Discover the Best Pillow and Mattress for Side Sleepers
Learn everything you need to know to get your best night's sleep on your side.
A full night of sleep has obvious health benefits – it increases metabolism, boosts memory, and even strengthens the immune system – so it’s a no-brainer that we should all strive to get our eight hours. If you’re a side sleeper, get closer to peaceful, uninterrupted sleep by selecting the best pillow for side sleepers and best mattress for side sleepers.
Benefits of the Correct Pillow and Mattress
The Best Pillow for Side Sleepers
Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers
Benefits of the Correct Pillow and Mattress
- Alleviates or eases hip, neck, or back pain.
- Aids in relieving snoring, sleep apnea, or other airflow issues.
- Creates a more restful night's sleep.
- Increases memory functions, response times, and attention.
The Best Pillow for Side Sleepers
Firmness and high fill power is key in choosing the best pillow for side sleepers, because it has to fill the space between your neck and the mattress. Read on to learn more about the materials with the best support.
Memory Foam: Denser than other foams, memory foam pillows react to heat and pressure, quickly molding to the body. Memory foam is firm and provides significant support that doesn’t wear down over time. Its bounceback, derived from its viscoelastic composition, also has a faster recovery than other pillow materials, making it the best pillow for side sleepers.
Latex: Similar to memory foam, latex-filled pillows will conform to the body and bounce back quickly. They tend to retain less heat than memory foam, so those who get hot when sleeping may prefer latex. Additionally, latex pillows are naturally hypoallergenic, making them a favorite among allergy sufferers. Offering medium to high support, its density level makes latex the best pillow for side sleepers who prefer their pillows cool and comfortable.
Gel Fiber: Gel fiber pillows are typically filled with a blend of memory foam or latex and gel fibers or beads. Like memory foam and latex, gel pillows offer supreme support and have great airflow, which keeps them cool. While gel is one of the best pillow materials for side sleepers, it isn’t as durable as memory foam or latex and can be expensive.
Tip!
Pregnant women often adopt a side sleeper position even if they were formerly back or stomach sleepers, as those positions can become very uncomfortable. Because of this, supportive pillows are especially important for pregnant women, aiding in comfortable and restful sleep positions.
Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers
Unlike front or back sleepers, side sleepers need extra contouring abilities from their mattress. All side-sleeping positions can place the spine in a possibly awkward or painful position due to the natural curve of the human body. A mattress with a soft to medium firmness is suggested because it will mold to your contours, keeping the spine in-line while sleeping.
Finding the best mattress for side sleepers is similar to choosing a pillow, and we recommend the same materials.
Memory Foam: As with memory foam pillows, memory foam mattresses provide optimal bodily support and are some of the best mattresses for side sleepers.
Latex Mattress: Latex mattresses provide the same benefits as latex – excellent firmness and cooling airflow. Latex mattresses are one of the best mattresses for side sleepers who get hot easily.
Gel Foam: Just like gel fiber pillows, gel foam mattresses have gel infused into the foam of the mattress filling, which encourages airflow and improves firmness. These mattresses do have lessened durability and come at a higher cost than other mattresses for side sleepers.
