Mattress for side sleeper

[booksandbrews]

Afternoon MN,

I’m a side sleeper who suffers with quite bad neck/shoulder pain. I’ve tried firmer mattresses but they’ve only made the problem worse (plus added hip pain into the mix - I’m only in my 30s too 🙈).

Any recommendations for a soft mattress that might help?

Cheers!

We got our soft mattress from Dunelm, it was only a couple hundred quid. I literally bought it online having never tried it, just going by the good reviews. Its great! There seems to be far more hard mattresses than soft

To be honest, the neck and shoulder pain suggest that your pillows may be part of the problem.

Side sleepers tend to do better with a softer mattress but a firmer pillow. The aim is to make sure your neck and back are aligned well. If you're a bit bent out of shape, you can end up developing pressure points and that's what causes the pain. Your side is curvy, so the mattress needs enough give for your spine to remain aligned. Your pillow should ensure that your head and neck are aligned with your shoulders. Maybe try adding or removing a pillow initially and see if it helps at all.

I know it's less hassle to shop online, but when it comes to finding a new mattress you can't beat going into a showroom and trying them out for yourself. Salespeople can talk you through your options as well, even if you decide not to buy with them in the end.

Personally, I'd go for pocket springs rather than Bonnell springs (also called open springs). Bonnell sprung mattresses are cheaper but they're less supportive and don't tend to last as long. They're better for occasional use, e.g. for guest beds.

Thanks both! I shall look into these suggestions 😊

I am also a sufferer and feel your pain. Mattresses by Harrison Spinks are the best I've ever found. They sell some reasonably priced ones via John Lewis, but they're not labelled to the brand on there. You can find the links to the right ones via the Harrison Spinks website.

I've also got a Tempur ergonomic pillow and that's helped enormously.

Good luck!