Highest Rated Memory Foam Beds For Side Sleeping – Reviews & Ratings

Side sleepers constitute a little over seventy percent of sleepers in the world today. But sleeping in this position involves many challenges in and around the mattress. For one, the shoulder creates the most height between the bed and the level of the neck and head of any sleeping position – this poses a challenge.

For this reason, we researched the market for the ideal mattress that best cater to people who sleep on their side. You will find them in the review section of this article, and we are confident that you will be impressed with what we have found for you.

Of course, we will look into other important aspects pertaining to this position as the effect it has on the shoulder, neck, and back. Further, we will look into what you need to watch out for if you sleep in this position so that you are in the know as to why we reviewed the mattresses in this article.

Information is your greatest asset, and we aim to arm you with a lot of it – lying sideways need no longer be a challenge – memory foam is here to save the night.

We also reviewed the overall best type of foam mattresses here.

Reasons Why Foam Is a Great Pick for Side Sleepers

Pressure Point Relief

The reason why memory foams are so suitable for side sleepers is because the material contours perfectly to the natural shape of the physique. This ability allows for the highest level of pressure point relief of any mattress type.

So, what is pressure point relief exactly?

Let’s start by explaining the pressure point – A pressure point is any part of your body that comes into contact with seating or lying areas. For the larger part, they involve boney protrusions on the body like the hips, shoulders, and the cervical and lower spine.

It is the mattress’s job to relieve as much pressure as possible from these regions so as to not aggravate pain due to adverse compression. Memory foam mattresses are perfect for this thanks to the surface adaptation in relation to the natural contours of the physique.

Side sleepers certainly benefit from pressure point relief most.   

Back Support

Side sleepers need the best support for their back. In other words, they require optimal spinal alignment so that the natural S-shape spine is maintained through the night. Memory foam is perfect for this – the viscoelastic material reacts to body heat, contouring to the shoulder and hip. As a result, the right amount of lift is applied to your hip or pelvic region, and the shoulder receives the optimal ‘sinkage.’

The uplift and indentation of the mattress in these surface areas ensure that the vertebrae are not put under undue pressure and kept in comfortable alignment.

Of course, the right pillow is rounds everything off – the cervical spine or neck region need the right amount of height or loft in relation to the height of the shoulder so that the head is kept in place and cradled.

Prevent Pain

Memory foam mattresses differ most clearly from all other types of bed when lying down. The viscoelastic foam forms, slightly time-delayed, almost like mold in accordance with the resting body parts. It reacts seamlessly to body heat and the weight of the sleeper.

From the moment you lie down on the mattress, you will notice your body slowly sinking into the bed – it’s like floating on a cloud – this is the so-called visco-effect. After a certain period, the sinking sensation ends, and you are cradled as if held in the arms of Morpheus – the ancient Greek God of dreams  – not a bad way to sleep.

Most of all, there is virtually no application of pressure to your joints and muscles. So, unless you suffer from any pains from injury or anything else, your memory foam mattress will never be the cause of discomfort.

Good for Multiple Positions

Memory foams are particularly suitable for back and side sleepers. People who sleep on their front may find the material too soft. But if you tend to move around a lot in the night, the delayed surface adaption when you take on a new position may prove a challenge. It’s highly recommended to choose a mattress that has faster surface responsiveness.

We have already seen why foam is so good for the sideways position in previous sections – optimal pressure point relief ring any bells?

It’s the same for the back sleeper. The superior contouring to the natural shape of the back allows for beds made of this material to indent slightly around the buttocks and provide uplift for the shoulder blades.  Memory foams keep the spine in the correct alignment, reducing pressure in the lumbar region in the back.

No More Motion Transfer

As we have already seen, the viscoelastic nature of memory foam contours and shapes to any body part that touches the mattress, keeping the sleeper in place comfortably. And the great thing is that it does that for two people individually – each person gets their zone in the bed.

When it comes to motion transfer, which involves any movement made by the sleeper during the night and its impact on the mattress regarding motion, memory foam is a definite front-runner in the bedding industry.

It isolates movement, making these mattresses ideal for couples sharing the bed. So, if your partner tosses and turns while asleep and you feel as if the next move will catapult you to the ceiling, consider investing in the top-rated foam mattress. Do some reviewing first for the highest quality, brand, warranty, and deal.

