Why Might You Need A Different Pillow If Youre A Side Sleeper
Your sleeping position dictates how thick your pillow needs to be and the firmness level you need, says Rosie Osmun, sleep science coach at sleep science platform Sleep Junkie. Sleeping comfortably is all down to spine alignment.
For side sleepers, Rosie explains, Some can feel sore when their neck isnt in a neutral position, notes osteopath Anisha Joshi. Being supported should ease any pain and help you to get a good night’s sleep.
Is Stomach Sleeping Safe
Sleeping on the stomach may cause spinal alignment and neck pain issues if a person does not have proper spinal alignment and neck support.
However, it is important that individuals choose the position that allows them to get adequate sleep each night. If a person prefers stomach sleeping, they do not need to change their sleep position if it affects sleep quality or overall well-being.
If people experience sleeping issues, neck or back pain, or other issues related to their sleeping position, they can consult with a doctor.
Which Pillow Fillings Are Best For Belly Sleepers
Pillows can be built with many different fillings, the names of which are often confusing and intimidating. But worry not weve listed below the most common types of pillow materials that one may encounter while on the search for the best pillow for stomach and side sleepers. Heres a quick breakdown:
1. Buckwheat:
A buckwheat pillow is filled with buckwheat seed husks. The open shape of the husk facilitates airflow and aids in the regulation of temperature. When utilized as a pillow filling, the malleability of buckwheat is what makes it a winner. It naturally conforms to your body shape, providing optimal support and relieving pressure. The loft of buckwheat pillows can be adjusted by removing or adding more seed husks. However, some belly sleepers may find such pillows rather firm. Additionally, the husks make a distracting rustling noise with every movement.
2. Memory Foam:
A viscoelastic foam which responds to pressure and heat, memory foam conforms seamlessly to the shape of ones neck and head. For belly sleepers, such a pillow can aid in relieving tension and optimizing spinal alignment. Certain memory foam pillows possess a solid core of memory foam, while others combine a shredded blend of memory foam to allow adjustment of loft. However, memory foam pillows have the potential for retaining gasses hence, belly sleepers with sensitive noses may want to look for other options.
3. Feather:
4. Down:
5. Latex:
6. Polyfoam:
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What Makes A Good Pillow For Stomach Sleepers
Loft
Most pillows for stomach sleepers want your head and neck to be elevated as little as possible while also giving you needed support. The thin nature of many of these pillows should relieve pains, but youll want to make sure there is enough pillow there to give your neck the support it needs.
Material
Stomach sleeper pillow models come in a variety of materials. Among the most popular are memory foam, shredded foam, cotton and polyester fibers. The type of material that is best for you depends on how you sleep with the pillow.
Cost
Most picks in our guide typically cost much less than shown, since websites often add sales and discounts to their products. There are several options on the market that cost more and some that cost less. It is always a good idea to read the customer reviews on both ends of the spectrum to see if a more expensive option is really worth it, or to find out if a cheaper pillow can still provide you with a great nights sleep.
Durability
The National Sleep Foundation recommends switching out your pillows every one to two years, but some will start to wear down quicker than that. Customer reviews and company warranty can be a good indicator of how long you should expect your new pillow to last.
Free Delivery On Orders Over $39
Free delivery on orders over $39 . Truck delivery and shipping surcharges on over-sized or extremely heavy items will still apply . Orders typically arrive within 3-6 business days. Items shipped directly from the vendor or to Alaska and Hawaii have longer delivery times. Express and Expedited shipping options are not available for vendor shipped items. This offer does not apply to international, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico or Business Direct orders.
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The Saatva Latex Pillow
- Size: queen, king
- Height: 8 inches
- Considerations: The pillow is filled with latex and has an inner cover and outer layer, but only the outer can be machine washed.
Though this pillow feels very soft, its dense and flat enough to accommodate stomach sleeping comfortably. Because of its loft, or height, this pillow might be a good choice if you are a stomach and side combination sleeper.
