Are you experiencing problems sleeping that are only elevated when you sleep on your sides? Do you think something is missing in the sleeping arrangement that is preventing you from having the best possible sleep experience? All those shoulder pains, hip pains, and neck pains can only tell you one thing: you need the best mattress toppers for side sleepers.
As humans, we spend a large chunk of our lives sleeping. Sleep is a crucial activity that helps the body stay healthy and the mind sharp and focused. The better the amount and quality of sleep you get, the more effective the benefits of sleep to your health would be.
Now, to some good news. If you’re particularly interested in the best mattress as a side sleeper, which means you’re already doing something right. Because side sleeping is the most comfortable sleeping position among the lot. Sleeping on your side reduces the risk of experiencing troublesome back pains, hip pain, and sleeplessness. What’s more, it’s considered the best position for pregnant women.
But there’s a little caveat. Despite all the awesomeness sleeping on your sides can do to your sleep quality, it carries some potential drawbacks. For the majority of sleepers in this position, there’s the risk of pressure accumulating around their shoulders and hips, which can result in pains and aches in and around those areas.
The state of your mattress, as ever, is crucial to your experience as a side sleeper. A mattress that's too firm can contribute to the pains and aches, while a mattress that's too soft to support your body could let the hips and shoulders sink in too deep – putting a strain on the spine. That’s the problem that needs solving and we are pleased to let you know the solution is quite straightforward and easier than purchasing a new mattress.
Mattress toppers are designed to solve issues you may be having with your bed. If you're a side sleeper, you may want to adapt your bed to suit your favorite sleeping style. You can very well change your existing mattress entirely but that would be a much more drastic measure to a simple problem. And that’s even before we talk about the fact that paying for a new mattress can leave a big hole in your pocket. Why risk spending all that money on a new mattress when a mattress topper can help you improve your sleep in a simpler, cheaper, convenient, and yet, effective way?
A topper is a removable layer of material designed to sit on top of your mattress. There are several materials commonly used for making mattress toppers, all of which aim to provide cushioning and support to relieve pressure points while you sleep on the sides. Sleep is hardly a nuisance but can be a much more pleasant experience with the right mattress topper for a good night’s sleep.
Side sleepers have more needs than back and stomach sleepers – a particularly soft mattress is better. So, it can be hard for regular shoppers to know what to prioritize when looking for the best mattress toppers to buy. There are so many designs, sizes, and styles all from different manufacturers. We reckon that you’re going to need all the help you can get to be able to invest in the right mattress topper to improve your sleep. And that’s what we set out to provide. Read on!
How We Confirmed
Side sleepers are one of the most popular types of sleepers out there. Mattress topper makers know this so they flood the market with so many options – which is great, don’t get me wrong. But with so many options available, shopping for the right one becomes even more complicated. To get the best mattress deals, you’ll need a little more market insights. Here’s how our list came about.
Every manufacturer always says the right things about their products – so we listened to them only a little bit. Instead, we have dug deep and looked for opinions from people who have had experience using these mattress toppers for side sleepers. I mean, anyone who sleeps on a mattress topper knows where the pain (comfort, actually) lies, right? The following review is an aggregate of first-hand reviews of users who have bought these mattress toppers. We want you to picture how the mattress toppers on our list can elevate your sleep even before you splash the cash.
Finally, we answer those burning questions you may have regarding their construction and performance. We also go into some detail about what to look out for when buying a soft mattress topper for side sleeping.
Sick and tired of waking up in strains and pains every night? You’ll want one of these...
Best Mattress Topper for Side Sleepers
Why We Love It
Tempur-Pedic has built a reputation for making longer-than-average memory foam toppers for a while now. Any offerings from this maker always scream quality and durability because of their highly regarded proprietary TEMPUR foam composition. The topper is crafted from pressure-relieving TEMPUR material, which is also found in Tempur-Pedic’s world renowned mattress.
