There are different types of sleeping positions. We have the back-lying position, stomach-lying position, and the most common one, the side sleeping position. Most people choose this kind of sleeping position because they feel more comfortable with it. It feels as if they are cuddling somebody when they hug their pillow. Also, it is known as the “cuddle” or the “spooning” position for most couples. The intimacy makes them feel that they are wanted.
But sleeping on one side of your body may cause different kinds of health hazards. Most especially if your body is not well supported by your mattress. Or sometimes your pillow is not the right one for you. This is why there are some people who wake up with body pain or numbness and a tingling sensation in a certain part of their body.
And because of this, it can lead to different kinds of sleeping disorders. But there is no need to worry because there are different ways for you to do it in order to for you to have a good night’s sleep.
All you need to do is to have a body that is well-aligned. But there are still some positive reasons why sleeping on one side is good for you. That is why we decided to make this great guide and cover all the pros and cons impacting side sleepers, as well as give you a full guide for the best mattresses for side sleepers in 2023 with in-depth reviews of top models.
Pros and Cons of Sleeping on Mattress for Side Sleepers
PROS
Allows you to breathe properly
The reason why a lot of people like to sleep on their side is that they are able to breathe properly. This is because their tongues won’t collapse towards their throats. Because if this happens, you will always end up having a hard time breathing, and you will also have the tendency of snoring. You need to have a clear airway whenever you are sleeping so that your body will be able to have the right amount of oxygen that it needs. Most especially if you are dead-tired and your body needs a full night’s sleep.
Avoids heartburn, acid reflux, etc.
Sleeping on your stomach or on your back will sometimes lead to acid reflux, and heartburn and even keep the toxins running in your body. But sleeping on your side can help alleviate these problems. Sleeping on the left side of your body is advisable because your stomach which contains gastric juices is located on the left side of your body. And your esophagus is located on the right. If you lie on your right side, there is a tendency that you will end up vomiting the gastric juice. But sleeping on the left side of your body will prevent these juices from coming out.
Less pressure on your back
Basically, your back will be able to breathe whenever you are sleeping on your side. It will be able to catch the right amount of air so that you will not feel warm whenever you are sleeping. Also, you will no longer have to worry about back pains because you did not place any weight on them.
Good for pregnant women
Pregnant women are known to carry extra weight from the unborn baby that is inside them. Imagine that all of the organs in their stomach are being compressed because of a growing human inside them. This is why sleeping on their backs can be a little bit painful because they are finding a hard time breathing. But sleeping on the side can help them place the weight of their belly on the bed or on the pillow.
There are different kinds of pillows that are made especially for pregnant women. This is to have more support and for them to be able to get enough sleep without feeling any pain or having a hard time breathing.
CONS
Causes wrinkles
Since your face is planted on the pillow, it is understandable that you will be waking up with markings on your face. These are what we call Sleep Marks. The downside of these sleep marks is that it contributes to stretch marks. Too much pressure on our face when it is planted on a pillow breaks down collagen on our face.
And it will lead to sagged skin, and wrinkle formation will start to appear. Most girls apply night creams to make their faces look more youthful. But if you are a side sleeper, you are just wasting these creams. It is because one side of your face is on the pillow, and the residue of the cream on your face will not stay longer. But instead, it is transferred to the pillow, and it is no longer being absorbed by your face.
Numbness on the body part
Clogged blood vessels can cause a lot of problems. It can even affect our health. This is also one of the reasons why we get to feel a little bit numb on one side of our body. The most common part of our body that gets easily numb is the arm.
Whether you place it under the pillow that you are hugging or under your head, blood flow is being cut. This also means that your arm lacks oxygen supply due to the absence of blood.
Poor spinal support
Our spine is an S-form. And it is understandable that it has to be in one straight line to have a healthy blood flow to keep our bodies healthy. Our spine is also where the messages from our brain pass through to get to the other parts of our body. This is why it needs to be well aligned, and it has to have proper support. Sleeping sideways can be a challenge. Because you will need a special kind of pillow and a mattress for it.
More pressure on the lungs
Sleeping on the side can give a little bit of pressure on your lungs. Most especially if you are a heavy person. Our lungs are like sponges that are inside a cage. Sometimes this cage has the ability to expand and retract whenever we are breathing. Although it doesn’t happen to all of us, it can cause respiratory issues.
Stress on your shoulders
Our weight whenever we are sleeping on one side can cause huge stress on our shoulders. This is the reason why we sometimes wake up with a feeling that our shoulder seems too heavy or we don’t feel like moving it because it is too painful.
