A suitable mattress for side sleepers must be firm enough to support a neutral spinal alignment while being soft enough to ease shoulder and hip pressure. Memory foam mattresses tend to excel at doing just this, although you can find fantastic options from other bed-in-a-box brands as well.
Softer versions of mattresses with zoned support are suitable for heavy and large build side sleepers (over 230 pounds). Thicker models allow more room for adequate comfort and support layers and resist sagging better than thinner options.
Spinal Alignment
As side sleepers it’s essential for them to find a bed that ensures proper spinal alignment. The ideal mattress for side sleeping will cradle key pressure points of hips, shoulders and neck for optimal alignment during sleep; mattresses that are too soft allow these areas to sink further into its structure which puts additional pressure on their spine causing misalignment; in contrast too firm mattresses push against wider body parts causing misalignments and creating pain throughout the day.
As side sleepers need an optimal mattress that allows their hips, shoulders and necks to sink slightly while still supporting the spine properly, we advise choosing a medium soft to medium firm feel mattress with contoured foam that conforms to their bodies.
If your spinal alignment is becoming an issue, one of our favorite pillows for side sleepers could help keep the spine straight while relieving pressure from hips and shoulders. Selecting a pillow designed specifically for side sleeping will also ensure your head is in the ideal position, helping improve alignment of the spine as a whole.
The Nectar mattress is an ideal solution for side sleepers seeking relief from back pain, boasting an above-average rating in both pressure relief and spinal alignment. This mattress utilizes memory foam which contours perfectly to your shape for customized support while cushioning shoulders and hips – plus its affordable price makes this mattress highly recommended!
Innerspring Saatva Classic provides an outstanding balance of pressure relief and spinal alignment. Crafted with two impressive coil layers that offer both lumbar support and zoned relief zones for side sleepers while aligning your spine properly, we particularly like this mattress’s plush Euro-top memory foam lumbar pad which adds even greater comfort.
Pressure Relief
Side sleepers place greater strain on their hips and shoulders than other sleep positions, necessitating mattresses to contour around these areas and cushion them for support. We suggest mattresses rated 6 or higher on our firmness scale to meet this need – like Helix Midnight Luxe (#3) with its medium softness providing plenty of contouring without becoming too soft; DreamCloud Premier (#5) offers similar contouring qualities with its luxurious softness while remaining contouring to both hips and shoulders.
Contouring is essential for side sleepers as it helps ensure a neutral spine alignment during the night and reduces pressure on hips and shoulders that could otherwise cause soreness or pain if not supported appropriately.
Not only should you choose a mattress with adequate contouring, we suggest adding extra pillows for additional comfort and support. Tucking one under your knees may help relieve pressure on hips and back while placing one between neck and shoulders can alleviate stress on upper back. If your mattress is too firm, try adding a mattress topper as an instant softness boost.
Firmness levels for mattresses depend on several factors, including personal preferences and weight. A mattress that feels too soft may not conform to your body enough for neutral spine alignment, while firmer mattresses might feel too hard for lighter side sleepers. Our team members who weigh over 230 pounds tend to favor medium-firm range, but not everyone does! If you’re uncertain which firmness level would work best for you, use the Mattress Match tool for help finding your ideal match; it’s simple and will show how different mattresses feel on you so you can pick out which is the right one for you.
Firmness
Finding an appropriate mattress for side sleepers requires considering various aspects, such as pressure relief, health concerns, spinal alignment and construction. An ideal mattress would feature soft cushioning on shoulders and hips and firm support to maintain spine alignment – in addition to personal preference and body weight considerations.
Side sleepers generally benefit from medium or moderate-firm mattresses, which offer both support and comfort, with most needing only slightly firmer mattresses than they would for back and stomach sleeping. Firmer mattresses may be necessary if one is overweight as these may ensure adequate weight support.
Firmness of mattress matters greatly for side sleepers as it will influence how effectively they maintain neutral spinal alignment. Although it’s natural for the spine to bend slightly when sleeping, excessive bending over an extended period is unhealthy and using too soft of a mattress could allow your spine to stay bent causing hip or shoulder pain whereas too firm of a mattress might prove uncomfortable and lead to discomfort for some sleepers.
Through our sleep tests, we have discovered that latex mattresses are excellent choices for side sleepers due to their responsive material that allows their shoulders to sink slightly while providing much-needed pressure relief for hips. Furthermore, latex mattresses tend to spring back quickly after any shift in your sleeping position making them an excellent option for active people who tend to shift positions during the night.
Memory foam mattresses can provide side sleepers with excellent pressure relief and shoulder and hip cradling, yet still be heat traps during the night, possibly leading to overheating issues. If this is an issue for you, a hybrid model that incorporates both foam and innersprings like Stearns & Foster Estate Collection mattress may provide optimal comfort.
Material
When shopping for mattresses tailored for side sleepers, it’s essential to consider what materials were used in its construction. Depending on your personal preferences and mattress types available – innerspring, latex and hybrid mattresses each come with their own set of advantages and disadvantages; to narrow down your choices further start by looking at each mattress’ comfort layers and firmness level.
No matter the type of mattress you decide upon, be sure to find one with an extended trial period so you can try it for several nights and return it if it doesn’t suit you.
Memory foam and pillow-top mattresses tend to work best for side sleepers. Their contoured design provides a cradling, body hugging sensation that relieves pressure from hips and shoulders while keeping your spine in a neutral alignment. Furthermore, it is key that any mattress chosen does not allow hips to sink too deeply as this could compress your spine leading to back pain.
Experts generally advise selecting a medium-firm mattress in order to promote healthy spinal alignment, and one with a medium pillow loft in order to keep your neck neutrally aligned while sleeping – this will prevent your head from tilting off to one side and encourage a more balanced sleeping posture, less likely to cause back pain.
Are you in search of a mattress with the ideal combination of comfort and support? Look no further than Helix Midnight Luxe mattress-in-a-box! Featuring thick layers of contouring memory foam to alleviate shoulder and hip strain while providing enough firmness to support healthy spine alignment, as well as dense foam construction with TENCEL cover, this bed ensures sleepers remain cool throughout the night.
WinkBed mattress may also be worth considering; its luxury-firm construction is ideal for heavier people due to its ability to prevent hips and shoulders from sinking too deeply into the bed. Plus, this mattress comes equipped with GhostBounce for additional bounce, additional support, and high density support foam to prevent sagging over time.
The Sleep Loft - Online mattress showroom 