Recommendations for very hot stomach sleeper

Discussions General Mattresses Questions
1

Hi TMU,

Wanted to start my research early as I am planning on purchasing a new mattress this summer. I am 5’ 10" 180 lbs and strictly a stomach sleeper. I also sleep exceedingly hot and temperature regulation is my biggest concern when buying a new mattress. To combat the heat I’ve purchased linen bedding, sleep in only underwear, and set the thermostat to 59-62 degrees depending on the season and yet will still wake up drenched in sweat occasionally. Currently I am sleeping on a Sealy Posturepedic preferred series Casy plush pillowtop (hand me down from my parents), which after some initial research seems far from ideal given my dimensions and sleeping habits. While heat retention is my biggest concern I am also starting to feel the signs of getting older, my middle-lower back is starting to have some aches in the morning and I’d like to get ahead of it. At the beginning of quarantine I did purchase a Plushbeds Botanical Bliss firm latex mattress but it felt like I was on fire all night and couldn’t stay asleep for more than a couple hours, thankfully they have a wonderful return policy. Since that experience I have been afraid of how poorly a new mattress can go.

Should it matter I will be purchasing a king size since I need to sleep in a different area code than my partner because, again, the heat problem. She is 5’ 6" 115 lbs and changes between back and stomach sleeping during the night.

Given the research I’ve done thus far I think what I am looking for is an innerspring firm mattress. Budget isn’t too large of a concern, since I am spending ⅓ of my life on it, if the advice leads to Intellibed being the best option then so be it.

So with all this information I have a few questions but would love to hear any additional advice should I not ask for it specifically, or if I am incorrect in any of my assumptions as to what would work best. I know I can’t get a guarantee that a mattress will be perfect since each person is different, hopefully I will be able to test them in person but am not afraid to purchase sight unseen. I am located in Chicago, IL if there are specific retailers I should go to.

What would likely be the best mattress composition? I know latex is supposed to be the best at regulating heat for foams, but given my experience with the Botanical Bliss I am hesitant. Firm or Medium-Firm? Pillowtop? Latex? Gel? Innerspring? Help!
What are the high quality brands I can narrow it down to? Stearns and Foster come up a lot but I’ve seen them be negatively reviewed with a drop in quality over the years, starting to use cheaper materials which more easily create body imprints. I’ve seen the trusted members directory on TMU, which brands should I consider from there?
Past brands are there any specific mattresses that likely fit my needs?
Obviously any added material will retain heat but should I be considering a pillowtop or not?

Thanks!

2

Hey cmart,

Welcome to the Mattress Underground :slight_smile: !Thanks for your question.

Congrats cmart on your new mattress shopping journey :slight_smile: ! Good thinking on making a head start with your research as that will give you an optimal amount of lead time for making the best possible choice. “Sleeping hot” and temperature regulation are two of the more widely discussed issues on the forum and also two of the most personally perceived in varying degrees of discomfort. You are heading in the right direction by addressing bed linens, sleepwear and thermostat settings, but you may also consider other variables such as your bedroom’s humidity level, whether your bed’s foundation allows for proper air circulation, what type mattress protector is being used (if you are using one), what type pillows/ what condition they are in, and ultimately, what materials and construction is your mattress made of. Opting for natural-fiber materials, when available in their best versions, will provide high-quality choices that are the most breathable, comfortable, and durable. Your preferred stomach sleeping position could potentially become a bit of an uncomfortable position as you gradually age, this flattest of sleeping profiles can result in your body’s “sinking in” too far when the comfort layer of the mattress isn’t firm enough. I am sorry to hear that the PlushBeds Botanical Bliss/ firm mattress didn’t work out, as its specs from their site seem to be a good match for your preferences: organic cotton cover, organic wool, talalay latex comfort layer, dunlop latex support layer. These all natural fibers and foams normally would provide the natural cooling, optimal air circulating and natural temperature regulation properties you seek. As you have already returned the mattress and are trying to avoid a similar experience, here are two questions for you: which thickness of the Botanical Bliss/ firm did you have and what type foundation did you use?

A wise choice, cmart, given your tendency to sleep hot and perhaps too with her tendency to alternate between sleep positions. You could also control any motion transfer issues with a split king/ twin XL mattress set up.

Are you able to test mattresses locally? I see from Intellibed’s site that a number of Mattress Firm locations in your area carry their products. As you likely already know, Intellibed’s proprietary Gel Matrix support material (similar to buckling column gel) has a reputation for being quite firm and you may find its feel interesting for supporting your stomach sleeping position.

You may consider checking out these TMU manufacturer’s showrooms, they are all located near you and are experts at pairing consumers with best-suited mattresses for their individual comfort and support preferences:

My Green Mattress
Quality Sleep Shop
Sleep On Latex

What qualities does your current Sealy Posturepedic preferred series Casy plush pillowtop have that you do like, and other than its’ dimensions, what are some that you don’t like? Regarding your brief Botanical Bliss experience, other than “feeling like you were on fire”, did you like the “feel” of the talalay / dunlop layer combination? Did you find the firm support adequate for your stomach sleeping profile?

