How Often Should You Buy A New Pillow
Using a worn out pillow could inflame health conditions, since pillows can harbor allergens like dust mites, Neomi Shah, MD, associate professor of sleep medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, previously told SELF. Plus, a super old, ineffective pillow can mess with your neck and back.
Its smart to buy a new pillow every two years , according to the National Sleep Foundation. Even if your old pillow feels pretty good, its still smart to switch it out in order to avoid any negative health consequences that can creep up over time.
How Often Should I Buy New Pillows
Experts at the Better Sleep Council recommend swapping out your pillow approximately every three years. But if youre waking up with back, neck, or shoulder pain, or your pillow looks a little flat, you may be due for a change. On the flip side, if your pillow has retained its shape past three-ish years, you might be in the clear for a little longer.
Coop Home Goods Adjustable Pillow
Memory foam can come to you either in a single slab, or shredded. For back sleepers, shredded memory foam pillows can often be adjusted to get a loft thats right for you. And one of the best memory foam pillows is the Coop Home Goods adjustable pillow.
This pillow is full of a proprietary blend of foam and microfibers that give it a perfect medium-firm feel. Back sleepers who love memory foam will enjoy this pillow because itll conform to your head and neck and keep you in a comfortable, neutral alignment.
What Makes Coop Home Goods Adjustable Pillow Stand Out?
- It comes to you with an extra bag of fill to adjust its height, but you can use the bag to take out fill to get a loft thats right for you.
- It has that classic, slow-moving feel that memory foam fans love.
- Its a great hypoallergenic pick.
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What To Consider When Purchasing A Pillow For Side Sleepers
In your research for a pillow that is compatible with side sleeping, youll no doubt come across pillow manufacturers who claim their products are suitable for all sleep positions, or that their pillows construction and materials offer universal comfort for all sleepers regardless of body type or personal preference. These marketing claims are misleading. Each pillow is uniquely designed to provide a distinct feel. Given the demands of different sleep positions, any pillow you select will be better suited to some sleepers and less so for others.
Rather than using marketing jargon to guide your pillow search, focus on the following attributes instead.
Soothes Neck And Back Pain
A big reason people start back sleeping is to relieve chronic neck pain and back pain. Since back sleeping is great for aligning your spine, it results in less muscle pain and stiffness. Compared to side and stomach sleeping, theres less strain on your neck and lumbar spine when sleeping on your back.
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Coop Home Goods Original Loft Pillow
- Price point: $$
- Fill: memory foam
Key features: Its affordable, adjustable, and has an abundance of positive reviews from customers just a few reasons why we consider Coop Home Goods to be the best-rated pillow for back sleepers.
This pillow seems to work well for anyone whos looking for a balance of soft and firm, with enough support to encourage proper posture. Plus, since its fully adjustable, youre in control of the loft and height. Simply add or remove the foam to determine what works best for you.
This top pick is hypoallergenic and dust mite resistant. And it comes with a 100-night guarantee. If youre not satisfied, contact customer service for a full refund, no questions asked.
Considerations: Some customers report that the pillow sleeps hot. Also, you may want to let it sit out for a while before tossing it on your bed. This pillow can have an odor when it first comes out of the package. Plus, its only available in queen and king sizes, so you may need to keep looking if you want a standard size.
How To Choose The Right Tempur
Your pillow selection should always reflect your sleep style. The ultimate goal is to retain spinal alignment, per Sponaugle. Therefore, her recommendations vary based on your preferred positioning. “Side and back sleepers may really benefit from the TEMPER-Neck Pillow. It really promotes natural spinal alignment. Just make sure to select the right size,” she says. On the other hand, stomach sleepers will want a less plush option that allows their head to move from side to side. The Tempur-Cloud ProLO is our top suggestion, with a lo-fill height option that won’t elevate your head too high.
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Other Tips For Side Sleepers
In addition to selecting a supportive pillow that promotes spinal alignment, side sleepers can use the following strategies for sleeping comfortably each night.
