Best Contour Pillow For Back Sleepers: Uttu Sandwich Pillow
The UTTU Sandwich Pillow is an excellent, eco-friendly pillow choice for side and back sleepers. It contains memory foam and a cooling polyester-bamboo blend pillow cover. You can easily remove the cover and toss it in the washing machine for easy care.
The pillows fill is made from three layers of UTTU Dynamic Foam, a breathable memory foam designed to conform under your head and neck. When you first receive the pillow, the pillow is about 4.7 inches thick at its highest point. However, it has an adjustable loft. You can remove the middle layer of memory foam to make the pillow 3.5 inches at its highest point.
The UTTU Sandwich Pillow comes with a 96-night guarantee and a 5-year warranty.
UTTU Sandwich Pillow
Best Down Alternative: Coop Home Goods Eden Pillow
This pillows fill is a mix of gel-infused memory foam and microfiber. The company writes that it is a supportive alternative to down fill and may be suitable for people who are allergic to down or lead a vegan lifestyle.
A purchase comes with extra filling so a person can add or remove as much as they like to create a height that suits their needs.
Additionally, the pillow features a 100% polyester lining and a breathable pillowcase made from a blend of polyester and bamboo-derived viscose rayon.
Its memory foam holds CertiPUR-US and Greenguard Gold certifications.
According to the company, this pillow is hypoallergenic and the cover is washable.
The pros and cons a person can consider include:
Pros:
A Sustainable Down Pillow With Three Firmness Options
Brooklinen
Fill: Down and feathers | Trial period: 365-day return policy | Adjustable: No
Soft but still firm enough, the Brooklinen down pillow is constructed of sustainably sourced Canadian down clusters and feathers, which provide the cushion side sleepers need. Brooklinen lets you choose between plush, mid-plush and firm options, but recommends that side sleepers opt for firm for that extra support and spine alignment.
What the reviews say: The overall comfy feel seems to do the trick for most reviewers. I haven’t had a down pillow in years, but I thought I would give this a try because I haven’t been able to find a pillow that works for me. I really like the pillow and am happy I bought it. I am getting a good night’s sleep and wake up without a neck ache, writes one newly pain-free sleeper.
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What Were Looking For:
Loft: The loft, or height, of your pillow is a crucial factor for side sleepers to consider. Dr. Toussaint-Keshinro explains that keeping your head, neck, and shoulders in a neutral and even position is most important. If a pillow is too flat or too high, it can create an uneven muscle tone in the neck and shoulders, leading to spasms over time. While there isnt a formula to figure out the ideal loft of your pillow, Dr. Dennis Colonello, celebrity and professional-athlete chiropractor at Peak Wellness and all33 co-founder, suggests that your pillow be around four inches off of your mattress. But dont go breaking out your ruler just yet, as there is wiggle room with this number. For taller people with broader shoulders, a higher loft may be more comfortable, and conversely, a petite person with more narrow shoulders will likely rest comfortably with a lower loft.
Firmness: All of our experts agreed that medium-firm pillows tend to be the best option for people sleeping on their side. While there is room for personal preference here, a medium-firm pillow helps your head stay in the right position without sinking while you sleep. For people who like to dream on a bed that feels like fresh brioche buns instead of a firmer surface, gusseted-down and down-alternative pillows can be a plush compromise. Additionally, Cushner and Foley suggest memory foam pillows, as they sort of mimic the softness of down by contouring to your body, while still providing support.
Are Contour Pillows Worth It
Contour pillows are a great option for sleepers looking for extra neck support or pain relief. They can be a bit pricey, but the payoff in terms of pain relief and comfort makes up for it.
At the same time, contour pillows arent necessary for everyone. Stomach sleepers may find the thickness of contour pillows to be too much, and the arches can dig into their necks. Similarly, standard rectangle pillows can be just as great as contour pillows, especially if you arent experiencing pain or any health conditions affecting your sleep.