If you’ve read many of the moderators’ responses here, you’ll notice that we tend to de-emphasis the “importance” of big national mattress brand names in favor of smaller regional/ local manufacturers who offer high quality, high value components at a lower price to consumers. I also suggest you review the TMU Trusted Member Directory after answering some of my above thought-starter questions and see if perhaps some of them may be helpful for your research process. You may also ask any of them questions that relate to your mattress hunting and may receive as a Thank You a small TMU discount towards purchase of a new mattress. In terms of having a mattress pillow top in your set up, that is a choice of comfort preference and you would want to have a good understanding of what materials and combinations would be best suited for your flatter stomach-sleeping profile. Good luck with your research cmart and looking forward to your response when you have time.

Thanks,
Sensei

3

One point of correction regarding Sensei’s post above, while Sleep On Latex is located in the Chicago suburb of Niles they do not have a showroom nor are their products available in any retail outlet.

  • Bill
4

Hi Sensei,

Thanks for the response and sorry my has been postponed so long, I had to move because of a fire on my floor (everyone/thing is ok).

In terms of the botanical bliss mattress I had the 12 inch firm. For the foundation I currently have a box spring with no discernable markings though it is, without exaggeration, at least 100 lbs. When I do purchase a new mattress I will be getting a king size frame and had planned on a frame that didn’t require a box spring, is this wise? Should I be looking for a frame with anything specific?

I am able to test mattresses locally as long as they are not too far, I don’t have a car in the city, and I live in the city proper. Though I will admit I am on the hesitant side to do so because of the COVID situation and I find it hard to imagine laying on a mattress for a brief period of time will inform me if sleeping on it all night will be comfortable.

I don’t really have anything to compare my current mattress to, once I was out of the dorms I’ve been sleeping on it ever since. I can say that I sleep on the very edge now because it still has some support and there is a large depression in the middle which is uncomfortable to sleep in.

I do think that I liked the firmness of the botanical bliss mattress but unfortunately was never able to sleep for long periods of time due to the heat. Which is why I came to the conclusion that an innerspring or hybrid is likely the only way to go for me, is that a correct assumption?

Thanks!

5

Hey cmart,

Welcome back to the forum and thanks for your reply :slight_smile: .

[quote]Thanks for the response and sorry my has been postponed so long, I had to move because of a fire on my floor (everyone/thing is ok).
[/quote]

I’m terribly sorry to hear that floor of your building suffered a fire! That must have been quite a traumatic experience for you and all others involved! That’s great news that everyone one is okay and that all of your belongs are as well. Thank goodness you found a new place to move and that you’re doing ok now :slight_smile: .

Thanks for the details on the Botanical Bliss mattress’s thickness. I had viewed the different profiles from PlushBed’s site and thought that knowing the specific model you purchased would be helpful for others following your post with questions about its performance. Regarding use of a box spring, many mattresses are designed to be used directly on a frame, so the main consideration is that the type frame you purchase is suitable for the type mattress you are buying. Check with the manufacturer’s warranty as it will specify what foundations will best pair with the mattress and use of what types will void the warranty.

You should definitely take all COVID-related precautions seriously, cmart, and only make store visits as you feel comfortable doing so. Many showrooms are seeing clients by an appointment only basis and that could be the way to go if you’re comfortable with the commute options you have for getting there. During your planning (and you’re doing a great job of beginning your research far ahead of your summer-planned purchase timeline), make a list of manufacturers that you have interest in and plan call times to talk through as many of your questions as possible before making contact visits. You may find a read of Phoenix’s "Finding a Great Mattress Outlet"useful for selecting possible showrooms, as well as "Mattress Specifications You Need to Know"for forming a checklist of questions to ask during your calls. While you may not get the same experience while testing a mattress as you would during a full night’s sleep, 15-20 minutes in a resting position would go a long way in narrowing down what may be the better of 2-3 candidates. A skilled manufacturer will also be valuable for helping you understand what components and comfort/ support needs are best suited for your personal preferences as well.

[quote]I don’t really have anything to compare my current mattress to, once I was out of the dorms I’ve been sleeping on it ever since. I can say that I sleep on the very edge now because it still has some support and there is a large depression in the middle which is uncomfortable to sleep in.
[/quote]

Perhaps the “good news” here is that at least you have two mattress reference points now: this one and the Botanical Bliss. When you have conversations with a mattress expert, be prepared to discuss the qualities you liked and disliked about each one in great detail, as well as your tendency to “sleep hot” during the night. The more info you can give them to work with, the closer you’ll arrive at your ideal mattress construction.

[quote]I do think that I liked the firmness of the botanical bliss mattress but unfortunately was never able to sleep for long periods of time due to the heat. Which is why I came to the conclusion that an innerspring or hybrid is likely the only way to go for me, is that a correct assumption?
[/quote]

Indeed; it’s firmness factor seemed ideal for your prone sleeping position preference, cmart. You may find that a firm hybrid mattress could be a good choice for you. Use of a pocketed coil array does encourage air circulation in the mattress support core. Talalay latex could also be a good choice as a comfort layer, as its open-cell structure provides a most breathable, natural temperature-regulating material.

Good luck with your research and looking forward to hearing more on your next steps.

Thanks :wink: ,
Sensei