Think mattress pads are just a required cover for your bed? Well, you’re partly right—every mattress does need a cover to protect from typical wear and tear. But the right mattress topper can do more: Some protect mattresses from dust, dander, and spills, some help the bed stay at a comfortable sleeping temperature, some reduce how much the bed moves when a sleeper tosses and turns, and some can even make a so-so feeling mattress a fabulous place to sleep. If you want to find the right mattress topper for you, this guide can help. Why do you need a mattress pad? Most people buy a new mattress pad because they either have a new mattress that they want to protect or because they're looking to make their bed more comfortable. What are you protecting your mattress from? Everyday wear and tear A basic cotton mattress pad A waterproof mattress pad Allergens like dust, dust mites and pet dander A mattress pad enhanced with anti-allergen properties
A mattress protector with bedbug barriers What would make your mattress more comfortable? Temperature control: A mattress pad that stays comfortable relative to how hot or cold I am in the night. Mattress pads filled with natural fibers like cotton, wool, or down. A bed that adjusts to my body: I'd like a mattress pad that makes my bed feel more custom-fit to me. A down-filled mattress pad, which is fluffy and comfortable-and will help keep the temperature even while you sleep. (If you're concerned about allergies, you can also opt for a down-alternative mattress pad.) A Visco Elastic mattress pad (aka, Memory Foam ) can also conform better to your body-these synthetic pads respond to body heat, getting softer in the spots you press the mattress most, and staying firm elsewhere-so they feel like they're supporting you where you need it. And if you opt for a cotton mattress pad, look for one with a higher fill count, which will feel softer. More firmness: I'd like my mattress to feel a little firmer than it currently does.
A latex mattress pad or a Visco elastic pad can add more firmness to the mattress for a more supported feeling. Reducing motion: I need a way to make my partner's tossing and turning less jarring to me when I sleep. A mattress pad made with Memory Foam or latex will reduce the transfer of motion, meaning one side won't move as much when the other one does. Mattress pads and mattress toppers are often confused. Here are the most common types of bed toppers. Type of mattress toppers Mattress Protector (a non-padded mattress covers) Non-padded mattress covers (sometimes called encasements) are designed to help protect a mattress from exposure to things that might damage it-like water, dust and dust mites, mold, pet dander, and other allergens. Non-padded mattress covers can be made of cotton, vinyl or super-tightly woven polyester fabric, and they usually zip up to totally surround the mattress. (You can get these encasements for box springs, too.) A fitted mattress pad works like a fitted sheet-a ring of elastic around its bottom edge helps secure it to the bed.
Unlike a sheet, however, a fitted mattress pad is quilted on top to provide a comfortable sleeping surface-and to circulate air to help sleepers' body temperatures stay more even during the night. Fitted mattress pads are a good match for most standard-size mattresses. Because it has a quilted top, a guaranteed-to-fit mattress pad helps make a bed feel more comfortable. It also offers better temperature regulation. The side panels of a guaranteed-to-fit mattress pad are made with an elasticized fabric that helps it attach securely to deeper mattresses, usually up to depth of 24". (These mattress pads are sometimes referred to as Tailor Fit or Expand-a-Grip.) Visco Elastic Mattress Toppers These mattress toppers, sometimes called memory foam, are designed to provide additional support to sleepers. They conform to the body because they're made with a temperature-sensitive material that contracts more where the body is warmer, but stays firmer where the body is cooler. These mattress toppers can also dampen motion when a sleeper moves.
Visco elastic mattress pads are placed on the bed underneath the fitted sheet. These mattress toppers are essentially mattress-sized pillows designed to create a more comfortable sleeping surface. Fiberbeds and featherbeds cradle body areas that don't come into contact with the mattress. These stuffed pads are made with natural materials like down and cotton or with man-made materials, and can be placed underneath or on top of a fitted sheet. Also referred to as egg crates, these dimpled foam pads are designed to improve body weight distribution. They add support, help reduce tossing and turning, and add a layer of cushioning to the bed. These mattress pads are electric and come with warming controls. Some come with dual controls that let you have different warmth settings for each side of the bed. The cover's fabric content: 100% cotton covers will provide superior comfort and durability over cotton/polyester blends; many are treated with fabric protection that makes them stain- and water-repellant as well as anti-microbial.
