Best Mattresses For Side Sleepers with Lower Back Pain in 2020 – Reviews & Information

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I will begin my review of the best mattresses for side sleepers with lower back pain with a mattress by Amerisleep. Their AS3 model combines medium feel, a good hug, and zoned support — literally everything you need to chase your pain away and get a peaceful sleep.

WinkBeds (the Soft model, to be exact) is in our list because you get both support and springiness from the coils and cradling from the foam. WinkBeds isn’t a 100% innerspring mattress. It has a coil support core and some added foam for improved comfort. It’s an amazing combo for side sleepers with lower back pain!

The mattress has an all-foam construction. This allows it to offer close conforming and maintain natural spine alignment throughout the night. Along with that, the proprietary Nolah Airfoam has a great motion response, so it won’t limit your movements during the night, and hence, won’t cause additional pain.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this mattress to all side sleepers suffering from lower back pain. Supportive and comfortable, this bed will relieve your pain and help you get sound sleep.

Next mattress which I would like to outline is Loom & Leaf too. Let’s look closer what reasons make this series worth your precious attention. And one of those reasons is the fact that Loom and Leaf can be considered the best mattress for side sleepers with lower back pain. Why? Because this mattress offers the perfect balance between support and sinkage. It keeps your body in a neutral position while allowing a very generous amount of cradling for the hips. This results in superb pressure relief and reduced tension from your hurting hips.

Nectar has become popular on the USA market despite that mattresses are originally designed in Europe. They proposed overwhelming condition such as lifetime warranty. You have an opportunity to sleep on the mattress a year and give it back in case of non-satisfaction.

Nectar is very supportive, so your spine is properly aligned and there is much less pressure on the lower back. And this means less pain and tension. Great news, right?

“The recommended firmness for side sleepers is around 4-6 on the firmness scale. However, each mattress feels different for different people and body types. So, even if the mattress you are planning to buy states “5”, it might not feel like a 5 if you are, for instance, a heavier user. It might feel like a 3. That’s why I always recommend buying mattresses with a trial period. This way, you will be able to return yours in case it doesn’t feel that comfy.”

Please be so kind to welcome Helix, one of not many companies able to propose you mattress size perfect suitable only for you.

Helix suggests us versatile versions for every type of the sleeper, but here you will see the option and respective configuration for side sleepers.

However, I understand that different users (with different body types) might want to consider other firmness options.

And that’s why Helix is so great:

It offers many firmness variants (from 3 to 10 on the firmness scale). This gives users the freedom to choose something that would be perfect for their particular needs.

Being a pure foam mattress, Puffy is plush soft and very cradling. That’s why it can be easily called the top-rated mattress for side sleepers with lower back pain. It will hug your body very gently, contour it nicely, and release tension. This will help you relax and will even relieve the pain.

Factors We Look At

The most popular sleeping position is on one’s side. When reviewing mattresses, we take into account that many people will sleep in this position. We know what aspects to consider to find the best models and what information (marketing claims and manufacturers’ empty promises) to omit. Here are the factors we look at when searching for the best mattresses for side sleepers:

• Support. You probably know that proper spinal alignment is crucial when sleeping. And to achieve it, you need a supportive mattress. You need the one that can distribute your body weight evenly and keep your spine in a neutral position, without any unnecessary curves. We always pick mattresses with a strong core, which can provide proper support for users.
• Cradling and pressure relief. When sleeping on your side, your pressure points and protruding parts “dig” deeper into the mattress. When your bed isn’t cradling enough, your pressure points can end up hurting. That’s why we try to find the models that offer a gentle hug and enough cradling for side sleepers in particular.
• Quality of the materials. This one doesn’t really need an explanation. The quality of a mattress’s materials determines its durability, the comfort it can provide, and its safety for a user. We pick only from tested and trusted brands and give their products a couple of additional tests, just to make sure everything is alright.
• Warranty. This factor is important because the warranty is your protection. If, let’s say, your new mattress turns out to be defective after some time of usage, you will definitely want the manufacturer to either exchange the mattress or fix it. That’s what the warranty can offer you. Also, the general rule here is: the better the warranty, the more the manufacturer is sure of their product’s quality, which promises you durability.
• Cooling. Because side sleepers need more cradling, they sink a bit deeper into the mattress. Naturally, this might make them sleep hot. Therefore, we try to give our preference to the mattresses that have a cooling top layer (gel-infused, for instance). Of course, not all manufacturers offer such a feature, so remember one thing: if we recommend a mattress that might sleep warm, we are sure that its other qualities (positive, of course) will be able to compensate for this inconvenience.
• Safety certifications. This one is important, especially when it comes to foam mattresses. A certified material does not contain any chemicals that might be dangerous for your health. That is why we check the potential best mattresses for their certifications.
• Value for money. No one wants to pay more than necessary (for the brand name, for instance). Neither do we. And we search for the best value for you. If we pick an expensive mattress, just know that it’s of the best quality. If we suggest an affordable model, we still make certain that it’s comfortable, safe, and nicely made. Whatever the case is, we try to find mattresses that are worth every penny.
• What other users have to say. Obviously, a mattress cannot offer universal comfort to all. Different people may feel different lying on one mattress. That’s why we listen to what other people have to say. How does this model perform for heavier users? How good is this mattress for couples? Does this bed work well for petite sleepers? We consider all of these aspects.

Best Mattress Type for Side Sleepers with Lower Back Pain

You and I both understand that different mattress types have a different effect, which means any bed won’t work for any sleeper. Let’s take a closer look at each type and see which one might be the best for people sleeping on their side.

