Do Side Sleepers Need Firm Or Soft Mattress?

When getting a good night’s sleep, having the right mattress firmness is key, especially if you’re a side sleeper. But should you go for a firm or a soft mattress? The answer depends on your body type and personal preferences. In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to find your perfect mattress firmness as a side sleeper.

How Firmness is Measured

First, let’s talk about how mattress firmness is measured. The industry standard is a scale from 1 to 10:

• 1 is extremely soft, like a featherbed
• 10 is extremely firm, like sleeping on a hard floor

Most mattresses fall between 3 and 8 on this scale.

Regarding mattress firmness, side sleepers must find a “just right” balance. The mattress can’t be too soft or too firm. Let’s take an in-depth look at why experts typically recommend that side sleepers choose a mattress in the medium soft to medium firm range.

Why the Medium Soft to Medium Firm Range Works

Mattresses in the 3-6 firmness range provide an ideal blend of cushioning and support for side sleeping. Here’s how:

• Cushions shoulders and hips – A mattress around 4-5 on the firmness scale gently cradles the curves of your body. This relieves pressure on your shoulders and hips.
• Maintains alignment – While soft enough to contour to your shape, a medium mattress still provides enough support and lift to keep your spine properly aligned.
• Reduces stiffness and pain – With both cushioning and support, a medium mattress minimizes the shoulder and hip pain from sleeping on your side.
• Balances sinkage – A mattress that is too soft allows excessive sinkage around the hips and shoulders. But around a 5 firmness prevents you from sinking in too deeply.
• Makes movement easy – Medium firmness provides enough bounce and responsiveness to change positions easily without getting stuck.

Firmness Preferences by Body Weight

Within the medium soft to medium firm range, your ideal mattress firmness also depends on your body weight:

• Under 130 lbs – On the softer end, around 3-4 firmness. It would be best to have more sinkage and hug to cushion shoulders and hips.
• 130-230 lbs – Right in the middle at 5 firmness tends to work best. You get support while still relieving pressure points.
• Over 230 lbs – Opt for the firmer side at 6-7 firmness. It would help to have strong support to keep the spine aligned under more body weight.

Finding Your Just Right Firmness

The best way to identify your perfect firmness is to try mattresses with different firmness levels and pay attention to how you feel. Look for these signs of a good match:

• No shoulder or hip pain
• Your spine stays aligned
• You don’t sink in excessively around the hips
• You can change positions easily

Give your body time to adjust to a new mattress. But if you continue to experience discomfort or back pain, try a different firmness level until you find your sleep sweet spot!

Factoring In Your Body Weight

Here’s where things get a bit more complex. Your ideal mattress firmness also depends on your body weight.

Lighter people (under 130 lbs) need a softer mattress in the 3-4 firmness range. Their body weight isn’t enough to sink into a firmer mattress and get the pressure relief needed.

On the other hand, heavier people need a firmer mattress (5-6 on the scale) to fully support their body weight and keep the spine properly aligned. Otherwise, they’ll sink too deeply into a soft mattress.

As a general guideline:

• Under 130 lbs – choose a softer mattress around 3-4 firmness
• 130-230 lbs – go for a medium mattress around 5 on the scale
• Over 230 lbs – opt for a firmer mattress in the 6-7 range

But again, your personal preferences matter too. These are just starting points for your search.

The Pros and Cons of Soft and Firm Mattresses

To help you find your perfect mattress firmness, let’s compare the pros and cons of soft and firm options:

Soft Mattresses (3-4 firmness)

Pros

• Excellent pressure relief, cushioning your shoulders and hips
• Conforms closely to your body’s natural curves
• Feels plush and comfortable initially

Cons

• It can allow too much sinking, putting your spine out of alignment
• It may feel too enveloping, making it hard to change positions
• Not enough support for heavier individuals

Firm Mattresses (6-7 firmness)

Pros

• Provides robust support for your entire body
• Keeps your spine aligned in proper posture
• Prevents excessive sinking that can strain your back

Cons

• May not contour enough to relieve pressure on shoulders and hips
• Can feel uncomfortably hard and unyielding
• Not enough give for lighter people to sink in

As you can see, both soft and firm mattresses have their downsides. That’s why finding the right balance is key for side sleepers.

