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Best Pillows For Side Sleepers With Neck Pain

Best For Natural Fill Material: Hullo Buckwheat Pillow

The Best Pillows for Side Sleepers (Top 7!) – Can These Stop Neck Pain?

Buckwheat pillows are a suitable option for people who want a product made with natural materials.

These pillows contain thousands of buckwheat hulls instead of foam or fibers. The company describes buckwheat hulls as firm but malleable and breathable.

According to Hullo, the cotton case is certified organic. However, the company does not state which certification this product holds.

People can adjust this buckwheat pillow to suit their sleeping style and comfort preferences by adding or removing hulls from the pillow.

This may suit people who believe their needs will change over time or who want to be able to adapt their pillow if the severity of their neck pain changes.

Pros and cons of the Hullo Buckwheat Pillow may include:

Pros:

Why Trust Good Housekeeping

Lexie Sachs is the Executive Director of the Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Fiber Science from Cornell University and more than 15 years experience in the textiles industry, including merchandising and product development for home products. Lexie joined Good Housekeeping in 2013 and has extensively tested all types of beddingincluding mattresses, sheets, pillows, comforters and more using specialized lab equipment and with hundreds of testers.

Best Pillow For Stomach Sleepers With Neck Pain

Pros: The low loft is great for stomach sleepers, easy-to-clean cover, lifetime warranty

Cons: Not recommended for side or back sleepers, short trial, you can’t adjust the loft

At 2.5 inches, the Belly Sleep Gel Infused Memory Foam Pillow offers the lowest loft of the pillows we tested, making it ideal for stomach sleepers. While you can’t adjust the loft, the gel memory foam is pliable enough to fold in half to get extra lift if you occasionally shift to your side.

Insider Reviews senior reporter Owen Burke suffers from neck pain and has tested several thin pillows designed for stomach sleepers but was never impressed by them. At times, he’d even give up and rest his head on his shoulder without a pillow.

Right away, Burke appreciated the Belly Sleeper’s ability to gently adapt to the curvature of his head and neck. He also found the machine-washable cover was particularly soothing under his usual pillowcase. “Overall, I’m sleeping far better, longer, and much more comfortably than any other time in recent memory,” he said.

I also tested the Belly Sleep pillow. I found it comfortable enough when falling asleep on my stomach, but when I wanted to shift to my preferred side-sleeping position, it did not provide enough loft. When I folded the pillow, it just felt too awkward. You may want to choose a different pillow if you don’t primarily sleep on your stomach.

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Whats The Best Filling For Pillows For Neck Pain

The most popular pillows for neck pain are usually filled with memory foam , latex, buckwheat, or feathers. These materials offer the best balance of support and pressure relief. However, Dr Middleton comments that one of the most popular fillings, memory foam, wont be right for everybody.

I find that some of my patients dislike the hard feeling of memory foam and, if you get warm at night, memory foam in a pillow can make this worse. I like a supportive-but-light foam for my patients to give them both support and comfort, she told us.

However, Dr Vossen urges memory foam still a good choice when it comes to combating neck pain. Memory foam can be too firm and unforgiving for some people, but it comes in different densities so dont be afraid to try pillows just as you would a mattress.

Non-memory foam which still has enough density to offer support is probably best for most neck pain sufferers because it moulds to your face, head and neck but still offers good support.

The 5 Best Pillows For Neck Pain No Matter Your Sleep Style According To Hundreds Of Hours Of Testing

Premium Side Sleeper Pillow Adjustable Neck Shoulder Pain

Prices are accurate at the time of publication.

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A significant proportion of adults experience neck pain, and it’s exacerbated when you sleep with your spine overextended or twisted in any direction. As we get older and our cartilage is less pliable, we pay for poor sleeping postures with a sore neck, according to Colleen Louw, a physical therapist and spokesperson for the American Physical Therapy Association.

You can avert neck pain and get a good night’s sleep by choosing an appropriate pillow that keeps your neck in a neutral position and your spine aligned.

To determine which pillows provide the best neck support, I interviewed four experts and enlisted six neck pain-suffering colleagues to help test 17 pillows. Below, I outline how we test pillows and answer pillow FAQs.

Find out more about how Insider Reviews tests and reviews home products.

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What Pillow Materials Are Best For Neck Pain

The best pillow for neck and shoulder pain is firm enough to hold your head at a healthy angle, but soft enough to alleviate pressure points. Most sleepers find success with either a memory foam, latex, buckwheat, or feather pillow, as these materials offer the best balance of support and pressure relief.

Which Pillow Is Best For Neck Pain

There isnt one single pillow out there thats perfect for everyone, but the best pillow for neck pain has two main characteristics: its firm enough to keep your head at a neutral angle so your spine stays aligned while you sleep, but yet somehow soft enough to allow some give to help alleviate pressure points.

