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Side sleepers are doing their body good. By side sleeping – rather than back sleeping or stomach sleeping – you’re allowing your spine to fall into proper alignment at night. Stomach sleepers twist their spine all night, and are at risk of hurting their necks. Back sleepers are at risk of tilting their chins upward and the crown of their head backward, which can encourage snoring. Side sleepers, you’re doing great.
Still, you’re not quite out of the woods yet, especially if you’re just using whatever pillow you snagged from mom’s house or the first pillow you saw at Target. Sure, those pillows may be less costly than something that was made specifically for side sleepers, but it also means you’re losing a lot of the benefits of side sleeping by using a sub par pillow. Side sleepers’ heads are higher off the mattress than both stomach and back sleepers, and that means they need a pillow with a high loft to fill the space. If your pillow isn’t high enough, your head and neck are going to be out of alignment with your spine, which can lead to waking headaches and a stiff neck at best, and permanent neck problems later down the line at worst.
The cost of a dedicated side sleeper pillow might seem high at first, but it’s well worth it if you can save yourself money in a few years when you don’t need to see a chiropractor to fix your spine problems. So, ditch the pillow you stole from your mom or the pillow that you’ve used since college; folding over a flat pillow isn’t helping you sleep. It’s time to try a pillow that will help keep you well-rested, and a pillow that will make you feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud.
The Best
Tuft and Needle Pillow – $75
Sure, you can find less expensive pillows further down this list, but few offer as much support and comfort as Tuft and Needle’s Original Foam Pillow. There are plenty of cheaper memory foam pillows on the market, but Tuft and Needle’s foam pillow comes with T&N Adaptive Foam, allowing the pillow to bounce back to its original shape, even after a long snooze from the heaviest sleepers. Side sleepers typically need to look for the most supportive and high-lofted pillow, but there needs to be a happy medium between too soft and too firm. Tuft and Needle’s pillow is a great balance. Plus, it comes with an 100-night trial and a three-year limited warranty, so you can test it out without worrying about losing your money.
Interested in the Tuft and Needle Original Foam Pillow and want to learn more? Check out our review of the Tuft and Needle pillow, so you know exactly what you’re getting into.
The Rest
If the photo showing off the Layla pillow’s squishiness hasn’t sold you on it yet, consider this: the pillow is made with hot sleepers in mind, with Kapok tree fibers to keep it fluffy and natural. Stuffed with copper-infused foam, it keeps even the hottest sleeper cool, and its loftiness keeps your head resting on top of your pillow – not in it – so you’re not suffocating or breathing into your pillow all night. Is the Layla pillow too lofty? Too soft? Simply unzip the side and add or remove the shredded memory foam filling to get your desired firmness.
You’ve heard of reversible jackets and blankets, but what about pillows? Leesa has nailed the hybrid reversible pillow, with a removable insert for customizable loft, a quilted pocket side to keep it firm and ventilated cooling gel. This pillow should be particularly attractive if you aren’t exclusively a side sleeper, as you can remove the insert if you sometimes prefer stomach or back sleeping for a lower lofted pillow. The price tag might be higher than you like, but Leesa’s hybrid pillow is more like two in one, so it’s a pretty good deal.
Honeydew Sleep Company Scrumptious Side Sleeper – $100
Looking for a one-of-a-kind pillow that keeps you cool all night? The Scrumptious Side Sleeper pillow by Honeydew Sleep Company may be strangely shaped, but it’s designed specifically for side sleepers. Made with copper-infused foam, which helps keep your sleeping temperature down, this pillow is perfect for the side sleeper who needs a little customization and prefers to feel cradled by their pillow. Its curved design hugs your shoulders and neck, so you’re completely supported. It’s designed to zip shut, so if you need to add or remove some filling for a firmer or softer sleep experience, Honeydew Sleep Company makes it easy. Plus, the company offers a 60-day trial, so if a couple months with this pillow proves disappointing, you can get your money back.
Wamsutta extra-firm pillow – $25
If you’re a broad-shouldered side sleeper or you have a wider frame, you’re probably familiar with folding, unfolding, refluffing and refolding your pillow in the middle of the night to get the highest loft out of old pillows. Practice some self care and just buy a high-lofted and extra firm pillow – your spine and neck are begging you. Wamsutta has you large-framed sleepers in mind with this extra firm pillow, densely packed with polyester so you no longer feel like you’re sleeping on a deflated air mattress. If you’re searching for an inexpensive choice that keeps your head off the mattress, Wamsutta is the way to go.
Pancake adjustable layer pillow – $60
The aptly named Pancake Pillow is all about choice. The nesting doll of pillows, this pillow encases six stackable pillows so you can get the exact loft you need. Another ideal choice for those of you who spend half the week sleeping on your stomach or back, just remove a few – or all – of the stackable pillows to give your neck a rest on those stomach- or back-sleeping nights. Each pillow is stuffed with down alternative microfiber, but thanks to the outer pillow case, you’re unlikely to get poked or prodded by feathers at night. However, that down alternate fill means a much fluffier, softer pillow, so if you’re broad shouldered or if you sleep hot, this might not be the right choice for you.
Sleep Innovations Memory Foam Contour Pillow – $27
If you’re always struggling with neck pain, a contoured pillow can’t be beat. These memory foam pillows are therapeutic and supportive, and the contoured edges mean extra support for your neck without being too highly lofted for your head. Memory foam is an ideal material for side sleepers, as it’s super supportive and retains its shape well through the night. If you switch between your back and side or you’re an exclusive side sleeper, Sleep Innovations’ contoured memory foam pillow can help rid your spine and neck of pain. Stomach sleepers shouldn’t choose contoured pillows, as the raised edge can be too high and dig into your neck. At just $27, this is a great choice for the discerning side sleeper on a budget.
National Sleep Products Premier firm density pillows (2-pack) – $45
For side sleepers, “firm density” are the magic words. We typically warn against down and down-like fills for side sleepers, as down is usually too soft and squishy and can injure side sleepers’ necks, but National Sleep Products’ firm density pillow is supportive and lofty enough to keep your head from sinking downward. One of the best value choices on this list, you can typically find National Sleep Products pillows at your local Walmart, which means more convenience and immediate comfort.
Xtreme Comforts Kool-Flow bamboo memory foam pillow – $50
We’ve featured the Xtreme Comforts Kool-Flow pillow before, and for good reason: it’s one of the best pillows out there for you side sleepers. It’s all in the name: with the Kool-Flow technology and bamboo cover, you’re getting an incredibly cool yet supportive and cozy pillow; everything a side sleeper needs for a great night’s rest. Bamboo has become a super popular pillow material, and that’s because it’s natural and sustainable, as bamboo is fast-growing and abundant. Xtreme Comforts offers this pillow in multiple sizes including body pillows, so if you like to feel cradled at night or if you just like having something between your knees to alleviate hip pain, check that out.
Tempur-Pedic Side-to-Side pillow – $169
When you think of Tempur-Pedic, you think of memory foam, and this pillow is the perfect extension of that. The Side-to-Side pillow is designed for us side sleepers, with enough contour to support both your neck and head, but not too much so you feel like you’re sleeping on a bump. Whether you’re buying a Tempur-Pedic mattress or pillow, you also can feel confident you’re buying something that will keep you cool, and this pillow is designed with a gel top to do just that. Sure, at $169 this pillow might be the priciest on our list, but you know you’re getting quality with the Tempur-Pedic name. Plus, the pillow looks slick and will keep you pain-free.
Looking for more great stuff to keep you sleeping soundly? We’ve found the best mattress toppers, cooling pillows, blackout curtains and more so you’re catching Zs and waking up feeling good.
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