The Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
Posted on Friday, April 02, 2021
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At the end of a long day, there is nothing better than crawling into a comfortable bed to get a good night’s sleep. But if you sleep on your side, your mattress may not be helping you get that restorative sleep that you need. Side sleepers need the right combination of support and cushion to help them feel comfortable all night long.
What do Side Sleepers Need in a Mattress?
Side sleeping is one of the most common sleeping positions, and it’s been proven to have great health benefits. Sleeping on your side allows your spine to align naturally, helps you breathe better, and ultimately helps you get a better night’s rest. Side sleepers need a mattress that will provide the “Goldilocks” of support and comfort: A mattress that provides pressure relief on joints and support for proper spine alignment.
The specific amount of cushion vs. support will vary a bit based on personal preference and size. For example, people who are heavier will need a firmer mattress to provide the same level of spine support as someone who is lighter.
What is the Best Type of Mattress for a Side Sleeper?
A quick online search will bring up hundreds of different types of mattresses. You can find mattresses made with traditional springs, pocket coils, memory foam, gel-infused foam, latex, and more.
Side sleepers should choose a mattress that is made from some sort of foam or latex. Traditional springs and pocket coils tend to not provide enough body contouring, so they can put pressure on shoulders, hips, and the lower back. The good news is that there are lots of options that include some version of memory foam or latex. Here is a run-down on the main differences between the most common types of mattresses:
Memory Foam
Out of the materials listed below, memory foam has been around the longest. It has been the go-to mattress option of side sleepers since its inception. Why? Because mattresses made from memory foam are known for letting the body “sink in” to the mattress, therefore reducing pressure on joints.
Over the years, there has been a growing divide in how some sleepers feel about this sinking feeling — sleepers either love it or hate it, especially if they feel too constricted or not supported enough. Additionally, the synthetic material of memory foam is notorious for sleeping hot, driving some to start looking at different ways to get their memory foam feel without the memory foam heat.
Gel-infused Foam
To offset the trapped heat of memory foam, manufacturers started creating gel-infused foam. Aptly named, gel-infused foam is memory foam, but with an added layer of gel. The contents of the gel vary a bit between mattress brands, but it’s usually a synthetic material that cools the foam and adds more of a plush feel to the mattress. Gel-infused foam tends to spring back a bit quicker than traditional memory foam to prevent that quicksand feeling, and it draws heat away from the body. It is often considered a step-up from traditional memory foam, so it is usually more expensive.
Latex
Latex, or latex foam, mattresses are also very comfortable and supportive. Like gel-infused foam, they tend to bounce back quickly and have the added benefits of motion isolation and heat reduction. Since latex tends to break in a bit over time, they may feel too firm at first, and they can stay too firm for more petite body types. Latex comes with a cost, so a latex mattress will cost more than some other options.
Hybrid
Some mattress manufacturers also produce hybrid mattresses. These mattresses are made with a combination of standard innersprings and additional layers of memory foam. The innersprings are often individually wrapped, which allows for much better airflow within the mattress, ultimately cooling off warmer sleepers. While innersprings mattresses have a reputation for moving around too much, the individually wrapped coils can help prevent motion transfer.
The memory foam layers can be traditional foam or gel, and they typically sandwich the innerspring coils within the mattress construction. Hybrid mattresses may be a good choice for side sleepers who are looking for the plush mattress feel of gel-infused foam with the solid support and airflow of traditional innersprings. Due to the mix of materials and added layers, hybrid mattresses can sometimes be the toughest on budgets.
How Firm Should the Mattress be?
Many side sleepers prefer a mattress with medium firmness. But some of that preference depends on weight and body type. People who weigh more may be more comfortable on a more supportive, slightly firmer mattress while people who weigh less may prefer slightly softer mattresses that contour to them.
A good rule of thumb is to avoid a mattress that lets your body sink too far into the mattress or doesn’t let it sink at all. In a bed that is too soft, the pressure points of your body (hips, thighs, shoulders) will sink further than the rest of your body, and then your spine won’t be in alignment. This can lead to back and neck pain in the morning. On the other hand, if a mattress is too firm, it will not contour to your body, which puts extra pressure on your joints.
Don’t Forget the Pillow
While there is no substitute for a good, high-quality mattress that’s designed to provide the support and comfort needed by side sleepers, strategically placed pillows can help side sleepers rest even more comfortably at night.
If you sleep on your side, make sure you have a thick enough pillow that supports your neck and keeps it aligned. You can also play around with placing a pillow between your knees to reduce pressure on your hips, or behind your back to provide support against your spine. Just like with mattresses, you can find pillows made with memory foam material that contour to the specific shape of your body.
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
If you are a side sleeper, the best way for you to rest comfortably is to sleep on a mattress that provides a good balance of support and comfort. You can find that with a hybrid, memory or gel-infused foam, or latex mattress with at least a medium level of firmness.
When it comes time to upgrade your mattress, check out our top 10 mattresses for side sleepers to choose the right one for you.
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