thank you.
Well, I made a couple of discoveries. The Avocado is a firm and does not sag, it just is too firm and my body hurts on it. So, I had added a 2-inch medium (ILD 28) Dunlop with cover from Latex Mattress Factory. With this I seem to sink in too much so that my lower back hurts. I sometimes add a 1-inch layer just under the lower back/hips so that when I sleep on my side it has a little more cushioning. Some nights this is OK, but usually I wake up with hip discomfort. Last night I added a wool (3 inch, I think) topper which unfortunately has compressed too much in the center. The sleep was better with this, but it doesn’t always help. I think since I got rid of my old mattress 3 1/2 years ago my hips have gotten really bruised from so many nights of discomfort.
Anyway, any suggestions?
Thank you for your specific mattress recommendations and also the info about in-a-box mattresses. I have a friend who thinks buying mattresses in a box is a recipe for disaster. A lot of people do it these days though, right?
Hi Leegin.
When you sleep on your back, the mattress only needs to “fill in” the gap of your lower back/lumbar which is far, far less recessed than the gap between your hip/waist when laying on your side. When you sleep on your side, you eventually have a “c” shaped space that the mattress needs to fill and support without compromising your alignment.
Sorry to hear that this wasn’t the right solution for you! The most common cause of lower back pain is an alignment issue from a mattress that either has a support core that is too soft or comfort layers (or toppers) that are too thick/soft for your body type or sleeping position.
It can be a disaster if you buy a cheap mattress with poor materials that has been compressed for far too long. Many places don’t actually compress and box the mattress until it is ordered, and then it is only meant to be compressed for a very short time (each company has different recommendations for their mattresses).
NikkiTMU