BEST MATTRESSES FOR SIDE SLEEPERS

There are all kinds of sleepers in this world 😴

Some lie flat on their stomachs, cheek to mattress. Others lie on their backs, sprawled out across the bed.

A side sleeper is simply someone who sleeps on their side.

There are many sub-categories, like the foetal position, where side sleepers crawl into a ball, or pillow huggers, where side sleepers cuddle with a pillow.

Sleeping on your back is often deemed the healthiest position as it creates the least tension for your body, but most adults sleep in the side position.

This can create quite a fair bit of tension, which is why it's so important to choose the right kind of mattress.

Any ideal mattress - regardless of sleeping position - has to offer good stability and support.

Stability should not be confused with firmness. A soft mattress can offer as much stability as a firm mattress can.

For side sleepers, the ideal mattress has to offer the right amount of stability regardless of sleeping position.

This is because the exact sleeping position of a side sleeper can change every night.

Sometimes you'll bend your legs; other times, you'll sprawl them out to the side. Or maybe you'll only bend one leg.

The right mattress will be able to support you well in every position.

So what do stability and support even refer to?

In a nutshell, a mattress with good stability and support will help keep your spine straight.

This is necessary to lower back pain and unnecessary tension.

Achieving this is relatively easy for back sleepers but a little more difficult for side sleepers.

This is because most of the weight of your body will be concentrated in your shoulder and hip areas.

These heavier parts of your body will need to be able to sink into the mattress a little more deeply while the rest of your body remains adequately supported.

Only this will allow your spine to remain optimally aligned.

Ultimately, it's a fine balance of offering the right kind of support - enough to keep your feet and head lifted but not too much to still allow your hips and shoulders to sink in.

You need the Goldilocks of mattresses - not too soft, not too firm, but just right 👩

Zoned mattresses

Very often, you'll find mattresses with integrated comfort or contour zones.

These are specifically zoned mattresses that allow for greater support in some areas and more sinkage in others, keeping your spine in its optimal alignment.

You'll often find high-quality foam mattresses, such as memory foam, latex foam, and gel foam, combined with a stable zoned support layer of cold foam or PUR foam to achieve this effect.

The construction of the base layers often also influences the mattress's durability, so it's generally a good idea to make sure you purchase the best quality you can afford.

All of the mattresses we recommend are high-quality, durable choices with a 10-year warranty (minimum).

If you choose a zoned mattress, you can also choose a bed frame where the slats match the zoning - this will help enhance the features of the mattress.

If you've done some reading on mattresses, you'll have seen the term "point elasticity" thrown around.

But what exactly does this mean?

Point elasticity measures the ability of materials to compress at a specific point without affecting the rest of the mattress.

If a mattress has high point elasticity, it means that you can put a very heavy dumbbell at one point and only have the mattress sink in at that point - the rest of the surface will remain unaffected 🏋️‍♀️

If you've read the above section on stability and support, you'll know that this is exactly what you need if you're a side sleeper.

Your hips and shoulders (the dumbbells in this scenario) will need to sink in more deeply, but the rest of the mattress should remain unaffected.

Point elasticity is influenced by the materials used and the composition of the mattress.

But, you can rest easy in knowing that all the mattresses we recommend have exceptional point elasticity.

Bonus:

Mattresses with high point elasticity also generally have low motion transfer, meaning that you can happily share your bed with a partner and not be disturbed by any tossing and turning.

That said, we still recommend that couples choose larger mattress sizes - like a king or super king - to ensure both partners have enough space to sleep comfortably.

READ OUR GUIDE ON MATTRESS SIZES

We've already mentioned that your body weight in the side position will be more concentrated in your shoulder and hip areas.

But, you don't want this to create unnecessary pressure points, which could result in a build-up of tension and awful aches and pains.

This is why you need to look for a mattress that offers even pressure distribution across the mattress.

This will help relieve pressure points, meaning that your muscles can relax fully while you sleep 💤

Luckily, pressure relief is related to point elasticity, and a mattress with high point elasticity will allow weight to be more evenly distributed.

