Easier To Clean And Use
Everyone loves a good product that will last longer without breaking or needing maintenance to keep it running smoothly! We all have busy lives, so its best to buy something that will save you time on daily tasks instead of wasting hours weekly.
This best cool pillow for side sleeper is easy to maintain because of its simple design, making it very easy to clean! You can wash your best item in about 10 seconds or less! And best of all, if you do run into any trouble with your product, you can take advantage of the products warranty and get it replaced for free.
What To Consider When Purchasing A Cooling Pillow
Below are some key factors to keep in mind when purchasing a cooling pillow. A cooling pillow draws heat away from the body, and certain materials do this better than others. That being said, each person is different and what works for one may not work for another.
In addition to regulating temperature and providing a comfortable sleep environment, a cooling pillow may also relieve pressure and provide ample support for the head, neck, and shoulders. While the focus of this guide is a pillows cooling properties, there are additional factors that determine if a pillow is a good purchase or not. Shoppers should consider what type of pillow they want, and what is most important to them in addition to cooling properties.
Weekender Ventilated Gel Memory Foam Pillow
Regular memory foam pillows may also work well for back sleepers, especially if they dont tend to shift a lot throughout the night, shares Dr. Okubadejo. The insides of this Weekender pillow arent just composed of regular, old memory foamits gel-infused, ventilated memory foam. Youll notice immediately how your pressure points will be relieved and supported, like a cozy hug. The gel and vents also promote a cool feel and breathability, defusing any heat from your head. Fun fact: Memory foam is one of the everyday items you had no idea were created by NASA.
via BrooklynBedding.com
Recommended Reading: What Type Of Mattress Lasts The Longest
Best For Neck Pain: Cushioncare Gel Cervical Neck Pillow
Amazon
-
Works for side and back sleepers
-
Neck and shoulder support
-
Ventilated foam and cooling gel pad
-
Not fluffy
-
Only one size
Finding the right pillow for your neck pain is very individual since the wrong pillow can add to or worsen your pain during daytime and nighttime.
The best pillow for neck pain depends on the buyer typically, the most important features to look at are loft, firmness, and shape for your preferred sleeping position, says Logan Foley, sleep science coach and managing editor at SleepFoundation.org.
We like the CushionCare Cooling Gel Cervical Neck Pillow because its ergonomic design allows for neck support for both side and back sleepers, thanks to the contoured shape that hugs your neck and offers added support for your arms and shoulders. On the cooling front, the pillow is made from a ventilated memory foam insert and includes a removable gel cooling pad and a moisture-wicking polyester cover.
Stuffing Material: Memory foam | Cover Material: Polyester | Sizes Available: Standard
How Many Pillows Should A Side Sleeper Have
Be careful with stacking pillows for sleep, our experts caution. While its important to get enough support, you dont 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.
Also Check: Where Do Leesa Mattresses Ship From
Best For Stomach Sleepers: Blissbury Stomach Sleeping Pillow
Amazon
-
Thinner height for neck and back alignment
-
Includes portable travel bag
-
May be too firm
Side sleepers arent the only ones who need a little help in the ergonomics departmentstomach sleepers have to make sure their upper body is aligned, too, says Weiss, and the construction of your cooling pillow will play a large part.
Stomach sleepers should look for medium firmness to maintain a stable spine without putting too much pressure on the lower back or the neck, which would lead to pain the next day, she explains. Memory foam with multiple layers is often a good option.
We recommend the Blissbury Stomach Sleeping Pillow for anyone worried about the ergonomics of this sleep style because its designed to be slimmer than the average pillow at just over 2.5 inches. The memory foam layer is constructed with holes throughout, which allow for plenty of ventilation, and the cover is made of super soft and breathable bamboo. Since the pillow itself is thin, it could also easily be added to another thin pillow layer for a boost of height customized to your preferences.
Stuffing Material: Memory foam | Cover Material: Bamboo polyester | Sizes Available: Standard, king
How Each Common Cooling Material Works
Cooling Foam: Foam materials often get a bad reputation for sleeping hot, but cooling foam breaks this stereotype with the help of infused materials. Many pillows are infused with copper or graphite, but most commonly you should see gel-infused foams.
Gel-infused foam is built to feel literally cool-to-the-touch. Not only that, but it should also maintain its cooler temperature throughout the night. This is achieved by dissipating your body heat. That way, you can not only fall asleep more comfortably, but stay asleep too.
If youre on a budget, a great way around buying a cooling pillow is purchasing a gel insert. You can slip it on the side you lay your head on, and it produces a similar effect to the gel-infused pillow.
Latex: This material is unique in that its naturally cooling. Depending on the brand or model, latex material often comes in one solid pillow block or shredded as a filling. The shredded material can allow for more breathability, so if youre looking for additional cooling, then thats what we recommend. Perhaps the best part about this material is that these pillows are often non-toxic, chemical-free, hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, and all-natural.
