Amerisleep’s Dual Comfort Pillow Has A Soft And Firm Version For Belly Sleeping
Sanja Jelic, MD, is board-certified in sleep medicine, critical care medicine, pulmonary disease, and internal medicine.
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While sleeping on your stomach can reduce snoring and diminish sleep apnea, there are some downsides, such as muscle strain and spine misalignment, says Lindsay Banks, DC, CEO and founder of Healthy Motives 365. Laying in the prone position while sleeping requires the head to be turned to one side and extended backwards for prolonged periods of time, she explains. As a result, this can put tension on the nerves leading to numbness, tingling, and pain.
Why You Can Trust Us
Our team at Sleep Foundation includes experts and testers with years of experience in the sleep product industry. We have tested over 300 pillows in order to determine which ones are best suited to sleepers with different needs. Our team includes back, side, stomach, and combination sleepers, as well as sleepers of different body types. This allows us to represent as wide an array of sleep preferences as possible in our findings.
Frequently Asked Questions And Answers:
Q1. Is it terrible to sleep on your belly?
Ans: Yes! Sleeping on your stomach can affect your neck and spine because they are not appropriately aligned. This might affect your sleep quality by taxing your muscles.
Q2. Can using a pillow under the stomach be beneficial for stomach sleepers?
Ans: It is advised to try keeping a pillow under your pelvis if you are a stomach sleeper, according to Mayo Clinic. This process will help optimally align your spine by supporting your hips.
Q3. What type of pillows is suitable for stomach sleepers?
Ans: Memory foam pillows promote spinal alignment for stomach sleepers while relieving tension. But there might be variations depending on many factors like BMI, loft, etc.
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The Cause Of Discomfort In Your Neck
Sitting for hours at the desk, staring at the smartphone or computer screen, too much stress, too little exercise do you recognize yourself? Its often a consequence of our lifestyle. But even severe illness or mental health problems can be behind it. Learn more about the causes of this pain and what you can do about it.
Most people experience neck pain from one moment to the next: an incorrect sleeping position or movement during exercise, drafts and also stress can lead to muscle cramping and sharp pains in the neck, which sometimes radiate into the shoulders, head, and arms. However, these situational circumstances are only triggers but not the leading causes.
Neck pain: possible causes
There are many causes but a grave reason is rare. In most cases, tension is responsible for the discomfort.
Possible causes at a glance:
Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Cooling Pillow
Every part of this pillows construction is meant to wick sweat, promote breathability, and cool the sleepers skin. Its covered in an icy-crisp Phase Change Material, plus its filled with a piece of ventilated foam. In my opinion, the PCM cover makes this pillow feel like its been refrigerated, and I cant get enough of its cool, soothing quality. Meanwhile, the foams ventilation enhances airflow, and an infusion of copper and graphite help draw heat away from the body.
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What Stomach Sleepers Need To Know About Pillows
Stomach sleeping isnt quite as common as side and back sleeping. For this reason, it just isnt as easy to find a great stomach sleeper pillow. Without a proper pillow, sleeping on your stomach can lead to aches, pains and waking up frequently in the night to readjust to get comfortable.The main benefit of sleeping on your stomach is that it can significantly help reduce snoring by enhancing pressure relief on your airway. Keeping your throat and air passage clear is going to allow you to breath easily and prevent loud snoring.
What Pillow Material Is Best For Stomach Sleepers
No one material type is best for stomach sleepers, as each person will have different needs and preferences. Memory foam or latex may be preferable if the pillow is thin or low loft. For thicker pillows, a softer material, such as down or feather, may be better.
People can consider how soft or supportive they want their pillow to be, alongside other considerations such as whether the material is hypoallergenic or comes from sustainable sources.
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Bluewave Bedding Ultra Slim Gel
One of the downfalls of memory foam pillows is that as your face sinks into one of them, it can become overly warm and even uncomfortable. Bluewave Bedding solves this problem with its Ultra Slim Gel-Infused Memory Foam Pillow. Gel particles are infused into the memory foam, keeping you cooler at night and stopping heat buildup. It also features a hole-punched design to encourage better air flow. Flip the pillow for a different experience, as one side is flat and the other is curved. You have a few options here choose between a 2.5-, 3.25- or 4-inch loft. If youre an unconventional stomach sleeper who likes a firmer pillow that keeps you from sinking in, this is a great choice for you.
Best Pillow For Shoulder Pain
Back sleepers will often find themselves bending their arms up under the head which can lead to sore, stiff shoulders and the numb, pins and needles feeling. If this is something you experience, a memory foam pillow is a great option to help promote healthy blood flow and prevent you from putting too much pressure on your arm.