Memory foam is an excellent choice for side sleepers.

This is because of its body-contouring properties, where the foam adjusts to your body shape, relieving pressure and providing optimal comfort.

If you have a mattress that offers good stability and support, has high point elasticity, and allows for pressure relief, then you've already made a good choice.

The degree of firmness you choose is often simply a matter of personal preference.

But, your size, body weight, and sleeping position influence which level of firmness will be more suitable for you.

Firmness for side sleepers

In general, we would recommend a slightly softer mattress for side sleepers.

On our Sleep Hero firmness scale, this would be any mattress with an average firmness of about 4 - 6 (where 1 is the softest and 10 the firmest).

These are generally softer or medium-firm mattresses 🛌

This is because firmer mattresses often don't allow for sufficient sinkage in the hip and shoulder areas, which will prevent optimal spinal alignment.

Consider your size and body weight

That said, your build, size, and body weight influence this.

If you are a bigger or heavier person (above 90 kg and especially if you're above 130 kg), you should choose a slightly firmer model.

Mattresses with a firmness level of 6 - 8 on our scale will work well.

This is because people who are slightly heavier will sink into the mattress more deeply, and will need a mattress that's firm enough to still offer sufficient support.

Spring mattresses are particularly well-suited to heavier people as they offer greater firmness and stability.

You can always choose a hybrid mattress that features top layers of memory foam, a mattress with a quilted pillow top, or a spring mattress with a memory foam mattress topper to achieve the same level of comfort as with a foam mattress.

The good thing about spring mattresses is that they also allow for greater breathability, enhance airflow, and prevent overheating, which is great for heavy sweaters.

Make use of risk-free trial periods

The only way to really determine whether a mattress's firmness is right for you is by trying it out.

This is where risk-free trial periods are so handy 💵

Most bed-in-a-box mattress brands, which we recommend, offer a minimum of a 100-night trial period.

If you're not fully satisfied, you can return the mattress - free of charge - and receive a full refund.

This way, you'll be guaranteed to find the most comfortable mattress for you.

Side sleepers may suffer from the effects of pelvic rotation.

This results from the displacement of the back muscles and the lumbar spine.

A rotation happens when you turn the upper body in the opposite direction of the lower body.

This can be quite painful 😱

You can prevent pelvic rotation by clamping a pillow between your legs while you sleep.

Choosing the right mattress with the proper support structure can also help.

In addition to choosing the right mattress, side sleepers will also need to pay attention to their choice of pillow.

Even the best and most expensive mattress will be useless if your head isn’t properly supported.

A bad pillow can easily result in severe neck pain.

For side sleepers, the best pillow will cradle the space between your neck and the mattress while still offering sufficient comfort and support for your head.

The pillow's height plays an important role here, and you need to choose a pillow that's not too big or too small.

You also want a pillow that supports your head and neck well but isn't too firm, as this will create unnecessary pressure and tension.

Pillows made of latex or memory foam are particularly suitable ☁️

These materials ensure that the pillow adapts well to the shape of your head and that pressure is distributed well.

Height-adjustable pillows

We also really like pillows with interchangeable layers.

These give you some playroom and allow you to adjust the height and firmness of the pillow to suit your specific needs.

We've recommended some of our favourite ones below.

Side sleepers need the right mattress to provide optimal comfort and support.

While the mattress material may play a role, and latex mattresses or memory foam mattresses are a good choice, you can also opt for a firmer spring mattress with ample cushioning to provide the right feel.

Ultimately, what's important is that the mattress is firm enough to support your body but soft enough to allow your hips and shoulders to sink in more deeply, resulting in optimal spinal alignment.

Medium-soft is generally the way to go.

Pay attention to stability and support, high point elasticity, and pressure distribution.

Luckily, all of the mattresses we've recommend meet these criteria, ensuring that you'll find the best side sleeper mattress and enjoy a good night's sleep, night after night.