Recommended Reading: What Is A Posturepedic Mattress
Beautyrest Absolute Rest Pillow
Neck pain can make it feel like you didnt sleep at all. Many pillows now feature adjustable heights, and our favorite cooling pillow to help with neck pain is the Beautyrest Absolute Rest pillow.
This pillow has a removable fill, meaning you can adjust the height. If the pillow, as is, is too tall, remove the fill to find a height that works for you! Sleeping in a comfortable, neutral alignment will alleviate neck pain.
Hot sleepers can enjoy this pillow, too. The memory foam fill is shredded, which makes air flow much easier, and the cover is cool to the touch.
What Makes the Beautyrest Absolute Rest Pillow Stand Out?
- The adjustable fill means you can find the height that works for you to sleep in a neutral position, which will alleviate neck pain.
- The removable cover is cool to the touch and machine-washable.
- The foam fill will contour to your head, which makes it feel very comfortable.
Full review to come!
Neck And Shoulder Pain Relief
Shoulder and neck pain are two particularly common issues that affect a wide range of different sleepers. It could be attributed to any sleeping position, and its not necessarily tied to a particular one.
In a lot of the cases, though, sleeping on your side, regardless of whether its left or right, could seriously alleviate back, shoulder and neck pain. This is mainly due to the extended support and relief of pressure points which pillows of the kind are delivering.
Pillows for side sleepers are designed to enhance your spinal alignment in a manner which would alleviate all tension and pressure between your body and the mattress. This is quite important. Consequentially, it would conveniently lessen the pain or stiffness that you might be feeling in the areas of your shoulders and neck.
Interested in exploring further? View our full best pillows for neck pain guide.
Read Also: Can You Buy Casper Mattress In Store
What To Consider When Choosing A Cooling Pillow
Do you normally sleep hot?
If you have a natural tendency to feel warm, no cooling pillow in the world will help if youre not paying attention to the many other variables that are included to help you get a cooler nights sleep. This includes your choices of mattress or mattress pads, sheets, pajamas and room temperature.
What is your sleep position?
Stomach sleepers need a softer, flatter pillow surface for proper cervical alignment. Back sleepers also need a flatter, but often more firm pillow for proper neck support and to help keep undue strain upon the back. Side sleepers need a higher loft, and a firmer pillow thats able to properly support the neck and head.
Can you control your room temperature?
A hot room can interrupt the cooling sensation your pillow provides. Many products depend on heat transfer, and a hot room can transfer to the materials keeping you from reaping the full benefits. Even if your room is warm, applying a fan to increase air circulation will help with dissipating heat from your body and allow you to sleep easier.
What pillow case choices do you have?
As mentioned, your choice of pillowcase can completely interrupt the way your pillow is constructed. If you want a cooling effect, you need to look for a natural fiber, low thread-count case.
Best Cooling Pillow For Back Sleepers And Side Sleepers
A winning formula of cooling air holes and memory foam make Eve Sleep’s Memory Foam Pillow a truly brilliant addition to your night’s sleep. Described as more supportive than squishy,” this pillow is heavier than a normal pillow, which is definitely something to take into account before purchase. However, this does make the pillow ideal for back sleepers and side sleepers, as it’s designed to keep your spine and neck aligned.
The Everdene Cooling Pillow from Brook + Wilde would be an excellent choice for side or back sleepers. The sleep experts have come up with this clever, thermoregulating pillow, encased in 100% Egyptian cotton and filled with hollow fibre pockets that improve airflow.
Read Also: How Frequently Should You Replace Your Mattress
What To Look For In A Cooling Pillow
Byron Golub, the director of product and merchandising for Saatva, a luxury mattress and bedding company, explains that cooling pillows provide a cool or temperature-neutral sleep surface through a two-stage process. “First, they draw heat away from the sleeper, and second, they utilize airflow to dissipate that heat,” Golub says. “Most pillows on the market are of similar constructiona pillow shell and a pillow core .”
The trick to finding a super-cool pillow is selecting the right materials for both filling and shell. Here are the ones that sleep and bedding experts recommended to us:
How To Choose A Pillow For Stomach Sleepers
There are multiple factors for stomach sleepers to consider to ensure spinal alignment and full-body support. Understanding the following key factors is an essential part of shopping for a pillow. These include pillow loft, size, shape, and moldability, all of which affect the angle of the head and neck.
Every sleeper has unique needs and preferences, but there are common issues that stomach sleepers face. Some pillow materials are better than others, and additional measures may need to be considered.
Don’t Miss: What Mattress Does Best Western Plus Use
What Is Real Simple Selects
Next to each product on this list, you may have noticed a Real Simple Selects seal of approval. Any product appearing alongside that seal has been vetted by our teamput through tests and graded on its performance to earn a spot on our list. Although we buy most of the products we test, sometimes we do get samples from companies if purchasing a product ourselves isn’t an option. If that’s the case, we test the product just like we test anything we buy, but we also disclose that we received it for free to be as transparent with you as possible.
Love our recommendations? Check out more products that have earned the Real Simple Selects, from humidifiers to cordless vacuums.