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Best Pillow For Back Sleepers With Neck Pain
Neck pain sufferers who sleep on their back will appreciate the balance of softness and support afforded by the adjustable Brooklinen Marlow Pillow.
- Best for: Back and side sleepers
- Available sizes: Standard and king
- Fill: Memory foam and polyester fiber
- Hypoallergenic: Yes
Pros: Comfortable for back and side sleepers, adjustable firmness/loft
Cons: Not ideal for stomach sleepers, not machine washable
When the Insider Reviews team is chatting about our favorite bedding, Brooklinen always comes up. The brand makes the top picks in our weighted blanket and down pillow guides. The shredded memory foam/polyester blend is another impressive product from Brooklinen.
I slept incredibly well on the pillow. It cradled my head, keeping it aligned with my spine, whether I was on my back or side. During the 10 nights I slept on it, I didn’t experience neck pain.
Though you can’t add or remove fill, it features a zipper system for making it more or less firm. If you want a softer feel with a higher loft, you simply unzip the zippers along the lengths of the pillow. Zip it up for a firm feel.
Unzipping the pillow reveals a mesh gusset that lends a level of breathability to the Marlow. I preferred the softer, cooler feel and added loft of the unzipped pillow.
The Marlow comes with the longest risk-free trial of any pillows we tested.
Best Slim Travel Pillow For Stomach Sleepers: Elite Rest Ultra Slim Sleeper Pillow
- Price: $47.9957.99
- Sizes: standard
- Materials: memory foam and cotton
At 2.5 in thick and weighing 2.12 pounds , the Elite Rest Ultra Slim Sleeper Pillow may be a suitable option for traveling. There is also a 3-inch thickness available, weighing 2.29 lb.
The pillow consists of memory foam, and the outer cover is made of cotton.
The company writes that it is hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, and bed bug resistant.
It comes with free shipping and returns.
The 2.5-in pillow costs $57.99, and the 3-in pillow costs $47.99.
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Elite Rest Ultra Slim Sleeper
- Size: 16 x 24 inches
- Height: 2.5 inches
- Considerations: The fill is a latex memory foam thats mildew resistant but the pillow is not machine washable only the removable cotton cover can be thrown in the washer.
At 2.5 inches, this is one of the slimmest pillows youll find. It has a rounded top and flat bottom. People whove used this pillow recommend it for stomach sleepers who like to sleep with their arm under their pillow.
This pillow weighs less than 2 pounds, making it a great choice for traveling and camping trips.
Latex allergy
If you have a latex allergy, look for another low profile pillow instead. Read on to learn about Bluewave Beddings super-slim option, our pick for cooling pillows.
The Best Pillows Designed With Stomach Sleepers In Mind
If youre a fellow stomach sleeper, you know the weird flak we get from scientists and doctors. Sure, stomach sleeping, or sleeping in the prone position, isnt the best position to sleep in. Your neck is in a bad position, and youre promoting wrinkles on your face, so you should sleep on your side. However, at the end of the day, the No. 1 goal for everyone is to just fall asleep and stay that way. Daily pressures at work and at home are immense, we dont need to be pressured to change the position weve slept in our whole lives, too.
So maybe were being dramatic, but every stomach sleeper knows the struggle of finding a pillow thats right for stomach sleepers. In fact, many physicians recommend stomach sleepers ditch the pillow altogether for optimal spine alignment. Side sleepers have always had their pick of luxurious pillows and back sleepers have an incredible array of pillow options, so why not stomach sleepers?
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Coop Home Goods Eden Adjustable Pillow
Our top choice is Coop Home Goods Eden Adjustable Pillow for stomach sleepers with neck pain and hot sleepers. This product features a perfect blend of microfiber fill and soft, gel-infused memory foam to ensure you experience a refreshing nights sleep. Further, it provides excellent edge-to-edge support, thanks to its gusseted design.
Thats not all: it comes with a unique adjustable design, which offers quick access to the products filling. This feature enables you to add or remove the fill to meet your sleeping requirements for a healthy sleep posture. The filling is encompassed with Lulltra luxury fabric featuring a mix of bamboo-derived viscose rayon and polyester for a luxury experience.
Coop Home Goods Eden Adjustable Pillow offers incredible softness and breathability. Furthermore, it comes dust mite resistant and hypoallergenic to ensure you wake up refreshed. This product comes with Greenguard Gold and CertiPUR-US certification, which means this pillow does not include any chemicals or toxic materials, making it safe for use.