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Best Pillows For Side Sleepers Video
Watch our video below to learn more about our labs top picks for pillows for side sleepers.
We provide an overview about each of our picks, covering features that set each pillow apart from the competition. Further down, well take a closer look at how pillows affect side sleeping and offer a few tips for choosing a pillow based on thickness, material composition, price, and other factors.
Labor Day Sales Are Still Going On!
Labor Day is now behind us, but many companies are still offering major holiday discounts. Check our product reviews below for discount information. You can also head to our list of Labor Day deals and discounts.
What Pillow Is Best For Side Sleepers With Neck Pain
Neck pain is usually the result of your pillow being too soft, so make sure to stick to medium to medium-firm models. Those that are too soft would let your head sink, throwing the spine out of alignment and causing you to wake up with a stiff neck. You should also make sure your pillow isnt too thin or too tall.
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How We Chose Our Products
Our team of sleep specialists tested many pillows currently on the market, using proprietary analysis and hands-on testing to find the best of the best for our readers. When building our roundup for the best pillows for back sleepers, we paid special attention to support, durability, loft, and quality of materials.
Pillows made for back-sleeping require different attributes than pillows made for other positions like stomach-sleeping, so we made sure to keep this in mind when it came to selecting pillows with a proper loft. Additionally, we featured pillows that should maintain their support and durability through the night to keep your spine properly aligned. Lastly, we wanted to place an emphasis on pillows featuring quality materials.
For more, we encourage you to check out our Buyers Guide at the bottom of the page. There we take a deeper dive into all of these attributes so you can make the most informed purchase possible.
How Often Should You Replace Your Pillow
“Many doctors recommend replacing pillows every two years,” Dautovich says. Odors, stains, lumps, and flattening are all signs that it might be time to replace your pillow. Increased neck pain or allergy symptoms can also be signs that your pillow is no longer serving you. When cleaning, be sure to refer to the care label on your pillow to ensure it lasts as long as possible.
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The Best Pillow For Side Sleepers
Weve updated this guide to reflect the redesigned Nest Easy Breather Pillow, which is now washable.
Nothing highlights the importance of a good pillow like trying to sleep on a bad one, and people who sleep on their side, in particular, can have a tough time finding the right fit because they need more neck and head support. After more than 1,000 nights testing 119 pillows, weve found a number of options for side sleepers and think the Nest Bedding Easy Breather Pillow is the best for a range of side-sleepers.
Our pick
This pillow has a customizable and washable filling that offers firm support for back- and side-sleepers. What it doesnt have: the lingering chemical smell weve noticed in some other shredded foam.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $100.
We recommend the Nest Bedding Easy Breather Pillow for both side- and back-sleepers in our full guide to bed pillows, and we know some stomach-sleepersthose who sleep half on their side, half on their stomachalso find it comfortable, and it offers neck support that doesnt cause pain.
Many companies advertise their pillows for specific sleep positions, but in our experience their recommendations dont match up all that well. Overwhelmingly, our side-sleeping testers have preferred pillows with shredded memory foam because of its moldability.
Most Affordable Contour Pillow: Vaya Pillow
For a more affordable contour pillow, check out the Vaya Pillow. With plush foam, you can adjust the pillows fill to closely support your head and neck for ultimate comfort.
The Vaya Comfort Pillow is filled with shredded Vaya Foam Blend, a breathable material designed to soothe tension and pain. Plus, the foam is CertiPUR-US® certified, meaning its free from harmful chemicals and wont off-gasthat factory-like new car smell.
So you dont have to worry about overheating at night, the Vaya Pillow has a lightweight cover that doesnt trap heat or moisture.
The Vaya Pillow comes with free shipping and returns and a 10-year warranty.
Vaya Pillow
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Tips On Choosing The Right Orthopedic Pillow
Finding the right orthopedic pillow for your needs can change your life. That seems like an overstatement, but reducing pain in your neck, back, hip, knee, or any other part of your body thats aching can impact your entire outlook. We recommend consulting a doctor to truly identify the source of any pain, but if youre in the market for an orthopedic pillow, here are some things to consider.
