I reviewed a mattress that stopped me waking up at 3 a.m. with back pain when stomach sleeping — and it's back to this year's lowest price for Presidents' Day

Mattress testers Ruth Jones (left) and Eve Davies (right) sit on the Helix Dawn mattress on a bed frame in our Sleep Lab. In the bottom left is a close up of Ruth's hand pressing into the surface of the Helix Dawn mattress

(Image credit: Future)

As a stomach sleeper, I've slept on many mattresses that leave my spine crying out for support (and a heating pad.) That wasn't a problem when I tested the Helix Dawn Mattress, currently $972.36 for a queen (was $1,332) at Helix, a firm and bouncy bed that works with your body, not against it.

The Helix Dawn lifts and straightens my spine, stopping the painful 'sag' that happens on less supportive beds. And it can rival the best mattresses we've tested when it comes to all-round performance — it's strong at the edges and breathable.

Why the Helix Dawn is my top pick for stomach sleepers

Lying prone forces your back and neck into an uncomfortable angle, which is why stomach sleeping is widely considered the worst sleep position.

Unfortunately, it's a sleep habit I just can't kick, so when choosing a mattress my main concern is finding one that lessens the impact of stomach sleeping. This means I can drift off in my favorite position and wake up without a dull ache in my lower back.

A close up of a person sleeping on the Helix Dawn mattress with her head resting on a pillow — (Image credit: Future)

The Helix Dawn mattress has two features that make it the best mattress for stomach sleepers I've tried.

First, it's firm. I rated the Dawn an 8 out of 10 on the mattress firmness scale, with 10 indicating rock hard.

Second, it's responsive. Helix uses latex-style foams to create a mattress with a slightly bouncy finish.

As a result, you lay on top of the mattress with even support from the head to the toes. That means your lumbar won't sink in, so your back is held straight, and you can avoid the usual back pain that afflicts stomach sleepers.

Stomach sleeping mattress alternatives

I've slept on all three of these mattresses and enjoyed high quality stomach sleeping support (and mornings without back pain.) Here's a pick for every budget...

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Ruth is an experienced Senior Staff writer at Tom’s Guide, covering all things sleep and mattresses. She writes to help people sleep better, from how-tos to the latest deals to mattress reviews, and has interviewed an array of experts who share her passion. She is also our specialist on memory foam — she’s flown around the world to see memory foam being made — and leads our hotel mattress content. She has a deep interest in the link between sleep and health, and has tried enough mattresses, from Helix to Nectar to Simba, to know the right bed really can make a difference to your wellbeing. Before joining the team at Tom’s Guide, Ruth worked as a sleep and mattress writer for our sister website, TechRadar.

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