Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers in Canada

Our Reviews of 5 Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers in Canada

Best Overall - Novosbed

The Novosbed is one of the mattresses that impressed me the most with its comfort levels, so I decided to start my review of the best mattresses for side sleepers in Canada with it. This mattress hugs your body properly and ensures natural spine alignment, which is especially important if you sleep on your side.

As with all memory foam mattresses, you can expect good motion absorption from the Novosbed, which is awesome if you share a bed with someone or allow your pets to co-sleep with you. 

But here’s the thing:

Unlike traditional memory foam, the Novosbed foam doesn’t limit your movements when you decide to change position. Also, it’s dense enough to ensure the level of edge support similar to hybrid beds of the same price, which is another plus.

The mattress doesn’t sleep hot, even though side sleepers tend to sink deeper into the layers. The Novosbed foam features an open-cell structure, so it traps less of your body heat and more effectively dissipates it into the air. The washable Tencel cover helps deal with extra moisture and additionally improves breathability, thus turning your mattress into a cooling cloud.

The Novosbed mattress is definitely one of my recent favorites. It offers great support for your spine and pressure relief for the whole body.

Best for Breathability - Puffy

Best for Combo Sleepers - Endy

What Makes a Mattress Suitable for Side Sleepers?

Now, most of the modern brands try to make their mattresses universally comfortable. That’s why you are more likely to find a mattress for a combo sleeper than a bed that fits solely the lateral sleeping position.

However, mattresses designed for those who primarily sleep on their side, have some distinctive features, and I will point them out below.

Thick Comfort Layers

Those who sleep on their side, generally tend to sink deeper into the mattress layers. 

And here’s the tricky part:

If the upper layers aren’t thick enough, the user might feel the firm base layer — especially if they’re on the heavier side — and develop pressure points. 

So, if you look for a top-rated mattress for a side sleeper in Canada, make sure that it has two comfort layers or one layer that is on the thicker side.

Targeted Pressure Relief

Another thing to look for in a good mattress for side sleeping is pressure relief. And the best material to give you that is memory foam. It is temperature-sensitive, which means it becomes softer when exposed to your body heat and hence, contours your body more precisely (2). 

However, to avoid heat retention issues, I recommend that you look for mattresses with open-cell or gel-infused foam in the upper layers. It often feels a bit softer than regular foam but is more breathable.

Hypoallergenic Materials

You can see the term “hypoallergenic” in many product descriptions.

But here’s the deal: 

There are no Federal standards or definitions that govern the use of the term ‘hypoallergenic’ (3). That’s why you need to do your own research when shopping. 

Still, mattresses marketed as hypoallergenic are more likely to be safe for side sleepers with hypersensitivities.

Because when you sleep on your side, your face is pretty close to the mattress.

And if your mattress contains some chemicals within its layers, it can provoke your allergy episodes and make them worse in the long term.

That’s why it’s advisable to opt for natural latex, plant-based foams, and natural or semi-natural fabrics, such as cotton or Tencel.

Some highly rated Canadian mattresses for side sleepers have a removable cover that you can wash. This will prevent the dust and dander from building up and save you from allergy outbreaks.

What Mattress Firmness Is Best for Side Sleepers?

Side sleepers may benefit the most from soft and medium mattresses. This level of firmness offers a great hug for pressure points in your hips and shoulders and prevents the arm you sleep on from going numb because of your body’s pressure (4).

However, it’s worth mentioning that firmness perception is subjective and can be linked to your weight. For example, if you weigh more than 250 pounds, a medium mattress may fail to offer you proper support. In this case, consider scaling up the firmness level and go for a medium-firm model.

What Type of Mattress Is the Best for Side Sleepers?

Typically, side sleepers prefer memory foam or latex mattresses because they provide generous cradling, which is exactly what side sleepers need. These types of mattresses are able to adjust to the body shape and at the same time evenly distribute the weight around the mattress surface. 

However, if you’re a large guy or girl — or just feel like you might need something sturdier and more responsive — you may go with a hybrid. Coils inside a hybrid mattress ensure better responsiveness and stability, and the foam layers above the coil core prevent the mattress from feeling too firm on your pressure points.