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- Best Pillow For Side & Back Sleepers
- Top 6 Best Pillow For Side & Back Sleepers
- Best Pillows For Side & Back Sleepers Detailed Products Reviews
- The Advantages of Sleeping on Your Side
- How to Choose the best Side Sleeper Pillow
- What to Look for When Buying the best Side back Sleeping, Pillow
- What Are the Best Pillow Materials for Side Sleepers?
- What Are Pillow Sizes Available?
- Other Recommendations for Side back Sleepers
- How to Choose the Best Mattress?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Best Pillow For Side & Back Sleepers
More individuals prefer to sleep on their sides than in any other position. Therefore, the best pillow for side and back sleepers should give enough cushioning and support to keep your spine aligned if you sleep on your side. This relieves pressure points throughout the body, especially sensitive places like the shoulders and hips.
However, it’s just as vital to choose the right pillow for side and back sleepers when sleeping in this posture. Side sleepers typically require bigger pillows to fill the area beneath their head and neck. Pillows that are too thin don’t give enough cushioning, while overly thick pillows can disrupt spinal alignment and cause more pressure spots.
We reviewed different high-quality pillows for side and back sleepers and compiled a list of the top side and back sleeper pillows. These choices are based on reviews and customer feedback. Firmness, support, pressure alleviation, and general comfort were among the qualities we looked at.
Top 6 Best Pillow For Side & Back Sleepers
- BEST SIDE BACK SLEEPING PILLOW: Qutool store 2-Pack Cooling Bed Pillows for Sleeping
- BEST BACK SLEEPING PILLOW FOR NECK & SHOULDER PAIN:Â Elviors Memory Foam Cervical Pillow
- BEST COOLING PILLOW FOR SIDE & BACK SLEEPERS:Â Bedgear Hypoallergenic Cosmo Performance Pillow
- BEST LUXURY HOTEL PILLOW FOR SIDE & BACK SLEEPERS: Meoflaw Store Pillows
- BEST MEMORY FOAM PILLOW FOR BACK SLEEPERS: Coop Home Goods Original Loft Pillow
- BEST PILLOW FOR SIDE & BACK SLEEPERS: Utopia Bedding Gusseted Pillow
Best Pillows For Side & Back Sleepers Detailed Products Reviews
Qutool store 2-Pack Cooling Bed Pillows
Elviors Memory Foam Cervical Pillow
Bedgear Hypoallergenic Cosmo Performance Pillow
Meoflaw Store Pillows
Coop Home Goods Original Loft Pillow
Utopia Bedding Gusseted Pillow
The Advantages of Sleeping on Your Side
The most common sleeping position for adults in the United States is side sleeping. This position has a few advantages over oversleeping on your back or stomach. For one thing, side sleeping reduces snoring by keeping the airway open. Back sleepers snore more frequently because the tongue slips back into the throat, obstructing the airway. For the same reason, side sleeping can help persons with sleep apnea and acid reflux. In addition, if you're pregnant, sleeping on your side is likely to be more pleasant than sleeping in other positions; a bolster cushion for the legs or knees can also help pregnant sleepers.
Sleeping on one's side can also help correct the spine and relieve pain in the shoulders, hips, and other pressure points. However, this depends on a mattress and pillow that provide adequate support for your head and neck, shoulders, lower back, and hips.
Continue reading to learn about the best side sleeper pillow concerns and how to select a pillow model depending on your body type and personal preferences.
How to Choose the best Side Sleeper Pillow
The greatest pillow for side back sleepers will cushion the head and neck well enough to support it. On the other hand, pillows that sink too deeply or are overly thick might obstruct spinal alignment, resulting in neck and shoulder discomfort. Several criteria, like loft, firmness level, and material composition, should be considered while choosing the proper pillow. We’ll go through how side sleepers can locate a cushion that works for them in the following sections.
What to Look for When Buying the best Side back Sleeping, Pillow
You’ll undoubtedly come across pillow manufacturers who say their goods are ideal for all sleep positions or that their pillows’ construction and materials provide universal comfort for all sleepers regardless of body type or personal preference when you seek a side sleeping pillow.
Unfortunately, these advertising promises are deceptive. Each pillow is individually crafted to provide you with a unique experience. Because of the demands of various sleep positions, any pillow you choose will be better for certain sleepers and less so for others.
Instead of relying on marketing language to guide your pillow search, consider the following features.
Points to Remember
Loft
The most crucial issue for side sleeping is a loft or thickness. Most side sleepers want medium to high loft pillows that give adequate head and neck support without sinking too low. You might be a good candidate for a pillow with adjustable loft levels if your thickness preferences change from night tonight.
Support
The pillow’s support refers to how well it keeps your head and neck on an even surface. Spinal alignment is critical for side sleepers, so choose a pillow that doesn’t sink too deeply or lift your head too much. The best support comes from pillows with strong foam or latex cores.
Level of Firmness
A too-soft pillow can sink too far beneath your head, causing alignment problems and the possibility of additional pressure. In addition, you may have soreness around the neck and shoulders if the cushion is excessively hard. On the other hand, pillows with a medium hardness are ideal for side sleepers because they give a good balance of contouring and support.
Pressure Reduction
Because their mattress is not supportive enough, many side sleepers pressure their shoulders and hips. Similarly, pressure points may form if the side sleeper’s pillow does not keep the neck and shoulders aligned with the spine. As a result, side sleepers require a supportive pillow for side sleeping that conforms to the body.
Shape
Over time, some fill materials compress, flattening the cushion and making it less pleasant. As a result, these pillows will need to be fluffed regularly to maintain their full shape. On the other hand, solid foam and latex, for example, keep their shape with little effort.
