Best Hybrid Pillow: Leesa Hybrid Pillow
With a quilted pillow top on one side and a cooling gel layer on the other, this hybrid pillow gives you both a down and memory foam feel. Its also adjustable: Simply unzip the side and remove the polyester pillow insert between the down and cooling layers. It will become thinner and a great option for when you flip to your stomach in the middle of the night. In fact, there are so many options with this plump pillow, it works for every type of sleeper.
via Plushbeds.com
How To Choose The Right Mattress For Your Sleep Position
If your body isnt properly supported while you sleep, you can start experiencing weird aches and pains. As we mentioned above, neck and shoulder pain could indicate that your pillows arent doing their job. But back pain or other types of discomfort might mean that you need a more supportive mattress. Regardless of your preferred sleep position, the goal is to get to a place where spinal support and pressure-point relief intersect.
As is the case when youre standing, proper spinal alignment is important when youre lying down. Your spine should more or less be straight, except for that subtle curve inward toward the belly, in your lower back.
Pressure points are the bony or heavier parts of your bodysuch as the shoulders, hips, or kneesthat press against the surface of the bed. They vary depending on your sleep position. Pressure-point relief is helpful from a musculoskeletal standpoint if you have muscle or joint issues. For instance, if youre a side-sleeper with hip pain or rotator-cuff tendinitis , youll want a mattress that isnt too firm, so it doesnt put excessive pressure on these painful areas.
In general, here are the features you should look for based on your sleep position, as well as tips on how to check for good alignment:
Sleep Better Iso Pillows
Another big winner is the Sleep Better ISO memory foam pillow, it has a longer product life than the My Stunning Abode, however during that time the average consumer rating has fell slightly below. With 2,999 customers rating the Sleep Better ISO 3.9 out of 5 for comfort, durability and general use.
Made in the USA, the Sleep Better ISO has microscopic PCM beads that absorb heat and feel cool & a gusseted design which helps maximize comfort for side sleepers.
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How We Evaluated These Pillows
Our hands-on testing process involves each person lying on the pillow for several minutes to evaluate support, pressure relief, and other qualities. While these particular evaluations focused on side sleeping, we asked the testers to change positions to see if the pillow felt more or less comfortable. We also test pillows for temperature control, shape retention, odor potential, and other factors that dont impact your sleep position. The top picks listed above reflect pillows that earned the most favorable ratings during these tests.
Maxzzz Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow
Hot sleepers often benefit from curling up with a cooling pillow at night, and while many of our recommendations have included breathable shredded or ventilated fills, these arent the only methods to establish a cooling pillow. Maxzzzs memory foam pillow relies on a mix of ventilation channels and cooling gels to create a pillow excellent for hot sleepers.
The Maxzzz ventilated gel foam pillow has a CertiPUR-US® certification attesting to its safety. The included pillowcase slips on and off easily, making it easy to wash the cover and freshen up your pillow. As the pillow has a solid fill, we do not recommend washing it.
The Maxzzz gel memory foam pillow includes free shipping and a 100-night sleep trial.
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How Thick Should A Side Sleepers Pillow Be
Side sleepers usually prefer mid- and high-loft pillows, around 3 to 6 inches thick, because they fill the gap between the shoulder and the head. Youll want to consider your body type and shoulder breadth when choosing the best possible loft. Those with broader shoulders will need taller pillows, while those with smaller statures will require thinner pillows.
Other Pillows For Side Sleepers We Tested
The Tempur-Cloud Breeze is a hefty, solid-foam pillow that offers a lot of loft and support. Its dense, making it a great pick for people who prefer a firm, supportive feel. Nonetheless, even with my smaller frame and fairly narrow shoulders, I didnt find it was too thick or too firm. It gave a sensation similar to memory foam, adapting to the pressure of my head and letting it sink in just enough.
The cooling abilities of this pillow cant be glossed over. I’ve been skeptical of “cooling” products since testing the Tempur-Cloud foam mattress, which cooked me overnight, so my expectations for this pillow were virtually nonexistent.
Other pillows we tested claimed to be “cooling pillows,” but didnt performyet this pillow came through. In sleep tests, this pillow was remarkably cooling even through a protector and pillowcase. In the lab, it diffused heat better than any of the other pillows we tested. The performance lives up to the high expectations its $100-plus price sets.
It ranked lower on our list due to its high price and limited washing options. And while its cooling is impressive, its not a feature that everyone wants or needs in a pillow. Plus, Tempur-Pedic has one of the strictest return policies on our list. If you use it, you keep it. Theres no trial period, and used pillows can only be returned if they have manufacturer defects.
