Best Firm Side Sleeper Pillow

How To Get A Good Night’s Sleep

Not getting enough zzzs? Our sleep expert shares tips on how to fall asleep faster and wake up more rested in the video below. And check out CRs sleep guide for more advice on how to get the shut-eye you craveand need.

Editors Note: A version of this article also appeared in the February 2016 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.

Best Budget Pillow For Side Sleepers

• Fill: polyester down alternative
• Firmness: medium-firm

With a whopping 166,000+ reviews on Amazon , these supportive pillows have a serious side sleeper cult following one reviewer even described them as the crack of pillows. And if thats not a glowing review, we dont know what is.

You can choose from queen or king size, so theyre larger than standard pillows. However, they very much have that comfy high-end-hotel vibe . Theyre also MAJORLY inexpensive.

Some customers have received dirty or damaged pillows, though, so be cautious. It looks like there may be some quality control issues.

What’s The Difference Between Memory Foam And Feather Pillows Expand/collapse

Feather pillows typically have a combination of down and feather filling. Down refers to the soft inner feathers of a duck or goose. Feathers are courser than down and less insulating. The difference between feather/down pillows vs. memory foam comes down to weight and feel.

Because feathers and down are much lighter than memory foams, down pillows feel fluffier and have a higher loft without adding bulk. Down pillows don’t have the same contouring support of memory foam pillows, but the higher the fill weight, the firmer and heavier the down pillow will be, which can offer more support for your head and neck.

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Coop Home Goods Knee Pillow

Price: $

Customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Side sleepers may benefit from sleeping with an extra pillow between their knees. This can help better align the spine.

This adjustable knee pillow is ergonomically shaped for comfort. Its designed to help side sleepers create more space between the legs. More space helps reduce hip pressure and maintain proper spinal alignment.

The pillow cover is made from polyester and bamboo-derived rayon and can be hand-washed. The fill is all CertiPUR-US certified polyurethane memory foam. Its hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites.

This pillow comes with a removable foam insert, so you can control the pillows thickness and density. You cant wash the fill or the insert.

The manufacturer provides a 100-night sleep trial and return window if the pillow doesnt work for you, as well as a 5-year limited warranty.

A Luxurious Option That Helps Relieve Strain

Parachute

Fill: Down | Trial period: 60-day return policy and 3-year warranty | Adjustable: No

This Parachute Down Sleeper Pillow has a special design with a 3.5-inch gusset that takes the strain off your neck and shoulders so you sleepand wake uppain free. The medium-density pillow is constructed with luxurious 750 fill power European white down stuffed inside a 100% cotton sateen shell that’s woven extra tight so no feathers poke through.

What the reviews say: Reviewers rave about this pick, with one person gushing: This pillow has changed my life…I now sleep through the night, wake with no neck or back pain and feel rested and happy!

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What Are The Different Pillow Types

Considering how much sleep preferences vary, its not surprising that pillows come in a variety of styles. Materials and construction methods determine key performance features like contouring, loft, and support.

In addition to standard models, there are also a number of specialty pillows designed to address the specific needs of different types of sleepers.

How We Test Pillows

All pillows are evaluated in the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Textiles Lab. First we check the care labels to see how easy they are to clean , then we wash them five times to see whether they’ll actually hold up to laundering. We also look at how well they fit into a pillowcase and we perform support and recovery tests that mimic the pressure from your head lying on it all night: A weight is left on the pillow for an extended period then we measure how quickly it returns to its original shape.

In addition to Lab testing, we also have real consumer testers try them out for in-depth feedback on things like comfort, support, temperature regulation and more. Testers are assigned a pillow based on an initial survey to make sure they’re getting a good match, then they’re given weeks to sleep on it before providing both scored and open-ended responses.

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Benefits Of Side Sleeping

Most people are side sleepers, according to a 2017 study. And this sleeping position offers some benefits over back-sleeping and stomach-sleeping, too.

Back sleeping, according to the same study, is more closely linked to poor sleep and sleep apnea. And stomach-sleeping is the least favored .

Plus, side sleeping is just downright comfy for some peeps.

Heres how to find the perfect side sleeper pillow for your neck, your back, your shoulders, and your spine .

What Kind Of Pillow Should A Side Sleeper Use

Jessalynn Adam, M.D., a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician at Baltimores Mercy Medical Center, suggests using a thicker pillow to keep your head and neck aligned if you sleep on your side. This can be achieved with any fill, including memory foam, down or cotton. So, consider your other sleep preferences: Do you love the contouring feel of memory foam? The luxe loftiness of down? How about a cooling sensation when your head hits the pillow? Considering these factors will help you make your final decision.

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Does Your Mattress Make A Difference In Your Pillow Choice As A Side Sleeper

The short answer is yes. “In order to maintain your head and neck in neutral alignment, you will want to consider your mattress type when selecting your pillow,” says Dautovich. “If you have a softer mattress, you’re more likely to sink compared to a firmer mattress.” Be sure to choose a pillow that will fill the gap between your head and the mattress. If you have a softer mattress, this may mean choosing a thicker pillow.

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.

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What Size Pillows Are Available

The most popular pillow sizes are standard, queen, and king. However, some manufacturers offer additional sizes to accommodate sleepers with different preferences. The following table lists facts and figures for the five most common pillow sizes. For the dimensions column, please note these are average measurements that will differ from brand to brand.

What Size Pillow Is Best For Side Sleepers

The most important factor when it comes to the size of a pillow for side sleepers is the height. Thats why youll see many side sleeper pillows made from molded memory foam, or featuring added gusseting.

The height is what allows the pillow to support the neck and keep it straight while youre lying on your side.