Memory foam and feather pillows are excellent options because they provide support, but also cradle your head to keep your spine neutral. Cervical pillowsthe ones that have a depression in the center and raised edgesare also top picks. Keep in mind that the best pillow for neck pain may not feel totally comfortable at first. It can take some getting used to, so give it a little time.

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Parachute Down Side Sleeper

From $159 at Parachute

Down pillows can fall flat throughout the night, but the Parachute down side sleeper pillow has a side gusset, and when we tested this pillow it kept its shape fairly well. It contains some feathers as opposed to 100% down, which is not ideal, but we found the feathers didnt poke through the material or make too much noise. It also comes in a down alternative version for those that are allergic to down or prefer synthetic fill.

How Can You Prevent Neck Pain In Future

Best Pillows for Side Sleepers – More Support To Avoid Neck Pain!

While investing in one of the best pillows for neck pain is a great start, there are other measures you can take to prevent neck pain in the future. “In terms of preventing neck pain, your best bet is to actually strengthen your neck – lots of people who have neck pain typically think they have to stretch, but really you need to strengthen,” Joshi told us.

“You can do this through isolated neck strengthening exercises, for example by putting your hand on the side of your head and gently pushing against your hand, holding for 10-20 seconds on either side.”

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How We Evaluated These Pillows

During the testing process, our team members lie on each pillow for a period of time to evaluate firmness, support, pressure relief, and other performance features that are relevant to sleepers with neck pain. Testers shift around to evaluate the pillows feel and contouring in different positions, and they handle the pillows at length to gauge moldability. We use thermal sensors to measure heat retention and VOC meters to test for off-gassing. The picks above reflect the pillows that out-performed all other models.

The Best Pillow For Keeping Cool

Whats better than the cool side of a pillow? A pillow that dissipates heat, of course. This space-inspired temperature regulation pillow is the perfect pick for hot sleepers to stay cool all night. Additionally, Simba pillows also have adjustable height and firmness, which supports your neck as well. The Simba Pillow, Simba Sleep, $179.

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Using A Pillow While Sleeping On The Stomach

Sleeping on the stomach is the most stressful position for the back and neck. Patients may be advised by their doctors to avoid sleeping on the stomach if they have certain spine conditions, or following spine surgery.

If sleeping or resting on the stomach is preferred, the pillow should be relatively flat, or the head should rest directly on the mattress, so the head and neck aren’t strained. In this position, it is often best to place another relatively flat pillow under the abdomen or pelvis to help the lower back keep its natural alignment.

Best Overall Pillow For Side Sleepers

Premium Side Sleeper Pillow Adjustable Neck Shoulder Pain

Dr. Thomas Schuler, chairman of the National Spine Health Foundations Medical and Scientific Board and founder of the Virginia Spine Institute Dr. Janet Kennedy, clinical psychologist and founder of NYC Sleep Doctor

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Other Pillows We Tested

From $49 at Garnet Hill

We loved the Garnet Hill Heirloom European White Goose Down Pillow, so its no surprise we also liked their down-alternative pillow as well. Its more plush and supportive than most other synthetic fill pillows we tested and keeps its shape throughout the night. Its washable and comes in three firmness levels. Garnet Hill also has a 90-day return policy.

More Tips For Neck Pain Sufferers

  • While a new pillow can help relieve neck pain, there are other ways to ease neck pain and stiffness. Everyday tasks, especially looking at electronic devices, can affect the muscles in the neck and cause neck and back pain . Small lifestyle changes such as stretching, correcting your posture if you feel hunched over, and continuing to exercise can really make a difference in your neck pain.
  • Also, using a cold/warm pack can provide quick relief from neck pain. If the pain persists even after investing in one of our best neck pain pillows, you can visit your local massage or chiropractic practice. A corrective pillow can be used in conjunction with a neck pain treatment plan provided by your chiropractor. Always consult with your health care provider before beginning any type of treatment.
  • Finally, it is also important to sleep on the correct mattress. The best mattress for neck pain is one that provides enough support to keep the spine in neutral alignment. Pillows should also be matched to the mattress. For example, a saggy, soft mattress will require a low-height pillow to keep the neck aligned, while a firm mattress will require a high pillow to keep the head elevated.

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Discover The Best Supportive Neck Pillows That Ensure You Wake Up In Comfort With Our Buying Guide And Bite

Waking up with a sore neck is a rotten way to start the day. The best pillows for neck pain offer support in all the right places, ensuring that your shoulders and muscles are positioned properly all night long. No more waking up with sore shoulders, neck stiffness and headaches.

