5’10, 155lbs. I am accustomed to sleeping on my side, but I really want to start sleeping on my back. I know from experience that the only way this is going to happen is if my lower back feels very well supported and as if the mattress is “pushing up” into my lower back, if that makes sense. What are the general recommendations for how to achieve this (other than just trial and error)? Is the guidance typically that one needs more firmness, especially in the center third of the mattress – or less? Editing to add: Now, I am beginning to think I should start by adding a thin, plush layer on top so that I can sink into my mattress a bit more. Is that the safest starting point?
From recollection, there have been only a couple of mattresses I have tried that gave me this feeling, one of which is the top-of-the-line $10K Naturepedic model with two layers of 6" coils and 3" of medium dunlop latex, a feeling their lower-priced hybrids didn’t provide.
Welcome back to the forum ! Nice hearing from you again and thanks for your question.
This is a good question susu123, and one where we will look at the differing roles that comfort and support play in a mattress. For the comfort “feel” which provides pressure relief, the mattress needs to conform to your body shape and form a cradle that is deep enough to spread your weight over the surface of the mattress and relieve pressure points, also referred to as “sinking in”. Pressure relief is provided by the top part of your mattress and is known as the comfort layers. This may include one or more thinner layers and any quilting which is on the very top of the mattress. Support for maintaining optimal spinal alignment is provided by the lower parts of the mattress or support layers and controls how far different parts of your body sinks down into the mattress. There may be one or more support layers and together they are known as the Core of your mattress. As a side sleeper, you likely know from experience that the slightly curvier profile of shoulders and hips in that position requires a bit more comfort material for pressure relief than the flatter, less curvy position of back sleeping, which has less of a gap of the lower lumbar area for filling. Your description of the mattress feel for your lower back as “well supported” and “pushing up” makes complete sense. And you are also correct regarding a trial and error process, as only you can “feel” what you feel in terms of comfort and support of a mattress. You may consider trying 2" of softer material on top or your mattress and then increasing/ decreasing as needed from there. You may also consider ruling out memory foam as that will not give you the “pushing up” into your lower back feel that you seek; however, latex foam might well for you. Just curious: is there a particular reason for changing sleeping positions?
Zoning of the mattress support core could be a good way to go for back/ stomach sleeping positions and is a popular option in some Hybrid models. One example of this would be as you describe, a 3-zoned pocket coil support array, where the center coils that support the lumbar area (back sleepers) or pelvic area (stomach sleepers) are the most firm coils, and the head/ feet areas have less need for firm support. Adding a 2" mattress topper could be a good starting point, instead of investing in an entirely new mattress as long as you’re happy overall with your current mattress. What comfort firmness do you have with your current mattress? What are you sleeping on now and how old is it? What pillows are you using? Keep in mind too that back sleepers generally benefit from a lower profile pillow than that of a side sleeper.
Yes, Naturepedic’s Halcyon Luxury Organic Mattress Collection has some interesting models in its line up. It may be that you found the medium dunlop latex to be to be a good comfort material for your newly adapted back sleeping position, it would definitely provide a well-supported “pushing up” feel to your lower back area. How is your research coming along and have you tested any other mattresses recently?
I’m sure my question was a bit all over the place, but I guess what I was trying to ask is, “How does one know whether he/she should change the core or the surface layers?” In my case, I think I have enough firmness, but I am not sure if I need more support . . . or some more softness. Can increasing surface softness, by allowing one’s body to sink in, result in an increase of support/pressure relief?
I have a new DIY bed , which (as of today :huh: ), consists of 1" 80K dunlop, 8" non-zoned pocket coils (15.5 gauge, I believe), followed by 1" additional of 80K dunlop. On top of that is a horsehair topper, and then a wool topper. =). I have tried things very recently with and without the wool topper – not sure there is much overall improvement. It sounds like I might be able to achieve my desired feel (cradling of lower back) by just adjusting the top layers with more softness, such as through the addition of fairly soft latex, rather than switching to softer coils?
I want to sleep on my back partially because it is better for one’s face, I think, and also because I am tossing and turning through the night – often ending up on my stomach. I appreciate the suggestion about the pillows but my current ones are already low-profile.
First, let’s rule out whether the mattress’s support is a concern. This may be achieved by setting the timer on your phone and a taking a couple of pics while in your back sleeping position to check your spinal alignment.
While reviewing the images, compare your spinal alignment to these images (borrowed from Pinterest) to ensure that there is a straight line from your neck and shoulders to your lower back area. If your back sleeping position is similar to the “correct” image above, the support of your mattress should be fine and any further adjustments would be in the comfort materials.
Congrats on your new DIY bed! Sounds like a nice, firm setup and agreed; rather than moving to softer coils, perhaps replacing the wool topper with 2" of a softer latex may be the way to go as wool has a tendency to firm up the feel of comfort for some. Have you made any further adjustments following your recent post?
Hi, Sensei.
Some progress: I am now confident that my sleep surface is too firm, mainly due to my new topper being a bit too firm.
Is it crazy to attempt to add a softer layer beneath the topper in order to make the surface (and topper) a bit softer in feel? I think my only other options are to add a soft topper on top of the current topper, or to completely replace the topper, right?
Have you tried your DIY setup without the horsehair topper? Have you slept on it with the wool topper over the 80K Dunlop/ pocket coils? The single zone 8" 15.5 gauge coils should be ideal for you in terms of back support and providing a medium firmness feel. Horsehair can create quite a firm feeling, as well as wool. Your process may take a bit of trial and error as many DIYs do, but once you find the right combination, you should be pleased with the results. Thanks for sharing your experiments and results, and let us know how things work out .
! Nice hearing from you again and thanks for your question.
,
, which (as of today :huh: ), consists of 1" 80K dunlop, 8" non-zoned pocket coils (15.5 gauge, I believe), followed by 1" additional of 80K dunlop. On top of that is a horsehair topper, and then a wool topper. =). I have tried things very recently with and without the wool topper – not sure there is much overall improvement. It sounds like I might be able to achieve my desired feel (cradling of lower back) by just adjusting the top layers with more softness, such as through the addition of fairly soft latex, rather than switching to softer coils?