We recently bought a Fawcett Model 7 hybrid mattress in medium-firm (https://fawcettmattress.com/product/model-7/https://fawcettmattress.com/product/model-7/). It has 3" of latex on top and spring coils below. While it’s great when we’re on our backs, we’re finding it quite firm on our sides/stomachs to the point where we simply ache when sleeping that way. We’re both healthy - I’m 5 ft 9 in 160lb and she’s 5 ft 2 in and 130lb - and wanted a firmer mattress but this isn’t feeling the best.
I’ve read a lot on Mattress Underground and am torn between getting a memory foam topper or another layer of latex. From what I’ve read, I’m thinking a memory foam topper would be better than getting another layer of latex, but I’m not sure. I’ve looked at TEMPUR Topper Supreme, Sleep On Latex’s latex toppers, and MFC’s different toppers.
If we were to go memory foam, would you recommend TEMPUR-Topper Supreme or MFC’s topper? In either case, is a 2" or 3" more appropriate? A 4lb or 5lb? I’ve read a bit about these from Phoenix’s posts but am still not sure what would be recommended in our case. Or, would one recommend a latex topper? I feel hesitant on the latter option.
I’d appreciate any recommendations you have. This forum has been incredibly useful so far (it convinced me to do the research, avoid the standard mattresses, and get a Fawcett) so I’m hopeful someone will have an answer.
I’m personally not a big memory foam fan but some people swear by it for pressure relief. That being said if I were to get memory foam I would get either Brentwood home memory foam topper( they have a few choices) or maybe plushbeds 5lb density. Why these 2 companies for memory foam? Bc thier memory foam is greenguard gold certified.
Welcome to our Mattress Forum.
It seems that your post got buried in the C2C chatter and we did not notice up to now that it needs addressing.
Sorry to hear about pains due to a firmer sleeping surface you and your wife are experiencing on your new Fawcett 7 hybrid mattress. I’d keep in mind that it would be difficult to find a mattress that would accommodate all your sleeping positions. The good news is that it is far easier to fix a firmer mattress then it is to fix one that is too soft.
From what you describe both you and your partner are what we call “combination sleepers” – switching sleeping positions throughout the night. Combination sleeping can be more difficult to deal with than those who sleep in one position since the different positions have different basic requirements… which is why you’re not feeling discomfort when sleeping on your backs, but you are when you switch to your “sides/stomachs”. With your normal BMI’s it should not be that difficult to find a configuration that sleeps well for 2 of the 3 sleeping positions (side/back or front/back) if your weight it distributed evenly. However, finding something that works well also for side/front would present some challenges as a prone sleeping position as the comfort/support needs gap is greater in this case. Prone sleepers would need a much firmer surface to avoid hyperextension than the side sleepers who need more cushioning and cradle effect.
I’m glad to hear you’ve been able to take advantage of and learn from the resources we offer here on TMU. Latex and memory foam have very similar properties – they share the ability to form a pressure relieving cradle more than other more commonly used materials. Latex is less motion restricting than memory foam and makes changing positions and other movements on the mattress easier. You don’t say if temperature regulation issues are of concern to you but it’s worth noting that Latex is also the most breathable of all foams important part of and a desirable material for those who tend to sleep hot, whereas memory foam will soften with heat and pressure, offering good motion isolation, which can be attractive to some who do not move around a lot or change positions as often throughout the night. Memory foam tends to sleep hot for those who are sensitive to overheating at night, and even the newer generation more breathable and gel-infused memory foams are not as breathable or open-celled as other types of foam.
While we never recommend a type of material versus another as this is a personal preference … in your case, because you mentioned that both of you are sleeping in all 3 positions (which means that you are probably switching many times throughout the night) I am tempted to say that latex would probably serve you better than memory foam in terms of repositioning and also temperature regulating. This being said I am sensing you have some apprehension in using latex. I would be curious to know why you feel “hesitant” about a latex topper?