Side sleepers still prefer to sleep the way they wanted. Even if they wake up with a weird feeling of numbness and tingling sensation. But this doesn’t mean that they will be forever uncomfortable during sleeping time. There are also different ways to modify your sleeping experience when you sleep sideways.
For people who prefer to lie on their sides, there are pillows and beds created just for them. You simply need to gain a little more knowledge about these topics. You will be able to determine the type of cushion and bedding you will receive in this manner. It makes sense that hugging your beloved pillow or your bed partner while you slumber on your side is one of the finest sleeping postures. But if you don’t have the proper mattress and pillows, it won’t be as comfy.
There are different ways to get a good night’s sleep and still sleep sideways. You can have a good mattress that is designed for side sleepers and special kinds of pillows to give you the full-body support that you need.
Which type of mattress is best for side sleepers?
Any mattress will do as long its firmness is enough to support the body of the side sleeper. This is because all of us have our own preferences when it comes to sleeping. Some of us want a hard mattress, and there are some who want to have a softer mattress. And these firmness levels will always depend on the mattress company on how they make their own mattress.
But for side sleepers, it is advisable to have a medium-firm kind of mattress. Because your body gently sinks into the mattress, but at the same time, it is supported by its firmness of it. This way, your body, and spine are well aligned and keep you in a good posture.
Best Mattress for Side Sleepers
Layla Sleep Memory Foam Mattress – Dual Firmness
If you are one of the side sleepers looking for a mattress that can help support your entire body when you are sleeping, Layla Sleep Memory Foam Mattress with Dual Firmness is the one for you. You are like buying two mattresses at the same time. This kind of mattress has two sides where you can choose what level of firmness you prefer. Either you want to have a soft side or the firmer side. All you have to do is flip the mattress and lay on the sheets.
The great thing about this mattress is that it is not like the traditional kinds of mattresses where it traps all the body heat making the mattress warm. It has copper-infused memory foam and Thermo gel-infused cover to regulate the temperature of your body and the mattress. Leaving you with the right amount of temperature whenever you are lying down on your bed.
Another thing about this kind of mattress is that you will no longer have to wake up feeling heavy or having any kind of body pain. Because it has the ability to shape your body and support your body the way you are shaped, this is for your body to have continuous blood flow and a have a healthier spine.
Signature Sleep Mattress, Queen Mattress
If you are looking for a mattress that has a touch of traditional and modern materials, Signature Sleep Mattress is the one for you. The traditional types of mattresses have pocketed coils that are installed inside the mattresses. But if you are tired of sleeping on a lumpy mattress, get a hybrid kind of mattress.
It has a combination of pocketed coils and a memory foam kind of mattress. This is to give you the right amount of support that you need. And as well as the comfort that your body needs when you sleep. The amazing thing about this mattress is that it has the ability to relieve pressure from your body.
Also, the coils support the memory foam so that your body is contoured properly on the mattress. This will not give you too much pressure on any parts of your body. And it can help avoid the numbness and the tingling sensation in your body.
Purple Queen Mattress | Hyper-Elastic Polymer Bed
People have experienced different kinds of body pains because of the pressure points the mattress that they are using creates. It is either they are using a worn-out mattress or the mattress doesn’t have enough amount of support for your shoulders and hips while laying on your side. Purple Queen Mattress Hyper-Elastic Polymer Bed is made for people who are having trouble sleeping in their favorite position.
It is actually a unique gel that is infused into the mattress to gently support your body in any sleeping position that you are in. Sleeping on the side is one of the most common sleeping positions that people prefer. But they are having a hard time enjoying this position because of the mattress that they have.
Purple Queen Mattress is made of pressure-reducing foam. Purple Smart Comfort Grid is the name of the foam and it absorbs all of your body weight. It is also a breathable mattress so that your body heat will not be trapped inside the mattress. This will also allow you to have a comfortable sleep at night.
Nectar Queen Mattress – Gel Memory Foam
Another kind of mattress for side sleepers that can give you a cool and comfortable sleep is the Nectar Queen Mattress with Gel Memory Foam. The reason why this mattress is different from the other kinds of mattresses is that it has 5 different foam layers. And the first four layers of foam are special to make you’re sleeping a better experience.
The first layer is made with a Tancel Cooling Cover. This is to give you a smooth and cool touch whenever you are lying down on your bed. The second layer is the Quilted Memory Foam which has the ability to contour your body. It also has the ability to support your body no matter what position you are sleeping in.