The 3-inch mattress topper provides pressure relief and has all the rave reviews from satisfied users. The memory foam topper is firm enough to support your body on your old mattress but it is also cushioning enough to conform to your body to deliver a much more pressure and pain-free night's sleep.
What We Noticed
The Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR Supreme 3-Inch Medium Firm Topper comes in different sizes including TWIN, TWIN XL, Full, Queen, King, and California King. The size flexibility is a welcome blessing. This pretty high-end topper has a 3-inch profile that has a median feel to it when it comes to firmness, housed in a plush, adaptive surface.
This mid-range firmness and the close conforming of the Supreme topper makes it the perfect choice for back and side sleepers who weigh less than 230 pounds – the average adult, really. Side sleepers enjoy plenty of support and cushioning around the spine to improve their alignment and reduce aches. It also ensures you don’t sink in too deep, even when you lie on your back instead.
Why We Love It
A firmer or older mattress that has become too stiff can result in new aches and pressure points when you lie on them. For excessively firmer and rigid beds, the Lucid Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper is a solid fix to make your bed softer and more side sleeping-friendly until you’re ready to buy a new bed. It sports a gel-infused memory foam design for sleeping positions which require deep contouring for the sleeper to feel relaxed. The soft and plush topper surface cushions your spine and can relieve pressure in sensitive regions like your hips, shoulders, and lumbar regions.
What We Noticed
The Lucid 2-Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper is a high-quality product that strokes the right notes with online buyers. The relatively thinner topper is perfect for side sleepers who require plenty of contouring.
And that’s not all. The ventilation mechanism for this topper from Lucid is top-notch as always. Memory foam’s customary heat retention is almost a non-factor due to the gel infusion. If you live in a warmer climate region, or you naturally sleep hot, this topper from Lucid will do a great job keeping you cool at night.
Also, side sleepers normally tend to retain more heat because airflow cannot reach every corner of the body in this position. This cooling mattress topper quickly helps to dissipate body heat as soon as it is generated. The Lucid temperature regulation is so good that it can sufficiently serve as your primary cooling topper.
The cover for the Lucid topper you will have to order separately, which is somewhat of a letdown. But it can be a good investment to help you protect the memory foam mattress topper from stains. And you don’t have to worry much about the initial off-gassing, which will be gone in a few days. Overall, the Lucid topper is a solid and safe option for side sleepers.
Why We Love It
The very carefully designed and constructed Best Price mattress topper is sure to score many points with a cross-section of sleepers. The mattress topper from Best Price offers plenty of support due to its thickness which is set at 4 inches. It is ideal for side sleepers as your body weight is uniformly distributed, and finding the most comfortable sleeping position will be straightforward.
With this Best Price mattress topper, side sleepers feeling pain along the spine will be a thing of the past because they should receive enough cushioning around the shoulders, hip, and lumbar regions to ensure uniform alignment and minimal discomfort for pressure points. Side sleepers who also like to take up multiple sleeping positions should feel comfortable and supported on their backs and stomach for ideal pressure relieving and superior sleep climate.
What We Noticed
The Best Price 4-Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper is made to last and perform. The combination of high-quality materials and superior build quality ensures the longevity of this mattress topper from Best Price.
The ventilated design of this topper from Best Price allows greater airflow compared to a traditional memory foam flat topper. That’s a relief for side sleepers since hotness will be minimized for those that tend to put extra pressure on their hips and shoulders while sleeping.
Another cool feature of this topper is that it’s infused with gel, and the memory foam is cut with air channels to keep the surface properly ventilated. The result is that it doesn’t get hot like traditional foams, helping side sleepers stay cool during sleep.
Finally, there is a cover protector included in the package when you purchase this cooling mattress topper. It helps keep the topper in place and also serves as protection against water spills and specks of dust for both the memory foam topper and your mattress. You can easily machine-wash the cover to keep your sleeping surface feeling fresh and healthy.