As a rule, we only make suggestions for products from our Trusted Members Trusted Members (which includes Sleep On Latex and MFC) who went through a process of being vetted against a set of rigorous criteria. I would definitely recommend choosing one of their products over something offered from Tempurpedic if you don’t manage to find the density of the foams used in the topper. If you find this density then I would use a minimum of 4 lbs. (see the mattress durability guidelines here to make sure there are no lower quality materials or weak links in a mattress that would be a cause for concern relative to the durability and useful life of a mattress.)
MFC has a dedicated forum here on TMU, and Sleep On Latex is very responsive to customer inquiries/ I know they both would be more than happy to talk with you about the topper options they have available, especially based on your specific needs and any other concerns you may have. Afggain… what is it that leads you towards a memory foam topper over a latex topper?
This is a little bit tricky because of your multiple sleeping positions…. the pains when sleeping on your stomach indicate that the sleeping surface is already too soft …. the pains you experience when side sleeping indicates the surface is too firm. You may need to train yourself to sleep only on the back and sides. Prone sleeping is the worse position to sleep-in and many chiropractors and health practitioners advise against it. At your normal BMI’s, with the 3" of latex comfort layer, you would not need to add much thickness. I wouldn’t select something beyond 2"
Keep in mind that adding even a 1" topper (whether memory foam or latex) would cause more hyperextension and most likely increase the pain in the lumbar/lower back when sleeping prone.
If you manage to train for only slide/back sleeping you’d want to add an appropriate topper for more softness so that you avoid pains like pressure, numbness, soreness, localized redness, or end up tossing and turning all night as your body tries to relieve the pressure.
The density of a foam is a “comfort spec” so it’s hard for me to make a recommendation for you since only your own testing will tell you if it’s “soft enough” or “firm enough” based on PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, or Personal preferences). This, again, is where I suggest a conversation with MFC and Sleep On Latex. They’ll have expert knowledge about their products, and if you explain your situation, preferences, needs, BMI, sleep positions, etc. they’ll be the best equipped to recommend a product for you.
Hoping you got this in time to get a bit more guidance in moving forward.
I should’ve been more clear about being side/stomach sleepers. We mostly sleep on our backs/sides with some occasional stomach sleeping (we could likely train ourselves to sleep exclusively on our backs/sides). The pain, therefore, is mostly in our shoulder and rib areas when on our sides. It just feels too firm. So, this is really about us choosing a good topper for better back/side sleeping.
I did already make a purchase as your previous posts on these topics and MFC’s help got us most of the way there. We decided to purchase a 2" 5lb memory foam from MFC and it should be here any day. The reason we leaned towards memory foam was because we figured it might complement the existing mattress better than another layer of latex and we might prefer a bit more of the enveloping/sinking feeling of it. However, I’m concerned about the heat (I recall this being an issue many years ago when I had memory foam) and the motion isolation.
So, I’m entertaining the idea of buying a 2" soft latex topper from Sleep On Latex in order to compare. Would you say that would be the one to go for, both for comparison sake but also given our needs (as opposed to 1 or 3", medium or firm)? If so, I’d probably sleep on the memory foam for a bout a week, sleep on the latex topper for another, and then decide which to use. We have another bed that we could use the other one for.
Thanks again for your help. It’s impressive to see the level of engagement and knowledge in these forums.
I hope the topper you purchased from MFC (one of our Trusted Members ) works out in your favor! Since you know you prefer the feel of memory foam, at 5lb density the topper is also durable and a quality foam product, so I imagine it should be a success
I would say there’s really no need to do this unless you sleep hot on it or find for some other reason that the memory foam topper is not meeting your needs. 2" would be a good option as far as thickness goes. You may want to speak to someone at Sleep On Latex about the topper ILD and which firmness may be best for your needs, should you choose to purchase one for comparison purposes. If you give them a brief synopsis of your experience and the specs of the foam topper, they’ll be able to help you choose something suitable.
You’re very welcome. It’s what we’re here for, and we’re pleased to know that you’ve had a beneficial experience as part of the TMU community!