Pros
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Is A High Medium Or Low Loft Pillow Better For Neck Pain
It depends on what type of sleeper you are. If youre a stomach sleeper, it may be best to choose a pillow with a low loft to minimize the pressure on your spine. If youre a back or side sleeper, a medium loft pillow that allows your head, neck, and spine to form a straight line may be right for you.
Finally, if youre a side sleeper with bigger shoulders, a high loft pillow may be suitable. Note the pillow should equal the distance between the ears and the edge of the shoulders.
Best Pregnancy Pillow: Boppy Side Sleeper Pregnancy Support Pillow
For pregnant women, side sleeping can help take the pressure off their bladder and reduce back pain, says Foley. This Boppy support pillow is versatile and will aid back sleepers in feeling more comfortable on their side. It also can sit in between your legs as you sleep, which Foley adds can also help maintain the alignment of your spine. While there are giant C-shaped options on the market for a pregnant mother to hug, this smaller option is less of a commitment.
Next, read this review of the Pillow Cubeand why wed recommend it for side sleepers.
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Choosing The Right Pillow Materials For Side
The pillow fill material you choose has a big impact on how your pillow feels. While the right loft and firmness level for side sleepers are fairly universal, fill materials can impact more specific preferences. For example, do you want a pillow that feels warm or cool? Bouncy or moldable? Lets go over a few different pillow materials:
How To Choose A Mattress
Technically, a mattress is just any kind of flat fabric encasing filled with materials that provide some give when you lie down. The oldest known mattress was stuffed with layers of grassy, leafy plants and topped with aromatic leaves to ward off pests. Although todays mattresses have more complicated fillings, they follow the same layering concept.
The different mattress types all have strengths and weaknesses, so dont be swayed by whats fashionable, what you see advertised, or even the price tag. Your primary consideration should be comfort.
If youre not comfortable when you first try it, then you probably shouldnt get it, even if you think you might break into it eventually, cautioned Roger Magowitz, who has owned various mattress retail chains for more than 35 years and is now executive vice president of Customatic Technologies. As he told us, youre better off buying one that makes you say, Wow, this feels good! right off the bat.
That said, it may take a month or more of sleeping on a mattress to figure out whether its really comfortable to you for the long term. You need to spend some quality time assessing it, said Santhosh Thomas, medical director of the Cleveland Clinics Center for Spine Health. He believes you should insist on a trial period without penalty, even if the store requires you to keep the plastic cover on.
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What Pillow Types Are Best For Side Sleepers
Side sleepers can enjoy all types of pillows, and the right pillow type is often a simple matter of personal preferences. Pillows with conforming fills such as shredded foam, down, feather, down alternative, and buckwheat hulls can mold to the head and neck well, offering the different support each needs. Memory foam and latex are well known for their pressure-relieving properties, though memory foam is usually the more affordable option.
Uttu Sandwich Adjustable Memory Foam Pillow
The UTTU Sandwich Adjustable Memory Foam Pillow is designed to provide neck support, especially for people who sleep on their sides, but during testing, our experts weren’t particularly blown away by it. While it was reasonably comfortable and contoured to our heads when we laid on it, other memory foam pillows proved to be more comfortable and supportive than this one. We also found the foam material to be a little cheap, which is why it didn’t make our list.
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Best Cooling Pillow For Back Sleepers
Coop Home Goods Eden
Price: $$
The case is derived from sustainable bamboo, while a wide gusset adds airflow and structure. And because its adjustable, you can find the right level of support for your preferred sleeping positions. Every pillow comes with a half-pound bag of filler and has a 5-year warranty.
Its very well-reviewed, with over 2,000 customers raving about softness and support.
As you research options for the best pillows for back and side sleepers, heres what to consider.
What Pillow Materials Are Best For Side Sleepers
Based on our hands-on tests, weve noticed that the best pillow fill materials for side sleepers include memory foam, latex, buckwheat hulls, and other components that offer sufficient support without feeling too firm. However, the amount of comfort a pillow offers side sleepers depends on a few other factors. The most common pillow materials are outlined below.
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What Should I Look For When Buying A Mattress
Focus primarily on comfort and support, using what you like and dont like about your current mattress as a jumping-off point. How a mattress is made can be a good indicator of how it might feel: An innerspring mattress with individually wrapped coils provides better motion isolation and contouring than one with an open-coil system, while all-latex foam mattresses sink less than those with a top layer of memory foam.
You should also make sure the company offers a sufficiently long trial period and doesnt require you to jump through hoops to make a return.
