Front Sleeping Mattress Advice and Guidance

The fact front sleepers are the rarest of all sleeping positions in Britain needs further investigation! Do front sleepers know something the rest of us side and back sleepers don’t? We discuss further the considerations you need to be aware of if you’re a front sleeper.

Front Sleeper Mattress Guide

• Benefits of being a front sleeper
• Drawbacks of sleeping on your front
• Does sleeping on your front cause a bad back or sore neck?
• The best type of mattress for a front sleeper
• Mattress upholstery for front sleepers explained

Benefits of sleeping on your front

Sleeping on your front although uncommon does have some benefits over other sleeping positions.

Front sleepers benefit from:

• Diminishes the effects of sleep aponea
• Reduces snoring
• Less night time movement/fidgiting

When you sleep on your front with proper body alignment, and the right mattress, sleeping in this position can help reduce night-time disturbances such as snoring. This is because front sleepers have less of a tendency to move or roll about during the night like side sleepers do.

Front sleeping can really help if you suffer from obstructive breathing during the night. If you want to learn more about sleep apnoea then check out our detailed guide here.

Drawbacks from sleeping on your front

Front sleepers may complain about neck pain and headaches. This is because sleeping on your front does put your body in quite an awkward position, especially if you’re mattress doesn’t have the correct spring tension or comfort layers needed for a front sleeper.

Front sleeping drawbacks:

• Sore shoulders
• Neck pain
• Headaches
• Chest pains

Does sleeping on your front cause neck and shoulder pain?

Sleeping on your front can easily cause you to suffer from neck and shoulder pains during the night.  However, this is usually due to poor mattress support and can be easily corrected. The right mattress should be tailored to your exact weight and height then layered with various upholstery to create the right comfort for your individual preferences when sleeping on your front. In the case of front sleepers, you will need a firmer more supportive mix of mattress upholstery layers when compared to side sleepers.

Most comfortable front sleepers need a firmer feel in the mattress comfort layer to help give more support to the neck and shoulders during the night. If you’re struggling with shoulder or neck pain when sleeping you should always seek a doctors advice and well as undertake a health check of your current mattress.

The biggest issue front sleepers have with their mattress is excess pressure being put on the shoulders or neck from a lack of mattress support. This is especially true if the mattress is too soft. Which means the mattress is sinking far too quickly causing your neck and spine to come out of natural alignment.  Mattress spring tensions are based on weight ranges. if you’ve mistakenly been sold a softer spring gauge then it may mean that the mattress is providing too little support for your sleeping position and bodyweight. This is why choosing the correct pocket spring tension when you first buy a new mattress is vital.

Best type of mattress for a front sleeper

The best type of mattress for a side sleeper is one that has a deep top comfort layer and the right mattress support for your body weight. If you choose a mattress that’s too firm then it can cause unnecessary pressure on your shoulders and hips forcing them out of alignment during the night. You need this deeper comfort compared to a back or front sleeper as your hips and shoulders will need to sink further than your sides and torso. If not this is where potential pain during the night can come from.

Natural fibre mattresses are ideal for front sleepers as they offer far better progressive comfort compared to memory foam or synthetic fibres. Natural fibre mattresses are also far cooler to sleep on and regulate night time-temperature much more effectively.

Origins Pocket Latex 1500

Our Origins Pocket latex mattress offers a firmer feel for front sleepers. Using 2 separate layers of Talalay Latex this offers vital support for necks and shoulders. The 1500 medium gauge pocket springs will offer the correct support for sleepers up to 17 stone allowing for a comfortable nights sleep.

Artisan 1500

Our Artisan 1500 natural fibre pocket sprung mattress offers the perfect mix of support and comfort. Featuring 53% natural fibres this mattress offers a breathable and responsive sleep surface. Featuring 4300GSM of fibre fillings this two sided mattress is hand made with 1500 pocket springs available in 3 different spring tensions depending on your bodyweight.

Artisan Tailored Pocket 2000

For the front sleeper wanting a bit more movement from their spring unit, the Artisan Tailored Pocket 2000 mattress features a dual spring system. This enables the sleeper to move easier during the night offering a lively support system. Topped with 85% natural fibre fillings for a cool nights sleep. The 2000 springs are available in 3 sproing tensions and it contains a huge 3950GSM of fillings.

Best mattress upholstery for a front sleeper

If you’re a front sleeper then understanding which mattress fibres and upholstery layers are best to support you is essential. As a guide below is a table that shows the more support fibres which will allow a back sleeper to sleep soundly at night.

Other Sleeping Positions Explained

You may also be interested in reading about the other two popular sleeping positions and mattress choices:

• Mattress advice for side sleepers
• Mattress guide for back sleepers