Our necks and backs need more careful attention than ever, now that so many of us work from home and spend our down time staring at our phones. In my 20 years of clinical experience, Ive never treated so many younger people with neck pain, says Gary Jones, physiotherapist at Physio 206. Thats got to be something to do with the mobile screen generation. Its a big problem and its not going away.

The right supportive pillow could make all the difference but instead we sleep on the same saggy old pillow for years on end. Think about how many hours you sleep each week, says Gary. Your car has an annual MOT, but how often do you do an MOT of your pillow? Its literally, lets wait until its gone threadbare!

So in this buying guide, well reveal how to choose a pillow that offers the correct support, alleviating not just neck pain but also back ache and headaches. Well also reveal our pick of the best pillows currently available.

Best Customizable: Layla Kapok

Best Pillow Chiropractor Approved for Neck Pain for Back and Side Sleepers

If you prefer to customize your pillow, look no further than Layla’s Kapok. This adjustable-loft pillow is made with fibers from Kapok trees that the brand harvests in Indonesia. They’re finely shredded to create an incredibly soft and lightweight down alternative.

The material’s extra fluff provides phenomenal support for side sleepers, as well as back sleepers, by keeping your head and neck in healthy alignment. Plus, it’s wrapped in a polyester and viscose blend cover that allows enough stretch for the pillow to adapt to your unique dimensions.

Buy It: Layla Kapok Pillow,

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Tuft & Needle Down Alternative Pillow Set

  • Easy to clean and keeps its shape
  • Good value for the pair
  • Too high for those who switch positions to their stomachs
  • Fill material: Polyester down alternative
  • Firmness level: Medium-firm

Designed specifically for side and back sleepers, the poly stuffing is lightweight yet still significantly firmer than other down alternatives. It aced all of our Lab’s evaluations, including pillowcase fit, shrinkage after laundering and how well it kept its shape after we applied weight. This is especially important because side sleepers need their pillow to keep its shape all night for proper alignment.

On top of that, it uses a synthetic down alternative, which is ideal for easy care and a lower cost. In fact, this set of two pillows cost less than other individual ones. The fill also prevents it from feeling too dense, which can sometimes be a downside to pillows made for side sleepers.

Tester notes: Our entire panel was impressed with how it stood up to pressure, and a user told us it “kept its shape better than any other pillow I’ve ever used.” More importantly, they all rated it supportive and comfortable to sleep on. One even called out its luxurious attention to detail, saying it had “excellent quality with good materials and stitching.”

Best Pillow for Back Sleepers

How To Choose Pillows For Side Sleeper With Neck Pain: The Buying Guide

How do you choose the pillows for side sleeper with neck pain? You must consider many things, such as the brand name, price, and product quality. In addition, you should also consider whether it is suitable for your needs or not.

So how do you choose the right pillows for side sleeper with neck pain? Here are some tips that you can use to help you find a good product:

  • You first need to consider the product’s brand name. A good brand will always produce quality products, so a product with an established name should be good enough for your needs.
  • You need to consider the product’s price next. A high-quality product does not always mean that it will cost more, but if it costs too much, there must be something wrong with it, or nobody will buy it!
  • The final thing you need to look at is how well suited this item is for your needs and requirements and how well suited it is for others with similar requirements!
  • What you Should Keep in Mind When Buying pillows for side sleeper with neck pain

    When shopping for a pillows for side sleeper with neck pain, there are several things to consider. You need to think about the quality of the product, the price, and even how much it will benefit your life. However, you also need to keep these factors in mind:

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    Sidney Sleep Side Sleeper Neck Pillow

    • Side Sleeper by Choice? Your Body Is not Shaped Like A Rectangle. Your Pillow Should Hug, Contour And Support You During The Night.
    • Neck and Shoulder Pain Hurts. Our Adjustable Pillow Flows Under Your Neck and Around Your Natural Shoulders Shape, Giving You More Support When You Sleep.
    • Like A Firm Pillow? We Include Extra Foam So You Can Adjust the Pillow Height To Your Liking. Firm, Soft or Medium Loft, the Choice is Yours.
    • Gentle On The Skin. We Use A Bamboo Skin Friendly Fabric Blend. It is Softer and More Breathable than Cotton and It Is Much Easier to Care For.
    • Cleaning Made Easy. Our Removable 19 x 29 Pillow Case Is Machine Washable and Fast Drying. Wake Up Daily Feeling Fresh And New.

    What Size Pillows Are Available

    The 10 Best Pillows For Side Sleepers

    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.

    Size
    48W x 20L Rare A body pillow is at least 4 feet wide, and should be ideal for anyone who enjoys snuggling with a pillow. Pregnant women often find body pillows comfortable when placed between their knees.

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