Price
The pillow price is mostly determined by the materials used in its construction. Pillows composed of polyfoam, down alternative, and feathers are the most affordable, while ones made of memory foam, latex, down, and buckwheat hulls are the most expensive. However, at a queen size, you should be able to get a high-quality cushion with any fill type for $150 or less.
Materials of High Quality
The materials used to make the cover and interior components of a pillow can impact a variety of attributes, including durability, temperature regulation, and form preservation. While the best pillow for side and back sleepers with higher-quality components will cost more, you can expect longer life and better function from many of these types.
What Are the Best Pillow Materials for Side Sleepers?
Memory foam, latex, buckwheat hulls, and other materials providing adequate support without feeling too stiff are the best pillow fill options for side sleepers. However, a few other elements determine a pillow’s comfort or discomfort for side sleeping. Below is a list of the most prevalent pillow materials.
Foam Memory
Memory foam, also known as viscoelastic polyurethane foam, is designed to soften when exposed to body heat. When lying on a memory foam pillow, this creates deep contouring for your head and neck, which can assist in straightening the spine and relieve pressure in various regions.
Buckwheat hulls, the hard outer casings of buckwheat kernels, fill buckwheat pillows. Many people compare these pillows too hard bean bags because of how solid and supportive they are. However, most buckwheat pillows may be adjusted for loft and promote adequate airflow by adding or removing kernels.
Feather
Ducks and geese have feathers on their outer plumage. Feathers, while light and airy, are coarser and thicker than down. As a result, side sleepers will not sink as deeply into the pillow as back sleepers will. Feather pillows are also quite cool to sleep on and have a long lifespan compared to other pillow kinds.
Latex is a rubber-derived material generated from the sap of rubber trees. Latex conforms to the body like foam when molded into foam, but it is considerably more responsive. In addition, because latex does not sink as deeply as other materials, it may support side sleepers.
Down
Ducks and geese have down as their soft inner plumage. The material is very light and airy, as well as insulating. Many down pillows have feathers in their outer chambers to support sleepers. This keeps side sleepers from sinking too far.
Polyfoam
Polyfoam conforms to the shape of the body while also feeling more responsive. Although the material does not provide the same level of deep contour as memory foam, it is more adaptable than latex. However, polyfoam sleeps hot. Therefore, several producers air or aerate their foam to reduce body heat absorption.
What Are Pillow Sizes Available?
Standard, queen, and king are the most common pillow sizes. On the other hand, some manufacturers provide extra sizes to accommodate sleepers with varying preferences.
Other Recommendations for Side back Sleepers
Side and back sleepers can employ the following tactics for sleeping each night peacefully, in addition to selecting the best supportive pillow for side back sleepers that supports spinal alignment.
How to Choose the Best Mattress?
The finest mattress for side sleepers will sufficiently cushion the shoulders and hips to straighten the spine and relieve pressure in various regions. In addition, most sleepers prefer softer mattresses that mold their bodies without sinking too far beneath their heavier areas.
Between the Knees, Use a Pillow
A pillow placed between the knees might help straighten the spine and relieve pain in the lower back and hips. The most comfortable pillows for side-back sleepers are down/feathers, shredded foam, and other moldable materials. Placing the pillow beneath your legs may provide additional relaxation and pressure alleviation.
Purchase a Mattress Topper
On top of your mattress, a topper is a single layer of cushioning material. Because toppers can be up to 4 inches thick, they can make your mattress seem much softer or firmer. In addition, the appropriate topper might imply better spinal alignment, less pressure, and closer conforming for side sleepers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of pillow should people who sleep on their sides and backs use?
Your favorite sleeping position will determine the best pillow for side-back sleeping for you. For example, if you sleep on your side, you may require a thicker, firmer pillow to maintain appropriate alignment. If you sleep on your back, though, a medium-loft pillow will likely keep your neck and shoulders from tilting up or down.
What is the optimal pillow firmness for side and back sleepers?
Combination sleepers choose medium-firm pillows because they give the proper support for both side and back sleepers. If you sleep on your stomach frequently, you might prefer a softer pillow with a lower loft when you need it.
Which pillow height is optimal for side sleepers?
The typical pillow height should be around 4 to 5 inches to support the neck, head, and shoulders adequately. This is especially critical when resting on your side because the curve of your neck and spine is at the mercy of the cushion in this posture.
What exactly is the issue with side sleepers?
Is shoulder pain caused by sleeping on your side? Sleeping on your side has several disadvantages, one of which is an increased chance of shoulder pain. Whether you sleep on your left or right side, the corresponding shoulder can sink into the mattress and up into your neck, causing misalignment and soreness in the morning.
What kind of pillow is ideal for those who sleep on their sides and have neck pain?
The greatest neck and shoulder pillow for side sleepers is firm enough to keep the head healthy yet soft enough to relieve pressure points. Memory foam, latex, buckwheat, or feather pillows are popular among sleepers because they provide the ideal blend of support and pressure reduction.
What’s the difference between side sleeper pillows and back sleeper pillows?
Back sleepers should avoid using a stiff or excessively high pillow. These pillows tend to keep your neck stretched all night, which can cause stiffness and soreness in the morning. Likewise, feather, leather, polyester, down, and gel pillows should be avoided by side sleepers.
Ameer
Ameer is the content director of Sleepingmentor, which means he not only reviews new mattresses, bedsheets, pillows, and mattress toppers every week, but also curates all the comparisons, best of pages, reviews pages, and vs pages on the site. He takes a straightforward, honest approach to his reviews. He covers sleep science by researching a lot on Google and finding meaningful content which entertains his users.
The product pictures used in this article are taken from Amazon.com, Inc. We are just using them so our users can make better decisions. This will save their time by seeing how the product looks like. Cheers 🙂