The cover's thread count: This number stands for the number of threads per square inch of fabric. A higher thread count of a better quality yarn will provide a mattress pad with greater resistance to wear and tear (it will feel softer, too). The mattress pad's fill: Most mattress pads have a polyester fill. As you'd expect, thicker fill provides more cushioning. Down-alternative fills, which are made of super-fine gel fibers, provide extra support and comfort. All mattress pads are machine washable. The general rule is to launder them less frequently than you wash your sheets, but more frequently than your comforter.Finding the right mattress topper will make a huge difference to your life. It can mean the difference between irregular and difficult sleep, and a coma-like hibernation. If you suffer from soreness and aches, the right mattress topper will make you feel reborn every morning. There is a huge diversity in types available which is why we have found specifically the best mattress topper for side sleepers.
Not all toppers are create equal, but we have found the top 5 mattress toppers for any side sleeper. (In case you don't have time to read the reviews) Sleep Innovations 4 Inch Dual Layer Mattress Topper 2 layers provide the perfect combination of support and comfort 10 year limited warranty Best Price Mattress 4 Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper 2 layers for best supportIsolates motion Lucid 4 Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper Ventilated designResists all nasty allergens Dream DNA Gel Infused 4 Inch Thick Memory Foam Mattress Bed Topper Gel infused foamExcellent customer service Down Alternative + Gel-Infused Memory Foam Topper 2 layers for best support250 TC cotton : Sleep Innovations 4 Inch Dual Layer Mattress Topper The Details2 layers: 1 x gel infused memory foam 2 inch layer, 1 x plush down alternative 2 inch layer300 thread count, 100 per cent cotton cover3 pound density memory foam layerMemory foam is 100 per cent hypoallergenic10 year limited warrantyOur ReviewThis our pick for the best mattress topper for side sleepers.
It is hugely popular and it's not hard to see why. The use of its two layered design gives you the best combination of support and comfort.The bottom 2 inch gel infused memory foam layer is of 3 pound density which is medium in firmness. This allows your body to receive the proper therapeutic support it needs for your spine to stay in neutral alignment. It does this by absorbing the pressure from your hip and shoulder as you sleep on your side. Many memory foam toppers tend to get warm during the night due to low porosity and poor aeration. However this gel infused memory foam provides a cooling effect so that you don't over heat while you sleep.The top layer is a plush down alternative which gives you the softness and comfort of goose feathers without the nasty allergens. Many customers love this layer as it gives the topper a cloud like feel and reduces sinking into memory foam which some people don't like.Not only does the down alternative layer avoid allergic reactions, the memory foam is 100 per cent hypoallergenic which means it completely repels all allergens.
This makes this a perfect mattress topper for anyone who suffers from allergies. You can also sleep easy knowing that there are no nasty dust mites crawling around you.When unpacking this mattress topper for side sleepers, its important that you allow it to aerate before use. This will decompress it, and also give the odor some time to dissipate. This new odor is normal with all new mattress toppers and usually goes away after around 2-3 days. Best Price Mattress 4 Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper The Details1.5 inch memory foam on top of a 2.5 inch high density foam layerMotion is isolated so your partner is not disrupted by your movement5 year warrantyOur ReviewThis Best Price mattress topper is a close runner up for the best bed topper for side sleepers. Using two layers of different density foam, it gives you both support and comfort. Many memory foam toppers use only one density foam which suits some people. However these toppers tend to give the feeling of being stuck in the topper.