- What the Pillow is Designed For: Choosing an orthopedic pillow is dependent on what part of your body is hurting. If youre a side sleeper whos experiencing lower back pain, maybe look into a knee pillow. Similarly, look to specific neck pillows if your neck is the pain point. There are a lot of specific products on the market built to address specific pain, so dont settle on a general pillow and expect it to fix all that ails you.
- Pillow Material and Skin Sensitivity:Orthopedic pillows can be made from a number of materials, and can have pillowcases made of even more. Take note of the type of foam if a pillows not made of a breathable material, it may get hot throughout the night. And, if the pillowcase is made of an artificial fabric it may be an irritant to sensitive skin,
Best Memory Foam Pillow For Back Sleepers
Nectar Resident Pillow
Price: $
This supportive, conforming, pressure-relieving pillow is made with a two-in-one, adjustable design. The outer shell comes overstuffed for loft and comfort, and you can remove some of the fill to find the right feel. The inner shell is made with two types of foam for support and durability.
Because of its adjustability, the Resident pillow works equally well for back and side sleepers.
There are close to 300 reviews, with an overall rating of 4.8 stars. People praise the soft support and customized feel.
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Is A Contour Pillow Better
Many other pillows support pain or injuries, but a contour pillow is better if you suffer from neck, head, or shoulder pain. These pillows help alleviate pain and keep your neck and back properly aligned.
It helps maintain good sleeping posture so you dont have sore muscles when you wake up and provides you with many comforts while sleeping. It has no side effects and perfectly fits the shape of your body parts. You may sleep at a wrong angle without a contour pillow, worsening your neck pain.
How To Sleep On A Contour Pillow
Depending on whether youre a back, side or stomach sleeper, its important to consider what will be the most effective and comfortable way to position your head and neck on a contour pillow. The pillow will have one contoured and one flat side, so you should set the flat side on your mattress so that your head, neck and shoulders can be cradled by the memory foam. The built-in curve of the pillow should act as the perfect mould to comfortably rest your head on.
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What Is The Best Pillow Height For Side Sleepers
Since people have different neck sizes, the best height would be the exact size of your neck, and you should always measure your neck size before you purchase a contoured pillow. Some pillows height is adjustable , and some are firm and maintain the same height.
The incredible variety of side sleeping pillows can make your head spin, but now that youve seen the most important features of a high-quality side sleeper pillow, the choice is much easier.
The ideal pillows would be fully adjustable, made from hypoallergenic materials, guaranteed to not flatten, and breathable. Our top pick for 2022 is the Coop Home Goods pillow, which excels in all of these parameters.
We hope this side sleeper neck pillow guide and the reviews for the best-rated side sleeper pillows were helpful and wish you a calm and restful sleep every night.
Whats your experience with side sleeping pillows? do you have a pillow that you would recommend? wed like to know! Share your thoughts in the comments below.
To your health and happiness,
The Back Pain Relief Products Team
Our team draws sources only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations.
Studies
Gordon SJ, Grimmer-Somers KA, Trott PH. Pillow use: the behavior of cervical stiffness, headache and scapular/arm pain. J Pain Res. 2010 3:137-145. Published 2010 Aug 11. doi:10.2147/jpr.s10880
Xtreme Comforts Shredded Memory Foam Bamboo
Dimensions:Fill:REASONS TO BUY
The Xtreme Comforts Shredded Memory Foam Bamboo is a soft, adjustable rectangular pillow with a decent memory foam fill. Its adjustability is a nice touch. Otherwise, it would be too full and fluffy for a pillow for side sleepers. We were also impressed that it doesn’t hold much heat take note, anyone seeking the eternally cold pillow. Another nice touch is that it’s easy to wash.