Choose the Right Mattress: The best mattress for side sleepers will provide ample cushioning to the shoulders and hips in order to align the spine and alleviate pressure in different areas. Most side sleepers on our test team prefer mattresses with softer feels that conform closely to the body without sinking too much beneath their heavier areas.Use a Pillow Between the Knees: A pillow between the knees can also improve spinal alignment and reduce pressure in the lower back and hips. Pillows filled with down/feathers, shredded foam, and other moldable materials tend to be most comfortable. You may also find more comfort and pressure relief by placing the pillow beneath your legs.Invest in a Mattress Topper: A topper is a single layer of cushioning material placed on top of your mattress. Toppers can measure up to 4 inches thick, so using one can make your mattress feel significantly softer or firmer. For side sleepers, the right topper can mean closer conforming, better spinal alignment, and less pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pillows For Back Sleepers
How common is back sleeping?
Unfortunately, experts estimate that less than 10% of people sleep on their backs. This is too bad because back sleeping is widely viewed as the healthiest sleeping position available . Back sleeping is beneficial because it keeps your body in a neutral position and isnt as likely to cause pressure points.
What is the most important consideration when choosing a pillow for back sleepers?
Loft is generally the most important consideration for back sleepers choosing a pillow. Most back sleepers prefer a medium loft pillow. If a pillow is too flat, your head might tilt back and put pressure on your neck. Conversely, if a pillow is too thick, your head might be propped up too far forward.
What is the worst pillow type for back sleepers?
The worst pillow for back sleepers is one that has an inappropriate loft, meaning it is too flat or too thick. If the pillow loft is off, the sleeper will experience pressure in their neck. There is no single pillow material type that works best for all back sleepers. The material type determines a pillows feel, and sleepers should opt for the feel that they prefer.
Where can I find a pillow for back sleepers?
Is back sleeping bad for pregnant women?
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$99 At Casper And Amazon
We liked this pillow both for back and side sleeping, so if youre a back and occasional side sleeper this may be the pillow for you. It has a synthetic core with soft memory foam surrounding it, which gives a soft yet supportive feel. Casper describes this pillow as feeling like a marshmallow, and that description hits the mark. Its squishy enough that it had some give while lying on our back but also enough support that it kept our head properly elevated. The rectangular-shaped gusset on the side of the pillow also helps keep the structure, which we appreciated when sleeping on our side. If youre the type of person who doesnt like adjusting your pillow throughout the night, youll like this pillow, as we found it kept its shape better than down or down alternative pillows.
If youre a hot sleeper, we think youll appreciate the Casper. Unlike other foam pillows that can overheat, we didnt feel too hot with this, thanks to the holes throughout the pillow to help disperse heat.
The Casper Hybrid Pillow comes in two heights: regular with a 2-inch gusset, and low loft with a 1.25-inch gusset. Casper has a quiz you can take to help determine which loft height is right for you, though we found that the low loft version was the perfect size for our petite side sleeper, so if you have an average to larger frame you may want the regular loft. It comes with a removable and machine-washable cover, and Casper offers a 30-night return policy.
How Much Do Pillows Cost
Pillows range anywhere from $10 to upwards of $200, so you should be able to find a model that fits your budget. Materials and craftsmanship tend to have the most impact on price, but pillow type, size, and brand can also influence price-points.
- Size: Price generally increases with size. That said, a luxury pillow model could be three times the cost of a mid-range model of the same size. Custom sizes or specialty models tend to be pricier because they are less common.
- Type: Not all pillow types require the same construction or craftsmanship. Handcrafted, ergonomic, or more complex designs typically command higher price-points than standard pillows.
- Material: Material type and quality heavily influence pricing. Down, latex, and memory foam tend to drive up cost, while polyester and polyfoam models are usually more economical. Natural and organic materials can also increase price-points.