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.
Don’t Miss: What Is The Best Tempurpedic Mattress For Back Pain
Are Cooling Pillows Safe
Some varieties of cooling pillows can contain volatile organic compounds , depending on what they’re made from.
Purchasing a cooling pillow that’s OEKO-Tex certified or CertiPUR-US certified can help make sure that these VOCs are only found in small doses.
In smaller amounts, VOCs aren’t dangerous to your health, although they can be irritating to those who suffer from allergies or respiratory problems.
VOCs are present in numerous foam products and quite often can have an unpleasant smell when they are first purchased – however this typically disappears between 24 to 48 hours after unpacking and leaving to breathe – so just make sure you air your pillow before use.
How To Make Your Pillow Cool
The way cooling pillows stay cool depends on which variety you choose to buy – but generally speaking, you don’t have to do much.
To make gel-filled cooling pillows colder, you can put the gel pack in the fridge for a few hours before bed or try flipping the pillow once one side has become warmer.
If you don’t have a cooling pillow, you can make a regular pillow cool by inserting a frozen, reusable gel cooling pack inside your pillowcase.
Recommended Reading: Where Can You Donate Mattresses
What To Consider When Purchasing A Pillow For Stomach Sleepers
When shopping for a pillow, it can be easy to be distracted by deals, discounts, and marketing claims about how a pillow works. Focusing on the nuts and bolts of a pillow, along with your personal needs, will go a long way toward making sure your purchase is a worthwhile one. The following factors are the top things that shoppers should look for when purchasing a pillow. These determine how comfortable and supportive the pillow will be, as well as how it performs in other areas.
Best Budget: Nestl Coolest Heat And Moisture Reducing Memory Foam Pillow
Amazon
-
Silk cooling on one side, soft rayon on other
-
Variety of sizes including body
-
Adjustable fill
-
Not fluffystiffer, molded feeling
If you desperately want a cooling pillow to improve your sleep comfort but blanch at the cost of many well-rated options, let us introduce you to the Nestl pillow. Stuffed with gel-based, shredded memory foam that promotes airflow and resists overheating, the pillow is also covered with a dual-sided case: one half made with a cooling, silk-textured fabric and the other with supremely soft bamboo rayon .
As far as support, the shredded foam fill allows you to remove and add as much height as you want, adjusting the loft of the pillow to fit your sleeping position. Even though it comes in at a budget-friendly cost, the Nestl pillow doesnt skimp on coolness or quality.
Stuffing Material: Shredded memory foam | Cover Material: Bamboo rayon, silk | Sizes Available: Queen, king, toddler, body
Read Also: Who Carries The Purple Mattress
You May Like: What Kind Of Mattress Do I Want
Coop Home Goods Original Pillow
The Coop Home Goods Original Pillow has a medium-firm feel that keeps the head and spine aligned. Its also an adjustable loft model, so you can take out some of the filling until you get the perfect fit. You can adjust the fill by unzipping the inner liner and pulling out or adding filling as needed. It comes with a ½ pound bag of extra filling.
The pillows filling is actually a blend of memory foam and microfiber filling. The memory foam is both CertiPUR-US® and GREENGUARD Gold certified, which means its free of harmful chemicals and low on chemical emissions. This model has a soft, breathable cover made of a bamboo-derived rayon and polyester mix called Lulltra. The inner liner protects and contains the filling, so you can remove and machine wash the cover.
The Coop Home Goods Original Pillow comes with a 100-night trial period and includes a 5-year warranty for defects in materials or craftsmanship.
Why Trust Good Housekeeping
Emma Seymour is the senior textiles analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She has rigorously tested more than 100 pillows in the Textiles Lab in the past two years, and she has coordinated pillow sleep testing with hundreds of at-home reviewers. Emma has a Bachelor of Science in Fiber Science from Cornell University and has been testing bedding for more than three years at Good Housekeeping.
You May Like: Does A Tempurpedic Mattress Need To Be Rotated
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.
Best Medium Firm Cooling Pillow
Made in the UK, these John Lewis Cooling Standard Pillows offer medium firm support for those who prefer to sleep on their side or back. The pillow is carefully made up of layers of foam core filling, a cool-layer of hillowfibre and a cotton casing. The foam layer is really breathable, allowing air flow to move throughout the pillow and regulate body temperature.
Next on our list is Dusk’s Cooling Medium Support Pillow. The bedding first retailer have recently expanded their range, offering mattresses, bed frames and pillows alongside their crisp cotton sheets. The Cooling Medium Support Pillow is encased in 300 hundred thread count cotton, so you’ll have a truly luxury pillow wrapped up in your pillowcases. This pillow feels more like a normal pillow it’s filled with lightweight hollowfibre, rather than heavier gel layers. But don’t fear, the tencel outerlayer and hollowfibre are still very effective at drawing heat away from you. Did we mention it’s hypoallergenic too?
Read Also: Where To Look For Bed Bugs On Mattress
