What is a Combination Sleeper? Sleeping Tips for Different Positions
A combination sleeper is someone who changes sleeping positions throughout the night. Some combination sleepers prefer one position – side, back, or stomach, while others change their position on a nightly basis.
Combination sleep can be both a challenge and a blessing.
Sleeping in different positions can improve circulation and prevent limb numbness.
But you need to have the kind of mattress and pillows to support the varying sleeping positions.
Who Is a Combination Sleeper?
You are a combination sleeper if you don’t sleep in any particular position but all different kinds of positions.
You keep turning to take up a position that you feel comfortable with throughout the night – side, back, or stomach.
You might fall asleep on your back and then wake up on your side.
There is nothing uncommon about this. It is usual to rotate our bodies as we go through different sleep phases.
Children are typically combination sleepers, but this alters when we grow older.
The Benefits of Being a Combination Sleeper?
The benefits of combination sleep vary depending on the individual.
As a combo sleeper, you can benefit from all the different sleeping positions without the downsides of staying in one place all night.
- Changing positions throughout the night can improve circulation and prevent numbness in the legs.
- It can also stop excessive snoring.
In general, switching positions is better than staying static if you’re not constantly tossing and turning.
Pros and Cons of Different Sleeping Positions
The three main positions to sleep in are the side, stomach, and back.
Proper spinal alignment is crucial regardless of your position. However, many people overlook it. The spine should be straight when you are sleeping.
Side – Pros
- Ideal alignment of the spine and pelvis.
- Reduces snoring.
- Left-side sleeping helps prevent heartburn.
Cons
- It may lead to wrinkles on the face.
- Arms may become numb.
Back – Pros
- Promotes a neutral and natural posture of the spine and neck.
- Reduces wrinkles on the face.
Cons
- Makes you snore more.
- Makes sleep apnea worse.
Stomach – Pros
- Reduces snoring.
Cons
- Puts the spine in an unnatural position.
- It can cause neck stiffness.
- Lower back pain is more likely.
- It can cause facial wrinkles.
Sleeping Tips for Combination Sleepers
The following tips can help combination sleepers sleep comfortably.
Sleeping on Your Side (With Relatively Straight Legs)
Since your spine is extended, it should relieve neck and back pain.
But you must avoid having your neck sag down or be pushed up by an unsupportive pillow. This can cause neck pain.
A firmer pillow will help your neck stay square to your shoulders.
You can use another pillow between your legs to help keep the spine straight.
When you are lying on your side, do not curl too deeply. Otherwise, you may wake up with soreness and pain. Make sure your spine is extended.
Sleeping on Your Stomach
Sleepers who mix up their sleeping positions should be fine sleeping on their stomach.
Because it puts strain on your spine, it’s not the best position to sleep all night.
Those suffering from sleep apnea or snoring can benefit from sleeping on their stomachs. Do not lift your neck off the bed to prevent neck and lower back pain.
A flatter pillow or no pillow at all may help.
Sleeping on Your Back
When you sleep on your back, your spine will be in its most natural position.
Keep your head low on a flat pillow.
Pillow Type for Combination Sleeper
Since combination sleepers do not sleep in one specific position, they require a pillow that fits their sleeping needs.
When purchasing a buffer, you should check out pillows that will be comfortable for you whichever way you sleep.
Finding the best type of pillow to purchase as a combination sleeper; means you need to know about pillows.
Let’s look at the different types of pillows combination sleepers can buy.
1. Firm and Softer Pillows
Pillow meant for a combination sleeper needs to support all your sleeping positions. You have to purchase a pillow with both firm and soft sections.
Do not settle for stiff pillows, as this can harm your back.
Keep off from purchasing any high pillows if you are a combination sleeper. This is the only way you protect your body from waking up with aches.
2. Lower Centered Pillows
Pillows that possess a lower center are best for a combination sleeper. It allows them to safely switch to the back position without discomfort.
This is because a lower center is made so that your back will settle in nicely.
When you buy such a pillow, you can sleep throughout the night on your back and wake up refreshed and peaceful.
3. Higher Sided Pillows
Pillows with high sides are good for you as they enable you to switch to the side position when sleeping.
It becomes so much easier for you when you have such a pillow as rolling over to the side is possible and not uncomfortable.
So when you want to sleep on your side, you can do this gently.
4. Pillows Made From Multiple Materials
As a combination sleeper, you should not buy a pillow made from one material like foam, polyester, or latex.
Get a pillow that has been made from different materials, as this is a pillow that will not disappoint you.
Let there be a balance between the materials used in making the pillow for you to sleep better.
Types of Pillows to Avoid For a Combination Sleeper
1. Water Pillows
Please keep away from water pillows as they are not suitable for you when you turn to the position of sleeping on your stomach.
You should have a thin cushion to sleep on your stomach.
2. Soft Cushions
Do not purchase a soft pillow if you know that you are a combination sleeper, as they are not appropriate for you.
They will have you waking up tired and sometimes with aches.
3. Feather Quill Pillows
These pillows are not suitable for combination sleepers. They do not offer you comfortable sleep because they make rotating in sleep difficult.
Mattress Type for Combination Sleeper
When choosing the best mattress for combination sleepers, consider this: which sleeping position do you spend the most time in throughout the night?
There is an ideal mattress for each sleeping position.
You can’t change the mattress during the night when you change the position. It’s best to have a mattress that accommodates your typical resting and sleeping position.
A mixed position sleeper has slightly different needs than someone who sleeps in a specific position every night.
People who sleep only on their side, for instance, require a mattress that offers pressure relief and is on the softer side of medium.
Combo sleepers might find this type of mattress too soft when they roll over to their back or stomach.
The Bottom Line
In a nutshell, any sleeper needs to have the right kind of pillow as this is the only way they can ensure that they sleep well.
There is nothing like a pillow that fits all types of sleepers.
Find the right combination sleeper’s pillow and enjoy quality sleep.
Read more: Why do we use pillows to sleep (history of pillows and reasons to use a cushion for better sleep).
