Back sleeping is one of the most popular sleeping positions as it is considered to be one of the healthiest positions for your body. This is due to it helping to maintain a neutral spine position, which reduces the risk of developing back pain or other related issues. However, finding the right mattress that supports this position is crucial to avoid discomfort and ensure a good night's sleep.
In my experience, a good back sleeping mattress should provide adequate support to the lower back and neck while also contouring to the natural curvature of the spine. The firmness level of the mattress is important too as the product needs to be able to evenly distribute the body weight to avoid pressure points.
Memory foam mattresses are typically recommended for back sleepers as they provide a great deal of support and pressure relief, while also contouring to the shape of the body. However, there are other options available in the comfort layer beyond memory foam with other comfort layers also performing well. More important is the choice of a good quality base layer with a medium firm to firm firmness level, as one that is too soft could cause the body to sink too deeply into the mattress, leading to discomfort and an unhealthy sleeping position. Medium-tension mattresses are great all rounders that will be excluded from the list below as they are better considered as combination mattresses that suit all needs while a firmer tension is more specific to the needs of back sleepers.
Additionally, a good back sleeping mattress should also have good airflow and temperature control to prevent overheating, which can disrupt sleep quality, although this does tend to suit all sleepers and it is often more down to budget. A mattress that incorporates cooling materials like gel-infused foam or breathable latex foam, both of which can help regulate temperature, promoting a comfortable sleep environment.
When selecting a back sleeping mattress, it's also important to consider the size and weight of the person who will be using it. This is because a larger person may require a firmer mattress to provide adequate support without sinkage, although a smaller person will often benefit from a softer mattress that contours to their body shape more closely. For the context of the results below, we will be listing products that we believe will suit the average weighted person.
Finally, it's important to consider your personal preferences when choosing a back sleeping mattress as while there are general guidelines to follow, ultimately, the best mattress for you is one that feels comfortable and allows you to get a good night's sleep. The result of this is that it may be wise to consider a product that comes with a sleep trial.
My final thoughts are that a good back sleeping mattress should provide proper support to the spine, evenly distribute body weight, and have good temperature control. It's important to choose a mattress with a medium firmness or better in most circumstances and you should consider the size and weight of the person using it. Finally you should prioritise personal comfort preferences which might require a bit of trial and error and as such a sleep trial might be considered helpful. By following these guidelines, you can hopefully find a mattress that will help you maintain a healthy sleeping position and get the restful sleep you need.