Mattress Materials That Work Well for Side Sleepers

When it comes to finding the right mattress, the materials used in its construction are essential, especially for side sleepers. Different materials provide different benefits regarding comfort, support, and pressure relief. Here’s an in-depth look at the mattress materials that work best for side sleeping.

Memory Foam

Memory foam, or viscoelastic foam, is one of the most popular mattress materials for side sleepers. Here’s why it works so well:

• Excellent contouring – Memory foam softly conforms to the contours of your body, cradling your shoulders, hips, and curves. This helps relieve pressure points.
• Motion isolation – Memory foam absorbs movement, so you don’t feel your partner moving around as much. This prevents sleep disturbances.
• Responsiveness – Higher quality memory foams are responsive, meaning they reshape quickly when you change positions. This makes it easy to switch sleeping sides.
• Customizable firmness – Memory foam is available in a wide range of density levels, allowing you to customize the firmness. Denser foam is firmer.
• Pressure relief – The cushioning effect of memory foam reduces pressure buildup on your shoulders and hips as you sleep on your side. This minimizes pain and numbness.

The key is finding a memory foam density that provides the right balance of contouring and support for your body type. I’d recommend a medium density foam around 4-5 lbs. But you can always add a firmer foam layer underneath for more support.

One downside of memory foam is that it can absorb body heat, causing some people to sleep hot. Gel-infused memory foams help offset this issue. An alternative is…

Latex 

For those who tend to sleep hot or prefer a bouncier feel, latex is an excellent choice. Here are the benefits of latex for side sleepers:

• Cushioning support – Natural latex gently cushions pressure points while providing lift and resilience. The buoyant feel makes it easy to change positions.
• Cool sleeping – Latex allows airflow and doesn’t retain heat like memory foam. This helps regulate temperature for a cooler night’s sleep.
• Long lasting – High quality natural latex is very durable, maintaining its supportive properties for many years.
• Customizability – Latex layers can be exchanged to create different firmness zones. This lets you fine-tune support in different areas.
• Eco-friendly – Natural latex is harvested from rubber trees, making it a renewable and biodegradable material. An eco-friendly choice.

For side sleepers, I’d recommend a soft to medium latex firmness. Soft latex cushions your shoulders and hips while a firmer base foam prevents sinking.

The bounce of latex makes it very responsive. But for those wanting even more responsiveness, a hybrid mattress is a great choice.

Hybrid

Hybrid mattresses combine foam layers with an innerspring coil system. This blend offers superior comfort and support for side sleepers:

• Contouring coils – Pocketed mini coils conform to your body’s shape while limiting motion transfer.
• Pressure relief – Foam layers provide cushioning for your shoulders and hips.
• Breathability – Innerspring coils allow increased airflow to keep you cool.
• Edge support – Reinforced edges allow you to sleep close to the side without sagging.
• Responsiveness – The springy coils make it easy to change positions and get in and out of bed.
• Customization – Many hybrids allow you to swap out foam layers to adjust the feel.

For side sleepers, I recommend a medium firm hybrid with softer foam up top. The coils lift your body while the foam cushions pressure points.

Testing Mattresses to Find Your Perfect Fit

With so many factors involved, the only way to truly find your ideal mattress is to test them. Many brands offer generous sleep trials so you can try out a mattress for 3-6 months.

I’d recommend starting in the medium range around 5 on the firmness scale. Pay attention to how your shoulders and hips feel and whether you wake up with any stiffness or soreness.

Don’t be afraid to take advantage of return policies and switch to a different firmness level until you get it just right. The investment is worth it for many years of comfortable side sleeping ahead!

Conclusion: Finding Your Mattress Sweet Spot

The right mattress for you as a side sleeper boils down to a combination of:

• Your body weight and shape
• The degree of softness or firmness you prefer
• The mattress materials that provide the most comfortable sleep surface

Focus on finding a balance between cushioning and support. Medium soft to medium firm is a great starting point. Test different firmness levels and materials until you find your own personal sleep sweet spot!

The goal is to keep your spine aligned while relieving pressure on your shoulders and hips. With the perfect mattress, you’ll sleep soundly and wake up refreshed and pain-free.