Easy Maintenance

Mainly depending on the design, foams are very low-maintenance. The material is hypoallergenic and anti-microbial, so you won’t find any pesky dust mites lurking around the mattress as you would with unprotected innerspring beds – the critters just hate the stuff because there is no place to hide.

But the most recommended way to get the most out of your foam bed is to place it on a solid foundation like a slatted platform or a box spring – it takes the pressure off the mattress, making it last longer.

Unless otherwise stated, you do not flip the mattresses because the base will feel firmer because that is where the edge support mainly comes from. But this does not prevent you from rotating it by 180 degrees from time to time for even wear.

If you spill something on your bed, please never use detergents – a damp cloth for dabbing with some dish soap will get the stain out nicely.

Possible Issues When Side Sleeping

Pressure Points

We have already touched upon pressure point relief. We have listed the main pressure points on the body that can affect the quality of our sleep and determine whether we wake up the next morning in pain. It is paramount to be aware of these points on the body so that you can purchase the top-rated mattress for your needs.

As a side sleeper, the primary pressure points are the pelvis and hip area, the shoulder, the cervical spine, the cheek or face and to a lesser extent the knees. These parts of your body come into direct contact with the bed. The neck and cheek (head area) primarily interact with the pillow.

The ideal bed need apply subtle uplift to your hip or pelvic area and the knees. At the same time, the bed must allow for the shoulder to sink into the sleeping surface. Like this, these pressure points are not put under any strain.

Shoulder Problems

The fact that this joint causes so many complaints is the price for its enormous flexibility. The condyle does not have a particularly tight fit in the shoulder cup. Instead, it is held in place by the joint capsule, tendons, and ligaments. This makes the whole area very elastic and movable. But on the downside, the shoulder is more susceptible to pain.

And you don’t want something as avoidable as the wrong type of mattress to be the cause of any discomfort in the shoulder area. As a side sleeper with a shoulder problem, you need to ensure that the bed does not apply undue pressure to this area. A mattress that is too hard will do precisely that because it will not allow for the shoulder to sink into the sleeping surface.

Your shoulders can suffer from age-related wear-and-tear, injury and calcaneus growth, but do your self a favor and don’t add the bed to that nasty list of causes.

Hip Pain

Pain in the hip is often attributed to hip osteoarthritis, especially in older people. But there are a variety of causes for hip pain. The hip joint itself is not always the leading cause of the discomfort – not infrequently, inflammation or injury of the tendons, and muscles or other joints in the hip area trigger the pain.

And side sleepers need to take particular care of themselves because the hip is a major point of contact with the mattress – The hip carries a significant portion of your body weight, so make sure that the bed does not apply undue pressure to this area.

Memory foam as a material is ideal for hip sufferers – the superior contouring will cradle the hip and soothingly keep it in place throughout the night.

As long as your hip finds the right amount of indentation on the sleeping surface, you have already crossed the bed off the list of potential causes.

Neck Discomfort

Sitting for hours at the desk, staring at the smartphone or the computer screen, stress, too little exercise are all things that describe living in today’s world. Neck pain is often a consequence of our lifestyle. But also serious illness or mental health problems can be the root cause. Be sure always to consult your doctor if the discomfort persists for a more extended period – see our best-rated beds for neck problems.

But the wrong posture is not confined to when we are awake, but you can also adopt an incorrect bearing when you are in bed. Side sleepers on unsuitable mattresses will concur with the above statement, primarily if they have survived on a mattress that is as soft as the Route 66.

We have already discussed what body parts are most impacted when you lie in a sideways position and the neck or cervical spine is one of those so-called pressure points. The right type of pillow for a neck with the correct height will support the neck and maintain spinal alignment all the way up to your head.

Back Pain

Anything that is good for your back is allowed. This wisdom ballyhooed by fitness trainers and physiotherapists can also be applied to the selection of the right mattress. Because those of us who wake up in the morning with back pain should definitely take a moment to determine whether the bed is the culprit.

The widespread belief that hard mattresses are good for the back is not exactly correct. The back or spinal column carries most of our body weight and harbors the majority of our central nervous system – It’s a true marvel of the human body.

So, taking the above into careful consideration, so be darn sure you look after your back because it is one of the most critical parts of our body.

If you sleep on your side, memory foam is the best type of mattress because of it contours to the side of your body, relieving pressure off your joint and muscles.  