Best Mattress Topper for Side Sleepers FAQs
Side sleepers have more specific needs than back sleepers, and that thought should be taken into consideration when shopping for an appropriate mattress topper. Even though individual preferences may differ, the following section provides answers to frequently asked questions by shoppers who are looking to invest in the best mattress topper for side sleepers.
They provide greater clarity for anybody buying a mattress topper in today's market.
Why Use a Mattress Topper for Side Sleeping?
Most people are noticeably heavier around the hip and shoulder regions, causing those areas to sink too deep into the mattress. This can affect spinal alignment which creates pain and pressure points compared to other sleeping positions.
For this reason, side sleepers need more support and reinforcement for their shoulders, hips, and lumbar regions. Firmer and older beds with less cushioning can cause aches and pains. While too soft beds may not provide the minimum support to prevent side sleepers from sinking excessively into the mattress.
A suitable mattress topper can provide the ideal level of firmness to minimize discomfort for side sleepers. It is usually less expensive than replacing your old mattress.
What Type of Mattress is Best for Side Sleepers?
Thankfully, all the major materials for designing beds can be suitable for making toppers for side sleepers. Hence, you may not worry too much about whether it’s a latex, memory foam, hybrid, or gel memory foam topper.
Instead, look out for a topper that falls within the mid-soft to medium-firmness that can provide the right amount of cushioning and support for pressure relief and spinal alignment. Memory foam's natural softness makes it one of the go-to materials for making softer mattress for side sleepers.
How Dense Should a Topper for Side Sleepers Be?
When it comes to density, a medium-range level of firmness is typically a good option for side sleepers who are looking for more support. Generally, the higher the density, the greater the support and reinforcement the mattress topper will provide to your body.
Remember, the firmness (or softness) of a topper will depend on your preferences and circumstances. Thus, lighter side sleepers below 230 pounds will find softer mattress toppers quite sufficient while those above 230 will require a little more firmness for their body to feel properly supported.
What Thickness Would you Recommend for Side Sleepers?
Some of the best mattress toppers for side sleepers come in an assortment of different thicknesses ranging from 2-4 inches. The thickness of a mattress topper dictates how deep you would be allowed to sink into it and feel supported. If you really like your existing mattress and just want to enhance its suitability for side sleeping with minimal changes, you can invest in a less thick topper wholly for softness and be absolutely okay. Otherwise, adhere to the general rule of thumb: thicker is better for side sleepers.
Finally, stay away from toppers less than 2 inches – they're not for side sleepers.
How Much Should I Read Into Warranties for Toppers?
Mattress toppers are usually offered a lengthy warranty period given their daily use. However, the best ones often come with as much as a 10-year warranty. The best and biggest companies are not afraid to back their products. So, if you’re torn between two products and it comes down to it, pick the one with a warranty.
How to Care for Mattress Toppers
Memory foam mattress toppers are not waterproof, so you can’t have them cleaned in a washing machine. You’ll only render your mattress topper unusable if you machine-wash it. However, you can spot-clean the topper if need be. Just ensure you wipe them clean with a dry cloth afterward to remove moisture.
Some manufacturers enclose their toppers in a 100 percent removable cover that you can wash. We actually find this simple solution very effective and comes in handy. You can also make your memory foam mattress topper completely waterproof by using a spill-resistant cover or protector.
Our Confirmed Catch
Sleeping on your side in the correct alignment can allow you to reap benefits for both the body and mind. Unfortunately, even though the majority of people take this position during their sleep, many still suffer avoidable pain and restless sleep due to their sleeping surfaces. Investing in the best toppers for a side sleeper is a simple solution to the sleeping-pain problem and we are determined to help you find the right one for you.
Selecting the best soft mattress for a side sleeper is a tough ask but we have done all the dirty work to provide you with some critically acceptable options. Our recommendations will provide you with excellent support, and cushion your pressure points while promoting a pain-free sleeping experience.
Sleeping can be fun again with the best mattress topper for side sleepers!
Cheryl