The fill is made from shredded American Talalay latex and is hypoallergenic. Because the fill is shredded, it helps promote airflow and cool you down.
Latex allergy
The latex in this pillow may be an allergen for some people. If you have a latex allergy, this might not be the best option for you.
Does It Cradle Or Cushion You The Way You Want It To
If you like a mattress top to conform to your body, youll probably prefer a memory-foam mattress or a foam-forward hybrid. If you want to feel more held up by the mattress, go for an innerspring. These can feel quite plush with a pillow top or Euro top and still let you move more freely. Many innerspring mattresses also have just enough foam in the upper layers to provide cushioning without dampening the effect of the coils too much. A mattress made of latexa springier type of foam formulated from the sap of a rubber treecan feel somewhere in between a memory-foam and an innerspring mattress.
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Best Down: Quince Luxe Goose Down Pillow
Our favorite down pillow for combination sleepers is Quince’s Luxe Goose Down Pillow. It comes in your choice of medium/soft or medium/firm, the latter of which will offer a bit more support on your back and side.
This bed pillow is filled with European white goose down and certified by the Responsible Down Standard to ensure the fibers were sourced from humanely treated geese. Bear in mind it isn’t adjustable. And while it’s a bit pricey, it’s about what you’d expect to pay for natural down.
Price at time of publish: $120 for a Standard size
Sizes: Standard, Queen, King | Fill Material: European white goose down | Shell Material: Cotton sateen | Care: Machine-wash cold, tumble-dry low
Best Memory Foam: Bluewave Bedding Ultra Slim Gel Memory Foam Pillow
Courtesy of Amazon
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Some say it’s too firm
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Pillow can initially smell
At just three inches high, this ultra slim gel memory foam pillow is thinner than some of the other options on the market. Its perfectly designed for stomach sleepers, as well as back and side sleepers looking for support without excessive loft. With a rounded top and flat bottom, this pillow keeps your spine in better alignment. By doing so, it has the potential to also alleviate snoring and improve shoulder, back, and neck pain. If your body tends to run warm during the night, the pillows infused gel particle technology has you covered: it absorbs and transfers heat away from the sleeping surface. Along with ventilation holes to increase circulation, youll be able to make it through the night without breaking a sweat.
Price at time of publish:$40
Material: Polyester, rayon,memory foam | Feel: Firm
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Why Trust The Spruce
Theresa Holland is a freelance commerce writer specializing in textiles, home design, and lifestyle products. For this article, she interviewed board-certified sleep medicine physician Joshua Roland, MD, FAASM, for expert guidance and buying tips. Next, she reviewed insights from dozens of our tested pillows and researched todays best pillows for combination sleepers. The selected products stood out for adjustability, durability, overall feel, and comfort in multiple sleeping positions.
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:
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Sleep Artisan Side Sleeper Pillow
- Customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
- Firmness: adjustable
- Material: organic cotton and hemp
If youre looking for a green pillow thats specifically made for side sleepers, you may enjoy the Sleep Artisan Side Sleeper Pillow. It has an ergonomic design that protects the neck and shoulder from cramping, plus its handcrafted in the United States with organic cotton and hemp. The fill is made from organic latex and poly silk.
Users like this pillows complete lack of chemical smell. They also like how easy it is to adjust the amount of fill in the pillow to a preferred height.
Unlike other pillows with a curved side, this pillow fits comfortably into a standard pillowcase.
The manufacturer provides a 3-year warranty.
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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Consider Sleeping Face Down
One of the issues with sleeping on your stomach is that you lie for long periods with your head turned to the right or the left, which can leave you with neck pain.
If sleeping on your stomach is what works for you, try propping your forehead on a pillow and lying face down to keep your neck and spine more aligned and help keep upper airways open.
How To Choose The Best Pillow For You
Is it bad for your neck and back to sleep on your front?
Sleeping on your front can potentially cause neck pain, since your neck may be turned to an uncomfortable angle, and back pain, if your hips and knees sink into your mattress, dragging your spine out of alignment.