The third layer is the Gel Memory Foam which is responsible for distributing the weight of your body evenly on the mattress. And the fourth layer is the Adaptive High Core Memory Foam which is the rebound foam of this mattress. And the fifth layer is just the base that supports and holds the other four foams together.
Casper Sleep Memory Foam 10-Inch Mattress
A lot of people are still struggling with sleeping on a cooler mattress. But Casper Sleep Memory Foam 10-inch Mattress may solve your problem. It is basically made with open-cell foams to allow the heat to escape the mattress. Unlike the traditional ones which it traps the heat and makes it hotter whenever you are lying on your bed for too long. There are also mattresses that can’t support your body well whenever you are lying on them.
But with the Casper Sleep Memory Foam, you will have a breathable mattress that allows you to have a cool night’s sleep. And at the same time a mattress that shapes according to your body and if you are a side sleeper this is really important to you as it reveals pressure points from your shoulders and hips while resting in your bed. This way you will be able to wake up feeling fresh without anybody’s pain. It is a light mattress that allows you to easily transfer it to any kind of foundation that you prefer. And the great thing about this mattress is that it can fit perfectly on any kind of mattress foundation and supporter.
Allowing you to be comfortable in any place where you want your mattress will be.
How firm should a mattress be for a side sleeper?
We know that sleeping on one side can stress your hips and shoulders. It is because you are placing most of your upper body weight on it. A firm mattress will only make things worse. A firm mattress is a hard mattress making it a little bit difficult and uncomfortable for you to sleep on. Imagine you are sleeping on the floor, and the pressure on your shoulder is much more intense which is also similar to the firm mattress.
Having a firmness level that is not too soft or hard is the perfect one for you. There are a lot of mattress companies that are selling medium-firm kinds of mattresses. But if you are looking for something even more specific, you can always have it custom-made.
Are memory foam mattresses good for side sleepers?
The answer is, no. There are a lot of disadvantages that side sleepers will get if they use foam as a mattress. First of all, it is too soft, your body will sink in the foam and it doesn’t really give you the much support that you really need. Second, it doesn’t release the body heat that is trapped inside it.
You will need to boost up your air conditioner or an electric fan to make you feel cool again. Hybrid or memory foam mattresses are great for side sleepers. Because it allows their body to be in a cool temperature and at the same time supports the body in any sleeping position that they prefer.
Are hybrid mattresses good for side sleepers?
A hybrid mattress is a combination of a traditional and a modern kind of mattress. There are pocketed coils and memory foam inside the mattress to give you more support. The reasons why there are a lot of people who go for this kind of mattress are that it is breathable and at the same time, it doesn’t add too much pressure on your body.
Most especially if you are sleeping on your side on most nights. The memory foam distributes your weight evenly on the mattress and the coils support the mattress without giving stress and pressure to your body. And you will no longer have to worry about coils popping out. It is because the coils are individually wrapped so that they will not pop out and poke you.
Wrapping it up
We spend 33% of our entire life in our beds. Because most of the time we are asleep because it is the only time our body gets to recharge itself and for us to get ready the next day. Investing in our comfort is one of our top priorities. We buy the necessary things that keep us healthy and live a comfortable lifestyle. And one of these things is to have one of the finest mattresses that suit our sleeping position. Side sleeping is one of the most common sleeping positions.
And still, a lot of people sleep on the wrong kind of mattress. There are a lot of mattresses on the market that can help support your hips and shoulders when you sleep on your sides. All you have to do is do a little bit of research about the mattress company that you are in and determine what kind of mattress you want.
There are a lot of health benefits that you can get from sleeping on your side. But all you need to do is to have a mattress that can keep your body well aligned and for you to be comfortable whenever you are lying on it.
Resources:
- https://site.eightsleep.com/blogs/news/the-pros-and-cons-of-each-sleeping-position
- https://www.health24.com/Medical/Sleep/Health-tips/the-pros-and-cons-of-4-sleeping-positions-20180716-2
- https://www.sleepridiculouslywell.com/pros-cons-side-sleeper/
- https://www.tuck.com/best-sleep-position/
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-finds/2019/01/28/these-are-5-of-the-best-mattresses-for-side-sleepers-to-buy-online/#1055f4a82153
- https://www.thesleepjudge.com/memory-foam-vs-hybrid/
Last update on 2023-05-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API