Side sleeping is the most common sleep position in the world, so hey, definitely you are not alone! As the result of that fact, most of the sleeping products available on the market are catered towards side sleepers. That, however, can be both good and bad thing at once.
It’s true that you will have more options compared to stomach sleepers and back sleepers. However, that also means that it will be harder to make your choice. Stomach sleepers, for example, can have an easier time choosing their mattresses, because they are more specific to their needs.
Even more, since it’s considered the ‘generic’ position, most side sleepers failed to understand their own sleeping position, the pros and cons, and in turn, their needs.
Hence, before we dig further, let us first understand the side sleeping position better, the risks it imposes, and its benefits.
Side Sleeping Facts
As we can see, the biggest concern about side sleeping is pressure. Side sleeping position will:
- Put a pressure on one side on your face, which will restrict blood flow, as well as cause skin problems
- For women, will put pressure on one breast, which may induce sogginess
- Restrict blood flow on one side of the arm
- Strain the hip and the spine, which may lead to back and hip pain
- With improper firmness of mattress and pillow, will strain the area between the neck and shoulder, often causing neck pain in the morning
- Heat retention could be more problematic because you put more pressure compared to other sleeping positions. Hence, you have the tendency to sleep hot
With that being said, here are some consideration you should have about your mattress:
1. Firmness Vs Support
Side sleepers should aim for medium firmness, a balance between support and softness. Too soft, and you put more strain on your neck. Too firm, and you put more stress on your back, shoulders, and hip.
2. Heat Retention
Heat retention is especially important for side sleepers. Aim for a mattress with better air ventilation to prevent sleeping hot.
3. Thickness
Modern mattresses can have all the different technologies to approach their thicknesses. In the past, the thicker the mattress, generally the firmer it will be, but that’s not the case nowadays.
Hence, the thickness won’t matter as much, as long as you can have the proper balance of support and softness.
With that being said, let us learn about all the different types of mattresses available in the market today.
Different Types of Mattresses
There are generally three different mattress type available today. There might be more niche types you can find in the market, such as the bamboo mattress, green tea mattress, and many more, but they will always boil down to these three:
1.Memory Foam Mattress
The newest of the bunch, but also the most popular today with its reasons. Made from polyurethane with additional chemicals, it is designed to contour to your body shape as it ‘detects’ your body temperature. Hence the name memory foam, since this mattress seemingly remember your body shape as you sleep.
Pros for side sleepers:
- Its plushness guarantees fewer pressure points, essential for side sleepers
- Extreme comfort, great to relieve fatigue
- Reduce strains of neck and shoulders
- Available in different firmness levels, so you can choose the right balance between support and softness
Cons for side sleepers:
- Retains heat, so if you have high body temperature, it could be problematic
- On the other hand, if you have low body temperature (or your room is too cold), it will fail to contour to your body
- Often contain chemicals, and can have chemical smells, although newer products use more environmentally friendly materials
- Relatively expensive
2. Latex Mattress
The popular latex mattresses are known for two qualities: they are often very affordable, and they are very environmentally friendly. If you are green conscious, this kind of mattress might be your first choice. However, let’s take a look at its pros and cons for side sleepers.
Pros for side sleepers:
- Relatively more affordable
- Often have great ventilation system and won’t retain heat as much
- Again, environmentally friendly and perfectly safe for your children
- Very durable
Cons for side sleepers:
- More often than not, they are more firm than other types, which is bad for side sleepers
- Relatively heavy to move around
- You will need to choose your pillow carefully due to its natural firmness
3. Innerspring/Coil Mattress
The most popular, and arguably the oldest type of mattress. Mainly made from coiled springs, that are individually wrapped under the mattress. As a result, it is relatively flexible in term of firmness and can come in different levels of support and firmness. Widely available and relatively affordable, it is most probably your first choice.
Pros for side sleepers:
- Wide range of products to choose from with different price point and different firmness/thickness
- Relatively good in passing your body heat
- Durable and long-lasting
Cons for side sleepers:
- Heavy to move around
- Not as comfortable as the other two
- More difficult to clean
As you can see, each type has their own benefits, so we can’t say that a certain type will be better for side sleepers. Rather, each individual product might have the right qualities that will cater to side sleepers. After we have learned the right qualities you need, here are our picks for the best choices available.
1.LUCID Plush Memory Foam and Latex Mattress
Technically, this mattress is a hybrid between memory foam and latex. Now, we have mentioned that for side sleepers, the most important thing is to have a balance between support and firmness. This mattress belongs to a very soft/plush category, yet it has a very good support with a 10-inch thick support layer. If you are looking for a maximum comfort of a memory foam yet don’t want to lose the great support and ventilation of latex mattress, this one is for you.