However, Sleep Foundations position guide generally suggests sleeping in whatever position feels most natural and comfortable for you, while adjusting your bedding to suit. To mitigate potential stress to your neck and back while sleeping on your front, they suggest investing in a firm mattress, to avoid the sinkage mentioned above. Pillow-wise, youll generally want a thinner pillow, so that your neck wont be pushed up and out at an awkward angle, but well cover that in more detail below.
What factors should I consider when buying a pillow for front sleeping?
There are a number of factors to do with your pillow that may affect your comfort level when sleeping on your front. These include:
Loft: This is the term for the height of your pillow when your head is resting on it. Pillows can come in high, medium or low loft varieties. As mentioned above, to keep your neck from being pushed up and out of alignment when front sleeping, a low loft pillow is best.
What type of pillowcase should I use?
How often should I replace my pillow?
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I Am A Stomach Sleeper Pillow
- Height: 7 inches
- Considerations: The pillow is machine washable and can be fluffed back to shape after.
If youre craving a soft pillow that isnt too flat, this might be your most comfortable option. It provides medium-firm support while still cushioning your head and neck.
The fill is polyester fiber, and the cover is 100% cotton.
If You Cant Shop In Person
Because factors such as comfort, support, and firmness are so subjective, weve always recommended trying a mattress in person before you buy. Even though thats still the best way to tell whether a specific bed is right for you, we know thats not possible for everyone right now. But if you decide to roll the dice and shop entirely online, we suggest you opt for either a two-sided mattress with multiple firmness options or a mattress with a solid, lengthy return policy.
For instance, the flippable, all-latex Zenhaven, our favorite latex mattress, should appeal to sleepers of all positions. The mattress Luxury Plush side offers good pressure relief for side-sleepers, and its Gentle Firm side provides extra support for back- and stomach-sleepers. The company offers a 365-night trial period, during which you can return the mattress for a full refund, minus the $100 transportation cost. The Charles P. Rogers Estate SE, which consists of coils and latex, is also flippable . You can try it for 100 days and return it for free .
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Foam Latex Down Or Polyester We Analyse The Best Filling For Back Side And Stomach Sleepers
Everyone’s got their favourite sleeping position: from the back snorers to the tummy snoozers, and every angle in between.
Because some of these positions aren’t necessarily great for your posture, it’s important to choose the right pillow to support you.
Quality sleep is vital for good health, and a good pillow is vital for quality sleep.
On this page:
Best Pillow For Neck Pain
When you wake up and cant even move your head side to side, you know something isnt right with your pillow. If soreness and stiffness are something that you battle, consider getting a memory foam pillow or a down alternative pillow at about medium firm. You want something that will contour the shape of your neck and stay supportive without it being too firm. Regardless of your sleeping position , look for something medium height, as your neck should sit at a level position thats not too high or too low. Alternatively, a body pillow can also prove helpful but not only in contouring your body but also in improving your overall sleep health.
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What Is The Best Mattress For Stomach Sleepers
Stomach Sleepers are a small group. The bodys weight tends to center around the stomach, so stomach sleeping often causes pain in the back or the neck for many people who sleep on mattresses that are too soft. Sleeping on your stomach can also lead to pain in your shoulders and a lot of tossing and turning. On the positive side, stomach sleepers snore less and get fewer facial wrinkles.
Although rare, some people really do seem to sleep best on their stomachs. True stomach sleepers need the firmest support they can get to prevent their center from sinking into a too-soft mattress and causing back pain. Look for a mattress with a medium-firm surface, at least a 6 on a scale of 1 to 10.
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Benefits Of Thin Pillows For Stomach Sleepers
The biggest benefit thin pillows provide stomach sleepers is better spine alignment. By keeping the neck well-aligned with the rest of the body, stomach sleepers can get great rest and reduce their risk of neck pain issues.
Many people struggle with neck pain associated with a poor sleeping position, and this can have a negative influence on their ability to enjoy and partake in daily activities.
Need help? Check out our top-rated pillows for neck pain here.
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