Mattresses & Side Sleepers
Side Sleepers Need Mattresses to Be Soft but Supportive
As a side sleeper, there are a number of mattress characteristics we must consider when needing optimal comfort and support. Side sleepers often think they need the softest mattress comfort they can find. This is often done without considering support.
- Comfort and Support: Comfort is essentially getting us to sleep but support is truly what is keeping us asleep. You must have both before a deep and restful sleep will happen.
- For Side Sleepers: You should consider a mattress that is medium to medium-soft in comfort. This should allow pressure relief for your shoulders and hips. Sinking slightly into the mattress is okay. Pillow Top / Euro Top mattresses can be helpful to achieving this. Be sure that you are maintaining proper spinal alignment.
- IMPORTANT – Make sure that if you are heavier in the middle of the body and really love and need that Pillow Top (PT) / Euro Top (ET) you consider sag in the middle of your body. When we are at total rest our bodies are at the mercy of gravity and that can cause our midsection to pull on our lower back and causes serious back pain; possibly long-term issues. Lower back pain is one of the top reasons customers shop for a new mattress.
- Targeted Pressure Relief: Whether it’s for your shoulders, hips, and or your knees, you need to remember that when we sleep on our sides, all of our weight is concentrated in 3 primary points.
- For Side Sleepers: High-density memory foams and or latex are a characteristic that we should strongly consider when searching for a quality mattress. High quality memory foams and latex not only offer better targeted pressure relief but extend the comfort-life of your mattress investment.
- IMPORTANT – Be careful, choosing foams and or latex that are of lower quality may not ultimately suit your needs and often have a much shorter comfort-life.
- Consistent Support: Whether you chose a hybrid, traditional innerspring, foam, or latex mattress, consistent support from head to toe and side to side is vital spinal alignment.
- For Side Sleepers: Individually wrapped coils systems have become very popular for those looking for independent targeted support. All foam also offers great independent targeted support. Latex is more of a natural feel but also offers great targeted support that is often superior to both spring and foam.
- IMPORTANT – It is important to remember that when choosing a mattress some consideration is given to type the support system used. Coil springs are very nice and are typically more breathable than foam and latex. Although they may not offer the higher level motion isolation of all foam and latex, the do tend to sleep a little more thermal neutral (cooler). Remember, the right all foam and latex mattresses can also have cooling attributes as well. When this is the case, the cost is typically higher than the traditional innerspring mattress.
- Edge Support: Both all foam and latex mattresses often lack in substantial edge support due to the slower response properties that memory foams and latex offer. Although edge support is often not critical to side sleepers it is important to understand the differences in edge support options when it comes to choosing between innerspring mattresses and all foam or latex.
- IMPORTANT – If you’re also looking for great edge support in a mattress. Considering a traditional innerspring or hybrid mattress is probably is right for you. These types of mattresses often have edges that are manufactured with coil systems specifically for the edges. When is doubt, always ask.
- Longevity: Sometimes this is referred to as “Comfort-Life.” How many years will the mattress support your sleeping needs with success. There are a lot of variables to take into account here. Manufacturer, mattress type, quality of materials used, etc. Another point to consider is who is using the mattress and how are they built. Are they heavier or petite? Are there more than one person sleeping in it every night? What type of foundation does it have. Is it a box spring, adjustable base, platform?
- IMPORTANT – There really is no way around it. Heavier individuals are harder on mattresses than smaller people. Great thing is, there are companies out there that make mattresses specifically for us. Make sure you’re not just considering the mattress when you shop. You would never buy a new car and put your old tires on it. Just like you should never put a new mattress on an older foundation,
- Trial Period: The average mattress takes about 60 days to break in. You body also has to adjust to the new mattress. It is always good to look for a mattress company that offers a decent mattress return and or exchange policy prior to buying online or in-store.
- IMPORTANT – This allows you protection on a couple of different levels. First, we are all only human and we are prone to making mistakes every now and again. Think of it as insurance, of course no one really wants a claim but it’s there if we really need it. Secondly, if there is a manufacturer defect it is typically caught during the trial period. Another great point, always keep your mattress covered with a quality mattress protector so that in the event of a warranty claim you reduce your chance of being denied.
By considering these factors do your research into different mattresses. Remember, it’s a lot easier to make your mattress softer than firmer. Keep in mind that a mattress topper can be used to add softness for those side sleepers that have something that may turnout to be to firm.