Why it’s great for side sleepers:
- Very plush, yet with adequate support and response
- The top layer is actually a memory-foam layer, infused with bamboo charcoal to reduce odors and moisture
- Extreme comfort with its top memory foam layer
- Great air ventilation system allowing better heat dissipation
- Very durable and luxurious
A consideration:
- It is extremely plush/soft, which is certainly not for everyone
Bottom Line
If you are a side sleeper who is currently looking for a plush and soft option, there is no better choice. Priced at $660, it is definitely a bargain for its quality. Get it for $110 less here.
2. Leesa Mattress, Queen Size
Another hybrid memory foam mattress, but instead of using traditional latex, Leesa used avena, which is more durable and environmentally friendly than latex. The Leesa Mattress is not as plush as LUCID mattress discussed above, firmness-wise, we can say that it’s medium-soft. It is also very supportive, so it’s great to eliminate pressure problems common with side sleepers.
Why it’s great for side sleepers:
- You get all the benefit of latex-like avena: support, better air ventilation, durability and the comfort of the memory foam
- Luxurious looking and durable
- Perfect firmness for most side sleepers
- 100-night trial, no-question return policy
A little bit of consideration:
- A little more expensive than LUCID Memory Foam/Latex
Bottom Line
The Lessa Mattress comes from a relatively new manufacturer but really surprised us with the quality. It’s more or less very similar to the LUCID plush memory foam/latex mattress, but is more durable and a little more firm. The firmness level, however, is actually better suited for most side sleepers. It is officially priced for $940, but you can get it for just $865 here.
3.Brooklyn Bedding Latex Mattress Queen, Medium Firmness
While the other two we have discussed above are hybrid memory foam and latex mattresses, the Brooklyn Bedding is made from wholly traditional latex. There are actually three firmness levels available for this product: soft, medium, and firm. However, we chose the medium firmness for this best mattresses for side sleepers list, for reasons we’ve stated above. We were actually surprised with the overall quality and durability of Brooklyn Bedding’s Latex mattress, which are worth every penny.
Why it’s great for side sleepers:
- Although generally, latex mattresses won’t be as comfortable as memory foam ones, that’s not the case with this mattress, it is very luxurious and comfortable
- Being of fully latex material, very durable
- Perfect balance between firmness and support for side sleepers
- Great air ventilation technology and you won’t feel hot during your sleep
Minor considerations:
- Bulky and heavy to move around
Bottom Line
If you are looking for a reliable, traditional latex mattress, the Brooklyn Bedding Latex Mattress Queen is simply one of the best options available. It provides a perfect balance of firmness and support, ensuring less pressure throughout the night during your side-sleeping habit. Available for only $750 here.
4.Zinus Sleep Master Ultima, Memory Foam Mattress, Queen Size, 12″
Now, we understand that some of us have a strict budget and are looking for cheaper options. We also understand that although we have stated that memory foam mattresses are commonly not suited for side sleepers, there will be some of us that will strive for its comfort. Hence, this product will represent both! Zinus has been known to provide affordable, yet high-quality memory foam mattresses in recent years, and this mattress is not only very affordable, yet will provide great comfort and other values necessary for side sleepers.
Why it’s great for side sleepers:
- The sleep master ultima provides a good balance of firmness and support, which is rare in a memory foam mattress. Perfect for side sleepers with three layers: memory foam, pressure relieving comfort foam, and base support.
- Very comfortable, as expected of memory foam mattresses
- New environmentally-friendly technology so that the memory foam use less petroleum-based chemicals, less chemical odors too as the result
A bit of concern:
- Although Zinus use an advanced ventilation technology, it will still retain more heat compared to latex mattresses
- As with most memory foam products, it is vacuum packaged, will take time to fully reform, and can have slight chemical odors when unpacked
Bottom Line:
With its great price tag, available only for $276 here, Zinus Sleep Master Ultima is more than a bargain. The overall quality of the product is excellent for its price, and for a memory foam mattress, it provides an excellent balance of support and firmness side-sleepers need.
End Words
If possible, always try before you buy a mattress. Depending on your size and weight, you might need different levels of firmness than what we’ve stated above. Most reliable manufacturers offer great trial period, sometimes for up to 120 days, including the products we have listed above. When trying for a new mattress, try to lie on it for at least 10 minutes so that you can test the contour and heat retention.
Remember, the key for a sound side-sleeping is the balance of both support and firmness, so that you won’t put too puch pressure on your arms, breast, and face, while keeping the neck strain at a minimum.