In some ways, this pillow is very similar to the Coop pillow, but we like the Coop pillow a bit more. The Xtreme Comforts pillow became lumpier as we adjusted the fill level, leaving the corners empty. The fill stuck to itself somewhat and wouldn’t evenly fill the casing. Still, it’s a well-made product, and if you’re looking for a soft, adjustable pillow without spending too much, it might be a decent option.
Dimensions:Fill:REASONS TO BUYREASONS TO AVOID
The Beans72 Organic Buckwheat is a small yet thick cushion filled with organic buckwheat hulls in unbleached cotton fabric. The pillow comes overstuffed but easily adjustable. Unlike some other adjustable models, we found managing the fill removal to be easy and less messy. We like how cool the buckwheat stayed. Beans72 is also a very small company, so if you like the idea of supporting a cottage company, check this pillow out.
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Best Contour Pillow For Legs And Knees: Contour Legacy Leg & Knee Memory Foam Support Pillow
Unlike the other pillows on our list, the Contour Legacy Leg & Knee Memory Foam Support Pillow isnt meant for your head. Instead, its meant to rest between your knees or legs when side sleeping.
When you sleep on your side, its common for your legs to chafe or your knees to rub together, which can worsen joint pain. This orthopedic pillow cushions your legs and better aligns your spine and lower back to minimize pain.
The memory foam in the Contour Legacy Leg & Knee Memory Foam Support Pillow is soft, almost doughy, but still supportive and durable. It retains its shape well, ensuring it wont go flat while you sleep.
Contour Living offers a 1-year warranty for the Legacy Leg & Knee Memory Foam Support Pillow.
Contour Legacy Leg & Knee Memory Foam Support Pillow
- Orthopedic pillow designed to alleviate hip and knee pain
- Memory foam filling contours to the curves of the body
- 1-year warranty
What Else Can Back Sleepers Do
Back sleepers should consider more than just the pillow resting under their head. Here are a few more tips for a good nights sleep.
- Sleep on a supportive mattress: Back sleepers need a medium-firm mattress offering solid support, especially in the lumbar region of the spine. Check out our roundup of the best mattresses for back sleepers if youre on the market for a new mattress!
- Add a mattress topper to a too-firm mattress: If your mattress is too firm and you arent ready for a new one, try adding a memory foam or latex mattress topper for an extra layer of comfort. If your mattress is too soft, some high-density toppers may help make your sleep surface slightly more firm.
- Add another pillow to the bed: Sleeping with a pillow underneath your knees can help the natural curvature of the spine. This is especially true for back sleepers who experience lower back pain.
- Stretch before bed: Doing some light stretches before bed to release muscle tension can help you avoid pressure and pain in the lower back.
- Looking into pillows that offer trial periods: This way, you can sleep on several pillows for a few nights and see which one leaves you feeling the best in the morning.
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Am Aeromax Contour Memory Foam Pillow
A healthy and comfortable sleep option
This pillow comes in standard size and consists of 100% quality polyurethane foam. The pillowcase is 45% cotton and 55% polyester fabric. The inner pillowcase is 60% cotton and 40% polyester.
This memory foam cervical pillow is of high-density foam. The ergonomic design helps to adjust the pillow in every shape. Whether you sleep on the back, side, or front, it has curve fits that support the neck, head, and shoulder correctly.
The design on the pillow helps the air circulation to maximize and make the sleep phenomenal for the sleeper. It will adjust according to your bodytemperature.
Headache, sore shoulder, insomnia, or spine pressure, all these body conditions will get better and improves with the regular use of these pillows by Am Aeromax. The fabric and design help you sleep cool and wake up in the morning without any maddening neck or shoulder pain. This cervical pillow is about a deep, comfortable sleep full of delightful dreams you never want to miss.
AM Aeromax offers a 100-night sleep trial. If you werent satisfied with the product and couldnt find it useful, you may claim your full refund from them.
for every type ofsleeper