Even better, it comes with a 100-night free sleep trial and a 5-year warranty showing the manufacturers level of confidence in this product.
Pros:
- Some product came puffy
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.
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Best Adjustable Pillow For Stomach Sleepers: Jollyvogue Two
- Price: $39.9949.99 for a pack of two
- Sizes: standard, queen, and king
- Materials: polyester and microfiber
These pillows have zippered inner cores, which allow a person to adjust the loft of the pillow.
The manufacturer describes these pillows as plush, claiming they may suit a variety of sleeping positions, including stomach sleeping.
The fill comprises polyester, a hypoallergenic substance, with microfiber. This means it is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. According to the company, the outer cover is also hypoallergenic.
These pillows come with free delivery and returns, and a 1-year warranty.
A pack of two JOLLYVOGUE pillows costs from $39.9949.99.
Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Best Pillow For Stomach Sleepers
The pillow is one big slab of Talalay latex foam, sourced straight from rubber trees found in tropical regions like Brazil or Southeast Asia. Its bouncy, responsive, all-natural, antimicrobial, and hypoallergenic. That means its resistant to gross household allergens like dust mites, mold, and mildew.
The cover is made with organic cotton, which is naturally more breathable than regular cotton. Its also removable and machine washable, which is a highlight for folks who like to keep their pillow super clean.
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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.
Which Pillow Fillings Are Best For Belly Sleepers
Here are some of the standard pillow materials you can find in the market that might help you choose the right pillow.
1. Memory Foam:
Memory foam conforms seamlessly to the shape of ones neck and head because it is a viscoelastic foam that responds to pressure and heat.
2. Buckwheat:
As the name suggests, this pillow has buckwheat seed husks fillings that regulate temperature by facilitating airflow.
3. Feather:
Feather pillows are usually moulded easily into head and neck shapes because they are filled with superficial feathers of ducks and geeks.
4. Down:
Down is a material that uses pliant under-feathers of geese and ducks, making them softer than regular feather pillows.
5. Latex:
This material is supportive, durable, and breathable because it is harvested from good old rubber trees. However, many stomach sleepers might find them dense and heavy since they contour moderately to the shape of your shoulders, neck and head.
6. Polyfoam:
One of the affordable pillow options for belly sleepers is polyfoam which provides moderate moldability and efficient pressure relief. However, compared to other materials, polyfoam is not so breathable.
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How To Choose A Pillow For Neck Pain
If you experience neck pain, choosing the right pillow can be a key step toward living pain-free. The right pillow will depend on your individual needs. Well walk you through the most important considerations, including how to choose the best material, shape, and thickness for your individual sleeping style.
Pancake Pillow The Adjustable Layer Pillow
Last on the list is Pancake Pillow The Adjustable Layer Pillow with two size options: king and queen. This pillow comes with an adjustable layer design, which ensures everyone finds the perfect sleeping height and enjoys a custom fit. The unique features make it possible for any sleeper stomach, side, or back sleeper to find the pillow comfortable and supportive.
Pancake Pillow, The Adjustable Layer Pillow, comes with a 300 TC outer zippered case made of cotton to ensure utmost satisfaction and ensure the down alternative microfiber fill remains inside the unit. Not just that, this pillow is soft and hypoallergenic, which means it wont trigger any allergic reaction.
Pros:
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Belly Sleep Belly Sleeper Pillow
Notice anything weird about this pillow? No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you this pillow has super curved edges. If you’re like us, you’ve had trouble with one side of the pillow popping up when you stomach sleep, and you feel like you’re breathing directly into a pillow all night. This pillow is solid, thin and supportive, with just a 2.5-inch loft, so you don’t have to worry about sleeping with your face on the very edge of the pillow to prevent it from covering your nose and mouth. Belly Sleep calls out its audience by name, so you know this pillow is great for most stomach sleepers. Plus, this pillow is filled with gel-infused memory foam and comes with a polyester and bamboo cover, which wicks away moisture and heat so you feel comfortable, cool, and dry all night.
The 8 Best Pillows For Neck Pain Of 2022
When it comes to certain areas of our lives, it pays to invest a little more time, energy and potentially money â and this is especially true when it comes to anything having to do with sleep.
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After all, we spend about a third of our lives in dreamland. That’s a lot of time with your head on a pillow â and if you have neck pain, choosing the right pillow is especially important.
Here are the best pillows for neck pain, according to sleep and neck pain experts, along with what to look for when you’re shopping.
- âBest Adjustable:â Coop Home Goods Eden Adjustable Pillow
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