Memory foam mattresses are the most popular ones (and not only among the side sleepers). This material offers great pressure relief and can be rather supportive as well. It also offers that gentle hugging feel, which so many users love. However, picking this mattress type can be tricky. You need to make sure that it offers adequate support and isn’t too soft. And don’t forget about the quality:

Lower-quality foam isn’t that cradling and will sag with time.

Moving on to latex mattresses. Latex can offer just as good pressure relief as memory foam (if you pick the right mattress, of course) but without the feeling of being stuck. It is ideal for side sleepers who want a bouncier cradling. Latex also does not sleep hot.

“Latex can be natural and synthetic. Synthetic latex is more affordable but it’s still safe for your health. However, if you want an organic option, natural latex would be perfect for you (just keep in mind that it costs more). Some manufacturers blend these two types of latex to offer their customers more affordable mattresses while keeping the quality on the top.”

Innerspring mattresses are among the oldest bed types. They offer great support (including around the edges) and breathability. However, the majority of innerspring mattresses aren’t perfectly suited for side sleepers. Why? Simply because they don’t offer enough contouring. An innerspring mattress might have some extra padding on top (wool, for example), but in many cases, it’s not enough to cradle the protruding body parts properly.

However, if you still want the support of the coils, you can always try a hybrid mattress. This type usually features a combination of an innerspring system and foam comfort layers. In some cases, the latex is used as well to provide more bounce and breathability.

I personally love hybrid beds thanks to the balanced feel they provide. And I feel like they are perfect for side sleepers. You get strong support from the coils and a good amount of cradling from the foam. This is a perfect combo to keep your spine in a neutral position and to allow some sinkage for the protruding parts of your body.

Picking the Best Pillow for Side Sleepers

Getting yourself a good mattress is important, but finding a proper pillow should definitely be your next step. Your pillow plays a huge role not only in your comfort levels but also in spinal alignment and the quality of your sleep.

And here’s the kicker:

Each sleeping position needs its special pillow.

Want to know what pillows do side sleepers need?

The answer is actually rather simple. For a side sleeping position, you would want your pillow to be tall enough to fill the space between your head and your shoulder. However, be careful. Your pillow shouldn’t be too tall because it might put your neck under pressure and create the unwanted curves in your spine, resulting in neck pain.

The most popular pillow material for side sleepers is memory foam (shredded, in the majority of cases). It easily adapts to the head and neck, cradling and supporting the head at the same time.

A quick tip: It is very helpful to buy a pillow with a zipped cover. This way, you will be able to easily regulate the thickness of your pillow by adding or removing the filling. Such pillows allow for customization and help users find the perfect option for their sleeping positions.

Issues a Side Sleeper Might Face

I think you will agree with me when I say:

No matter how comfortable we feel when lying on our side, the aftermath might not always be pleasant. Side sleepers experience some issues too, especially when lying on an improper mattress.

Here are the most common of them:

• Hurting pressure points. When lying on your side, a lot of weight is concentrated on your pressure points (shoulders and hips in particular). If your mattress doesn’t cradle them enough, these parts of your body become stiff and hurting. Lower back pain is also common for side sleepers, especially “sprinters” (people who sleep with one leg straight and the other one bent).
• Neck pain. Again, weight and pressure concentrate on your neck too when sleeping on your side. As a result, it feels stiff and may even hurt in the morning. To deal with this issue, you need a proper pillow.
• Back pain. Sleeping on the side is quite an awkward position, which may create the curves in the spine. And when your spine isn’t in a neutral position during the night, you can wake up with a back pain. How do you fix it? Get a proper mattress (duh!) and try to sleep with your legs straight.

“Many side sleepers prefer to put a thinner pillow between their knees as well. This is actually really good for your spine and your overall comfort. You see, this way your spine is resting in a neutral position. Additionally, there is less pressure on the lower back, which also helps with relaxation and can improve your overall well-being.”

Benefits of Sleeping on Your Side

Don’t worry: sleeping on your side isn’t that bad. In fact, this position has its benefits. Especially when lying on your left side. Those benefits include:

• no snoring;
• reduced heartburn;
• improved process of lymph cleansing;
• better digestion;
• improved brain health.

Of course, if you prefer sleeping on your right side, there’s nothing wrong with that. However, many side sleepers notice that their bodies naturally lean towards turning to the left side, even when the sleeper does not really feel comfortable in that position. Who knows, maybe this way the body tries to tell us what’s better for our health?

Conclusion

Side position is widely spread between sleepers, and I am glad to introduce our top 7 mattresses destined for people who are used to sleep on the side. Please do not hesitate to take into account above versatile factors which have the impact on your comfortable sleep. You have been aware of crucial points which should be obligatory for you in the selection process. All mentioned producers are ready to make required support and desirable comfort available to you. By selecting one of them, you will be delightful with your decision.

Nolah Signature is my most favorite mattress among all the models reviewed. I was impressed with the well-made construction and excellent pain-relieving properties. This mattress conforms to your body perfectly and cradles your spine in any sleeping position.

What is your most favorite sleeping position? Do you have any tips and tricks, which help you get comfier every night? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Additional Resources:

Best Mattresses For Stomach Sleepers – Buyer’s Guide And Our Picks

The 7 Best Hybrid Mattresses In 2020 – Reviews And Buyer’s Guide

Product links on Happysleepyhead are referral. We get a commission on purchases made through our links at no additional cost to you. More information in my disclosures.