Does It Keep You Cool Or Warm Enough
If you sleep hot, you should probably avoid foam mattresses, which are notorious for trapping heat. Innerspring mattresses tend to be more breathable because body heat moves from the surface through the spaces in the coils and disperses out to the room. If youre a hot sleeper but you prefer the feeling of foam, look for foam hybrids or innersprings quilted with a foam topper. Many foam mattresses tout materials designed to allow for varying levels of heat transfer, such as foam with air channels or gel, copper, or graphite infusions. But be aware that they usually cost more and wont work for everyone, and the effects can be minimal. Mattresses made of latex sleep cooler and feel springier than those made of memory foam.
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How To Choose The Best Pillow For Side Sleepers
Not all memory foam pillows are created equal which is why you should consider the points below prior to making a purchase.
Shape
Traditional Pillows are popular for people who sleep in a number of positions and look just like normal pillows. They offer good support and increased airflow compared to some other pillow types.
Egg Crate Pillows are especially good for individuals who mostly sleep on their sides and back. They have lumps on them which provide additional support and great airflow to make it easier to breathe and keep cool.
Cervical Pillows are designed to provide more material directly under the neck for people who sleep on their sides. This offers optimal support and is especially helpful if you are a sufferer of neck pain.
Neck Roll Pillows are good for both sleeping in bed and for relaxing while reading or watching television. They are a good option for people who have both back and neck pain.
Other Shaped Pillows are available which may be suitable for people who also sleep in other positions .
After you have chosen which shape of pillow you are looking for, next you need to consider the following features for your pillow:
Gel
Memory foam is known as a material that retains heat. To combat this, manufacturers have recently started using open cell structures in the material, in addition to infusing with gel beads. If youre a hot sleeper, consider a gel pillow or at least one designed for optimum airflow.
Density
Firmness
Size
Warranty
Are Memory Foam Pillows Good For Side Sleepers
Memory foam pillows are an excellent choice for side sleepers. The foam softens under the heat and pressure of the head and neck, creating a cradled feel that supports the sleepers head. As the sleeper moves throughout the night, the memory foam adapts to the body without the need to fluff the pillow.
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When You Should Get A New Mattress
If youre not getting a good nights sleep, if youre waking with aches and pains, or if youre just not comfortable in bed, it may be time to get a new mattress. Think about where youre hurtingif you wake up with shoulder or back pain, or hip, knee, or other joint pain, your mattress may not be properly cushioned or supportive for you. Also, if your current mattress sags visibly or has a permanent indent in the shape of your body, its likely time for a new one. And if you find that you sleep better away from home , thats another red flag.
If you consistently wake up with neck pain, your pillow might be the culprit.
Now, before you plunk down hundreds or thousands of dollars, youll want to rule out a couple of things. If youre plagued by neck pain, your pillow might be the culprit, and you may want to consult our guide to the best bed pillows. And if you have a new supportive mattress that just doesnt feel cushy or soft enough, you may be able to improve it by adding a good mattress topper.
Simple ways to make your bed more comfortable
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After 300 hours sleeping on 17 models, weve chosen four memory-foam, latex, and fiber-filled mattress toppers that we think will work for most sleepers.
Can Replacing Your Pillow Improve Neck Pain
If youre experiencing neck pain, it could be the fault of your pillow. Especially if its old, it might not be supportive enough anymore.
Swapping for a new pillow doesnt mean your neck pain will magically go away, though. Pillow preference is personal, and what works for one person might not work for you. So a bit of experimenting is to be expected.
Additionally, not all neck pain is the fault of a bad pillow. If a new pillow doesnt seem to help, be sure to talk with your doctor.
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Best Latex Pillow: Plushbeds Shredded Natural Latex Pillow
Latex pillows are one of the best stuffing options for side sleepers since latex is breathable, recovers quickly, and wont shift and clump, shares Dr. Okubadejo. Allergy sufferers will also love this malleable option because its hypoallergenic and mold- and mildew-resistant. And everyone will love that its squishable and comfortable since the stuffing doesnt change throughout the night. Its also excellent for sitting up in bed to watch TV or read, according to reviewers.
via Naturepedic.com
Special Concerns For Side Sleepers
When it comes to side-sleeping, flat pillows can be a pain in the neck literally! Sleeping laterally with or without your arms under the pillow presents some potential issues.
Supporting your head and neck are the most important things your pillow does for you, whether you realize it or not. If your neck is in a position that irritates other joints, you may experience headaches, shoulder tension or pain, and back pain.
A medium loft/height and firmness pillow that provides temperature control is highly recommended for side sleepers, says Dr. Religioso. Head and neck support and maintaining a cool body temperature will improve sleep quality, recovery from injury/pain, and improve work performance.
Side-sleepers should take certain things into consideration when shopping for a pillow:
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