By using a bottom layer of high density foam, the body does not sink completely into the topper. Instead it sinks to the interface between the two different layers and sits on top of the high density layer. This not only gives you excellent support, it is usually found to be more comfortable. The Details4 inch premium memory foamUses ventilated design to promote air flow and reduce temperatureResists dust mites and allergens3 year warrantyOur ReviewThis is another much loved product with some finding it to be the best memory foam mattress topper for side sleepers. Being 4 inches thick it effectively relieves your pressure points and provides excellent support to your spine. Supremely comfortable, it has the added value of using a ventilated design. This allows more air to flow through the memory foam, which means the temperature is more properly regulated. This is unlike many memory foam toppers which heat up during the night and can become quite uncomfortable. Being 100 per cent hypoallergenic it resists all dust mites and allergens making it great for anyone who has allergies.
As with all memory foam toppers, when it is first unpackaged it will appear lumpy and compressed and will have a fairly strong odor. You need to let it aerate for a couple days to let it settle into the correct shape and to allow the odor to dissipate. Dream DNA Gel Infused 4 Inch Thick Memory Foam Mattress Bed Topper The Details4 inch thick gel infused memory foamMade in the USAOur ReviewAnother best mattress topper for side sleepers, this gel infused memory foam product is made in the USA. Probably the best feature of this topper is the company itself. Often a risk with buying online is that you will have a problem with the product and don't know where to turn to. However with this product many customers have reported excellent communication with the company. They appear to be fully receptive and willing to go the extra yard to making sure you are happy.The topper itself is of excellent quality and gives you the support you need as a side sleeper to sleep comfortably without causing harm to the body.
Not only supportive, customers have reported it to be very comfortable as well.While some memory foam mattress toppers are able to dissipate the odor once unpackaged within a couple days, this product appears to take a little longer in some cases. Not always the case, but some customers needed to aerate it for up to 10 days for the odor to completely go away. Lucid 4 Inch Down Alternative + Gel-Infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper The DetailsTwo layers: 1 x 2 inch gel infused memory foam, and 1 x 2 inch down alternative layer250 thread cotton cover is machine washable and can be tumble dried3 year warrantyOur ReviewThis is another great alternative for those wanting the support of a memory foam topper with the added comfort of a down alternative top layer. The memory foam gives the support you need as a side sleeper, relieving the pressure of your hip and shoulder, thereby keeping your spine neutrally positioned. The top down alternative layer is very soft and provides plush comfort.
This product is much enjoyed by the customers, who have often commented on the excellent comfort it provides. As with all mattress toppers, it will come in a sealed package. You need to allow the topper to expand for a couple of days before you use it. This will also give the odor time to dissipate. What Does A Mattress Topper Do?A mattress topper is essentially a thin mattress which you can place on top of an existing mattress. They are often used to extend a mattress' life, as placing one on top of an old mattress will make it feel like new again. Even if the mattress is sagging in the middle, the right mattress topper will often make this unnoticeable. Often people will find that their mattress no longer suits them in terms of comfort. Perhaps it is too firm, or too soft. Either way, by placing a mattress topper on top you can completely change the feel of your sleeping surface. A popular reason to purchase a mattress topper is to relieve the pain from those who suffer from any kind of back, shoulder or neck pain.
Best Type of Mattress Topper For Side SleepersIf you are a side sleeper you want a mattress topper that is at least 4 inches thick. The reason being, this gives the topper more opportunity to absorb the pressure placed by your hip and shoulder. To have the best sleep and to prevent back problems, you should sleep in a position that allows for your spine to be in a relaxed, neutral and supported position. If the mattress topper is not thick enough, it will not be able to accommodate your hip and shoulder and will therefore force your spine out of neutral alignment. The best types of mattress toppers for side sleepers are memory foam, or a combination of memory foam and a softer more plush top layer. Memory foam molds to the shape if you body which means it absorbs the pressure from the points of contact like the hip and shoulder. This provides the support your spine needs. Having a top layer of a softer material allows you to get some extra comfort while still benefiting from the support of the bottom memory foam layer.