Read: Our top favorite mattresses for those with lower back pain

Consider Other Materials

Innerspring

Innerspring beds are a traditional favorite in the bedding industry. They have been around for over a hundred years and are still going strong. Many people can’t imagine lying on anything else. The main reason for this is that the innerspring is available in multiple firmness levels and secondly, we all know about them.

The innerspring beds do get the job done for side sleepers because of the individually pocketed springs that adapt and react according to the applied body weight; this works exceptionally well on the side if the mattress is not too firm.

So, the main factors determining whether the innerspring bed is right for those of us who rest in a sideways position have nothing to do with the actual performance of the sleeping surface. You will most likely base your decision on the price as innersprings can cost anything between a few hundred bucks to thousands of Dollars; breathability (excellent), durability (less good) and motion transfer (perfect).  

Hybrid

Hybrid mattresses work especially well for side sleepers – all you have to is get the right material combination that caters to this position. And if you do your research, you will find what is right for you.

But what is a hybrid?

A hybrid bedding product is nothing other than an amalgamation of top-quality breed materials to create the ultimate sleeping solution. More and more brands are entering this space because they can combine the advantages of the various elements without the disadvantages.

Take an innerspring core for superior edge support and motion isolation and combining it with a latex layer for durability and breathability and memory foams for contouring.

What do you get?

A bed that molds to the contours of the body does not sleep hot and is ideal for any side sleeper.

Latex

For many, latex is considered the Rolls Royce material for the mattress, especially if it is the all-natural kind sourced from tree sap via the Dunlop or water-based processes. It is an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative that in theory can last you a lifetime – that’s how durable this stuff is.

The other option is synthetic latex based on petroleum elements. Synthetic latex is much cheaper than its natural cousin, but it can off-gas and smell bad because it has volatile organic compounds. It’s okay if you are on a budget. But we’d go for natural every time.

So, what can latex do for you if you?

Pretty much everything you need. Latex contours to the shape of your body almost as well as memory foam, albeit with faster response time. Also, latex is exceptionally breathable making the material a favorite among people who like it cool.

Top Memory Foam Mattress For People Who Side Sleep

Just order online straight from the company’s website, and your Puffy mattress will be delivered straight to your door in no time. What we loved most about this mattress is that it is like sleeping on a plush cotton ball. The certified highest-quality memory foam adapts to the natural shape of your body, making it an exceptional bedding product for side sleepers.

You will not only get the perfect pressure relief in your joints and muscles but also the patent-pending ‘Cooling Cloud Formula’ will knock you off your feet straight into the bed because you rest cool on the Puffy. Optimum airflow and heat transference are a given.

The Puffy bed was ranked best-rated for the side and back sleeper because it provides optimal spinal alignment. It’s an excellent solution for your shoulder as the right amount of softness allows for the perfect amount of give – this is what memory foams do best.

We have reviewed Puffy here if you want to see the complete analysis.

Layla boasts certified memory foam with two levels of firmness – one surface is soft, and the other firm – both are just one flip of the mattress away.

For people who sleep on their side, we recommend the soft surface as it allows for the shoulder to sink into the mattress so that spine is aligned all the way down to the pelvic region. This superior cradling sensation will make you feel supported where you need it most. It is one of the best beds around for side sleepers.

But what we really loved is that Layla has infused copper into the mattress for more refreshing and cooler sleep. The metal is known as the second-best metal after silver for heat conductivity. Copper is often used in industrial processes for precisely that reason.

The combination of copper and foam allows for an anti-microbial, hypoallergenic and anti-viral mattress structure. Excellent body-contouring for anybody who sleeps on their side.

Check our in-depth and complete review of Layla right here.

Our Final Thoughts

So, here we are at the article’s end. We hope that we have not bored you, but instead, given you the right motivation and reviewed products to get out there and improve your side sleeping experience.

As you have seen, there is a lot to look out for – pressure point reduction to the shoulder, hip, neck, and head. But also, the right breathability, durability, and comfort play an important role.

Memory foams infused with cooling elements are the best options for side sleepers. So, at this point, we wish you happy hunting and good luck with your new bed.

Resources:

• Memory Foam – https://www.nasa.gov/offices/ipp/home/myth_foam.html
• Brain Basics: Understanding Sleep – https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Understanding-Sleep