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Firm mattresses are a good choice for back, stomach, and heavier sleepers who need extra support throughout the night.

But if your mattress is too firm and you crave softness and comfort, we have some tips for making a firm mattress softer.

A mattress that is too firm for one sleeper may be perfect for another, but sleeping on one that is too firm may affect the quality of your sleep, causing you to toss and turn during the night and wake up with body aches.

Most people sleep just fine on a medium-firm mattress, as it offers a good balance of softness while still being supportive enough to keep your spine in a neutral position.

If, after trying our tips for softening a firm mattress, you still feel it's too firm for your body and sleeping position, consider buying a new, softer mattress.

How to Tell If Your Mattress Is Too Firm for You

When it comes to choosing a new mattress, there are quite a few firmness levels to choose from. How firm should a mattress be? Well, that depends on your personal sleeping style. Generally speaking, side sleepers benefit more from softer mattresses, while back and stomach sleepers benefit from firmer mattresses.

But there are some signs that your mattress is too firm. Waking up with pain, soreness, and stiff joints, especially if you haven’t had them in the past. Also, if you feel numbness in your limbs, this could be due to pressure points created by a mattress that is too firm, which restricts blood flow.

Changing sleeping positions frequently throughout the night is also a sign that your mattress isn't conforming to your body and relieving pressure points. Look for visual signs, too—there should be some sinkage around your shoulders and hips when you lay on the mattress. If there's no sinkage, your mattress may be too firm for your body.

How to Soften a Hard Mattress

1. Add a mattress topper

One of the easiest ways to change the feel of any bed is to add a mattress topper. Many of this year's best mattress topper options are designed to make a firm mattress softer, more comfortable and a haven for sleep.

Mattress covers come in a variety of materials and thicknesses, so you can customize the softness you want. Memory foam mattresses are designed to mold to your body, relieving pressure points like your shoulders and hips. Down mattresses, on the other hand, offer a more luxurious comfort.

2. Adjust your bed base

The type of bed base you use for your mattress can have a big impact on how your bed feels. If you have a slatted bed frame, wider slats will generally make your mattress feel softer. You may also want to opt for a spring slatted bed base, as this will add a little more bounce while still maintaining the support your firm mattress provides.

3. Warm your bed

If you have a memory foam or hybrid mattress with a foam top layer, heat up the mattress before you get in. Foam, especially memory foam, reacts to heat and becomes more malleable when heated, which means it will feel much softer. So, add extra blankets and pillows to the mattress to warm up the surface.

Remember to never apply heat to your memory foam mattress, such as from a hair dryer or heating device. While memory foam responds well to a certain temperature, direct heat can damage and deform the foam, causing it to lose all its supportive properties.

4. Rotate your mattress

When we sleep in the same position every night, mattresses can start to develop problems, which in turn changes the way you feel when sleeping in bed. Try to rotate your mattress 180 degrees at least every six months. However, when your mattress is new, you should rotate it more often while it adjusts. Regularly rotating your mattress helps keep the surface of your mattress flat.

Some mattresses can be flipped over, which has the same effect as rotating it. However, if your mattress is layered or has zoned support, you can't flip it over, so check your mattress brand's instructions before flipping it over.

Should you give your firm mattress some time to soften?

If your mattress is only a few weeks old, give it some time to soften. New memory foam and latex mattresses in particular may feel firmer, but they will naturally soften over time.