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The Benefits Of Side Sleeping

Side sleeping is the most popular sleeping position among U.S. adults. This position has a few advantages over back or stomach sleeping. For one, side sleeping can minimize snoring because it keeps your airway open back sleepers snore more often because the tongue falls back into the throat, creating an obstruction for the airway. Side sleeping can be beneficial to people with sleep apnea and/or acid reflux for the same reason. If youre a pregnant woman, chances are youll feel more comfortable on your side than you will in other sleep positions a bolster pillow for the legs or knees can also provide comfort for pregnant sleepers.

Side sleeping can also align the spine and reduce discomfort in the shoulders, hips, and other areas where pressure points tend to develop. However, this is contingent on a mattress and pillow that offer enough support to align your head and neck, shoulders, lower back, and hips.

Keep reading to learn about special pillow considerations for side sleepers, and how to choose a pillow model based on your body type and personal preferences.

What Makes A Good Side

To stay comfortably aligned, most side-sleepers should look for a pillow that has 4 to 6 inches of loft, or height, and provides the right combination of softness and firmness . People who sleep on their side need more support than those who favor any other sleep position because, on their side, they have a larger gap between their head and the mattress. As a result, if you have broad shoulders, you need a loftier pillow. The goal of any pillow should be to keep your head and neck in roughly the same position as they are when youre standing straight.

The goal of any pillow should be to keep your head and neck in roughly the same position as they are when youre standing straight.

Terry Cralle, a registered nurse and clinical sleep educator, told us that keeping your body correctly positioned at night is crucial to your physical health and the quality of your sleep. Your sleeping posture is just as important as your waking posture, she said. Your head will be angled downward if the pillow is too thin and angled upward if too thick. Aim for neutral, to keep the head, neck, and spine in alignment. And your neck isnt the only part of your body that needs support. Cralle also told us, If you are a side sleeper, a thinner pillow placed between your knees can help make you more comfortable and help keep your spine in a neutral position. We also recommend using a body pillow to get full-length support while youre on your side.

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Who Should Try The Brooklinen Down Pillow

• Every sleeping position stomach, back, and side should be comfortable on this pillow, depending on the firmness level they choose.
• Sleepers who love an ultra-soft, plush feel from their pillow will revel in this down pillow.
• Sleepers who like a moldable pillow will appreciate how you can shape the down fill in this pillow any way you like.

Mkicesky Side Sleeper Memory Foam

Dimensions:Fill:REASONS TO BUY

Despite the name, we believe the Mkicesky Side Sleeper Memory Foam suits back sleepers better than side sleepers. It has a unique shape essentially a hole cut in the middle that cradles your head when on your back, which we liked when wearing earbuds in bed. The pillow also has a raised mesh fabric that allows more airflow between your head and the foam to keep things cooler.

The Mkicesky seems like a better back sleeper pillow, though. The scoop in the middle of the pillow fit our testers’ necks much better when on their backs, whereas it tended to push our shoulders down awkwardly when we laid on our sides. It worked a bit better for side sleepers if we used the side of the pillow, but then we didn’t get the benefits of the cradle in the middle or the mesh. We think this is a decent product, but it would be much better if marketed towards back sleepers than side sleepers.

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What Material Should I Consider For The Best Pillow For Side Sleepers Uk

Different pillow materials have different characteristics and that is why all of them are more or less used for making pillows. An important note not to forget even you might have the best rated pillow for side sleepers, the same pillow might not be that comfortable for other people even they sleep in the same sleep position. So, we have to consider the personal preferences. However, a material of pillow is a crucial factor when shopping for a pillow.

There are natural and synthetic materials, different in firmness, how they react to heat, breathability and other characteristics. Memory foam is the most commonly used synthetic material, while of the natural materials feathers, down, buckwheat and latex are used the most. One property that is crucial, especially for sleepers with allergies is being a hypoallergenic. When you have hypoallergenic pillow, you can forget dust mites as the dust mites wont welcome in hypoallergenic environment.

For side sleepers, all the mentioned materials can be suitable, so the choice will depend more on whether you want a cooling pillow, what kind of bounce rate you want and the like. Also, it should be noted that these are fill materials, and that cotton and other breathable materials that will not irritate the skin are mostly used for the cover. That is exactly what the most appropriate pillow for side sleepers UK should feel like!

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Other Tips For Side Sleepers

In addition to selecting a supportive pillow that promotes spinal alignment, side sleepers can use the following strategies for sleeping comfortably each night.

Choose the Right Mattress: The best mattress for side sleepers will provide ample cushioning to the shoulders and hips in order to align the spine and alleviate pressure in different areas. Most side sleepers on our test team prefer mattresses with softer feels that conform closely to the body without sinking too much beneath their heavier areas.Use a Pillow Between the Knees: A pillow between the knees can also improve spinal alignment and reduce pressure in the lower back and hips. Pillows filled with down/feathers, shredded foam, and other moldable materials tend to be most comfortable. You may also find more comfort and pressure relief by placing the pillow beneath your legs.Invest in a Mattress Topper: A topper is a single layer of cushioning material placed on top of your mattress. Toppers can measure up to 4 inches thick, so using one can make your mattress feel significantly softer or firmer. For side sleepers, the right topper can mean closer conforming, better spinal alignment, and less pressure.

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How Many Pillows Should A Side Sleeper Have

Be careful with stacking pillows for sleep, our experts caution. While it’s important to get enough support, you don’t want your head to be so high that it causes neck pain.

“Side sleepers may sleep best when using a firmer pillow for their head and one between their knees,” Guo says. “This provides enough support to align the head, neck, and spine.”

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.

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