Best Mattresses for Petite Sleepers

What is a Mattress for Petite Sleepers? 

A good mattress for petite sleepers is a soft to medium bed that will deliver the right balance of pressure relief and support. With this in mind, certain mattress types may be better for petite sleepers than others.

What to Look for in a Mattress for Petite Sleepers

Lightweight sleepers need a specific mattress to deliver the perfect balance of comfort, pressure relief, and support in different sleeping positions. If you weigh less than 130 pounds and you’re looking to buy a new mattress, the following considerations should go into your decision-making process.

Type of Mattress 

Innerspring Mattresses 

Innerspring mattresses have interconnected spring coils, offering lots of bounce. Although these aren’t the best when it comes to motion isolation, their bounciness can make them easier to move on. The upper layer is usually a pillow top, wool, or a thin layer of foam to provide some transitioning to the coil unit. Innerspring beds are some of the firmest around, though, so there’s minimal contouring. For this reason, these likely won’t be the best option for petite sleepers.

Hybrid Mattresses 

Hybrid mattresses feature a combination of multiple foam layers and a coil unit. These beds may use memory foam, poly foam, latex, or a mix of all three. The construction usually has a steel coil unit as a support layer, while memory foam or latex make up the upper comfort layers. The result is a supportive bed with plenty of cushioning, responsiveness, and bounce.

Manufacturers mix different materials to achieve a certain feel and performance. Hybrids can also be very breathable and cool, especially if they incorporate cooling features and materials.

Memory Foam Mattresses 

Memory foam mattresses have foam layers of different thicknesses and densities. Most brands use memory foam in the top comfort layers, with denser poly foam below for support. Memory foam beds are often considered some of the top-performing models for pressure relief, making them a great option for petite sleepers.

Memory foam mattresses are also excellent at absorbing motion, which is good news for couples. However, one drawback is that this foam tends to overheat, so these beds may not be the best for hot sleepers unless they feature some kind of cooling technologies and materials.

Latex Mattresses 

A latex bed is an excellent option if you’re prone to allergies because the material is hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites, mold, and mildew. Latex is highly responsive and offers great pressure relief, which is important for petite sleepers, especially those who sleep on their side. 

Latex beds made with natural ingredients are also ideal for eco-conscious shoppers. One drawback is that latex beds are typically more expensive, but their durability means they should last a long time.

Other Considerations When Shopping for a Mattress for Petite Sleepers

Sleeping Position 

Your sleeping position will affect the kind of bed you find comfortable. Most side sleepers, especially petite ones, prefer softer beds that cushion and contour the body to prevent pressure from building up on the shoulders, hips, and legs. However, back and stomach sleepers will like more medium-firm beds that offer more support in these areas.

Firmness

Lightweight sleepers do best with a firmness level between soft and medium-firm, depending on their preferred sleeping position. Softer beds are best for side sleepers, while those who prefer sleeping on their stomach or back should like a medium-firm bed. 

No matter your body type, a mattress that’s too soft would cause the hips to sink more into the construction, forcing the spine out of alignment. Conversely, a mattress that’s too firm would create pressure points and cause discomfort due to the lack of cushioning.

Cooling 

Cooling is an important feature for people who sleep hot at night. Normally, hybrid, innerspring, and latex beds sleep the coolest. 

However, manufacturers have found a way to help keep memory foam from overheating by using cooling mechanisms like gel infusions or an open-cell structure. Mattress companies may also use breathable fabrics in the cover to help keep the bed cool, such as phase-change material, cotton, and wool.

Motion Isolation 

Motion isolation is usually important to couples with different sleeping habits. If you’re petite and your partner is on the heavier side, you may feel them moving, tossing, and turning throughout the night. A bed that absorbs motion and prevents it from traveling from one side to the other could help provide a better night’s sleep. 

If motion isolation is important to you, look for beds with memory foam or hybrids that utilize both memory foam and individually wrapped coils to limit motion transfer.

Sex

Petite sleepers who are sexually active are likely to appreciate the bounce and responsiveness found in innerspring, hybrid, and latex mattresses. To avoid feeling stuck when repositioning during sex, you’ll want a bed that can quickly bounce back to its original shape after weight has been applied. The fast-acting nature of latex and coils makes these materials ideal for this. 

Browse: Best Mattress for Sex

Pressure Relief 

A quality mattress should help prevent pressure from building up while still maintaining a proper level of support for the spine. 

Petite people can struggle with increased pressure if their beds don’t contour them enough. The reason for this is that light sleepers don’t always have enough weight to activate comfort layers and as a result, they will feel a bed to be more firm than those carrying more weight. Therefore, petite sleepers need a softer bed with targeted pressure relief to compensate for this.

Edge Support

Edge support is another factor typically important to couples. However, single individuals who like to spread out across the bed should also consider edge support. 

Most brands use higher-density foam or steel coils along the perimeter to reinforce the edges and prevent them from collapsing. This should allow you to sit or sleep near the edge without feeling like you’d slide off.

Budget 

Mattresses of all kinds are available for different prices, so there’s a bed for everyone’s budget. You should first think about how much you’re willing to spend as well as the features and specifications you’re looking for in a bed. Buying from an online retailer helps save some money since the manufacturer ships directly to you.

How Body Weight Impacts the Feel of a Mattress

Body weight can impact how soft or firm a mattress feels, as well as how supportive it may be. If it’s too soft, you may sink too deeply, causing your back to curve too much. Conversely, mattresses that are too firm for your body type could exacerbate discomfort on pressure points. 

Petite sleepers usually don’t require much firm support because they’re unlikely to compress their bed as much as a heavier person would. This is why most petite sleepers do well with soft to medium mattresses.