I am a lifelong stomach-sleeper who had heart surgery a month ago, and have necessarily adopted side-sleeping, at least during convalescence. Our 16-year-old bed is due for replacement, and now that I’m in my late 60’s, it feels too firm even for stomach sleeping—and definitely uncomfortable in the medically necessitated slide-sleeping posture. I would like a replacement suitable for both stomach and side-sleeping, in the event I continue with that new posture. I am 5’11 170 lbs, my wife 5’4" 130 lbs (a side sleeper).
Planning an online purchase, and appreciate your advice re having in-depth conversation with your trusted-member manufacturers. However would like to go into that phase of the process having heard your thoughts. In
your opinion, would a 3-level mattress using a 3" soft tamalay top layer and a 3" firm dunlop latex as a support layer, and a 3" extra-firm dunlop bottom layer be a good choice to support both stomach and side sleeping? Or perhaps reduce the top layer to a 2" soft tamalay?
Thank you for your response, and for providing an overwhelmingly comprehensive site.
I’m sorry to hear about your surgery, but I hope that everything is going well.
Regarding your comments about different comfort layer combinations, while knowing the specs that can affect the quality and durability of the layers and components in a mattress is always important, unless you have a great deal of knowledge and experience with different types of mattress materials and components and their specs and different layering combinations and mattress designs and how they combine together and can translate them into your own “real life” experience that can be unique to you (which would generally be a very small percentage of people), I would tend to avoid using complex combinations of specifications to try and predict how a mattress will feel or perform for you. It can lead to quite a bit of confusion, and often “paralysis analysis”.
Overall, the componentry you’re considering is good quality and durable. And there’s no “reason” that a three layer latex system wouldn’t work well for what you described. But I wouldn’t be able to determine if the combination you described would be comfortable for you personally. Usually, a side sleeper desires a bit more surface comfort, where a stomach sleeper desires a bit of a firmer surface comfort (see this article). Having the firmer deeper layers would generally provide quite firm deep down support, but whether the transition from the plush to the firm “transition” layer would be comfortable enough for you can only be determined through your own personal testing.
You are correct that I do recommend a detailed phone conversation with any manufacturer you’re considering, as their detailed knowledge of their mattresses and how they fit with different body types and sleeping positions along with your feedback from local testing, a customer base of many people that they can use as reference points, and any exchange, return, or any options they have available to customize a mattress after a purchase can help lower the risk of an online purchase.
While that information is a bit general, I hope it is useful to you. If you come up with more specific questions, I’ll do my best to be assistive.
I’ve been trying to switch to side sleeping due to increasing back problems, and it’s tough to break the habit. I’ve had to let go of the idea that “firmer is better” and realize that I need a much softer mattress. What I seem to like is having a firm core with 3" or so of plush foam on top. It means I get support when side sleeping, but there’s still some support on stomach or back.
Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences. I hope you’re able to transition from stomach sleeping to your side as you mentioned. A pillow or body pillow placed in front and/or behind you can assist with “locking” you into the side position. Also, be sure to adjust the thickness of your pillow under your head when sleeping upon your side, as this often has to be a bit thicker than what you would have been using when sleeping upon your stomach.
And you are correct, something using good “firm” support with some comfort materials on top that are adequate to allow for conformation of your hips and shoulders tends to work well for a side sleeper.