- Brand: While many shoppers are willing to spend more for brand recognition, an affordable generic model is sometimes comparable to well-known brand products that cost more. Be sure to compare different brands and models to ensure youre getting the best deal.
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Best Memory Foam Pillow For Side Sleepers
Casper Foam Pillow
Price: $
Three layers of low and high density foam in Caspers foam pillow are both supportive and cooling, with a signature huggable feel. The foam is designed to align the head and neck for proper support and spinal alignment, whether youre on your side or your back.
Side sleepers noted theyre sleeping better on the Casper pillow thats a balance of soft yet supportive.
Try it at home for 30 days. Casper offers free shipping and returns.
Snowe Down Alternative Pillow
Snowes down alternative offering is also a hypoallergenic pillow that is ultraplush. Its available in three density options and comes with a washable sateen cover. According to an enthusiastic reviewer, the fill is beyond convincing in how it replicates the feel of a regular down pillow: The alternative down used in these pillows is like magic. Maximum compression but they always puff back up. Auto-fluffing pillows!
Snowes site helpfully notes that the softer version will be more comfortable for stomach sleepers, while side sleepers will often prefer something firmer for a good nights rest. And if youre unsure which density to select, go firmer rather than softer. Where many reviewers appreciated the height and density of these bed pillows, others noted that they may be on the thin pillow side: Great texture, but could be a little more fully stuffed/firmer. Would prefer to use one, but find myself using two.
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How Often Should I Wash My Pillows
Any pillow for side the or those that sleep on their back should be washed every other month if you use a pillow protector. If you aren’t using these, then ideally, your pillows should be cleaned every few weeks to clear sweat, dirt and any bed mites. Some memory foam pillows will need to be hand-washed, so bear this in mind.
Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow
Back sleepers, no matter the body type, need a pillow thats right in the middle in terms of height. You want your head and neck in a neutral position, while keeping your chin in line with your sternum. And Brooklyn Bedding makes a pillow thats a win for back sleepers out there.
The brands Talalay latex pillow is soft but supportive at the same time. You wont sink too far into this pillow, but youll get plush comfort and support.
This pillow wont sleep hot thanks to the perforated latex foam, and it comes in two loft options, low and high. Back sleepers have the luxury of using either loft, but the high loft option is a win if you have a snoring problem.
What Makes Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow Stand Out?
- This pillow combines comfort and support all while being relatively affordable!
- It wont trap heat due to perforations in the foam and a breathable cotton cover.
- Two loft options makes it truly versatile for all back sleepers.
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Tuft And Needle Editors Choice For Best Pillow For Back Sleepers
Its not often that you see a pillow completely made out of polyurethane foam , so we were excited to receive the Tuft & Needle Pillow.
This pillow is made with the brands CertiPUR-US and OEKO-TEX certified aerated T& N Adaptive Foam, which is the same stuff you can find in Tuft and Needles flagship mattress that made the brand so popular. Its dense, soft, and generally comfortable, which is why we think a lot of people enjoy it. Overall, we think most back sleepers will find it accommodating, and this might be our pick for best pillow for back sleepers with back pain.
Its also infused with graphite to help with the pillows temperature regulating abilities. We wouldnt necessarily say it sleeps cold like Purple Harmony, but it can help prevent folks from overheating during the night.
There are two sizes standard and king. Prices start at about $75 for a ~4lb standard pillow, and go up to $100 for the 7 lb king size. So, if youre a heavier back sleeper, we think the king option might provide a little more support. Tuft & Needle is known for its affordable pricing, so its not too surprising that its pillow is one of the most affordable on our list.
Why we picked this pillow Theres a lot to like about the Tuft & Needle pillow, including the price. It also comes in a couple sizes, which makes it accommodating for a large number of people. We like that its fully made from polyfoam and think it will be comfortable for pretty much any back sleeper.
Soak& Sleep 100% Canadian Goose Down Standard Chamber Pillow
This is a superb-quality pillow from its outermost stitch to its deepest layer of padding.
Its a chamber pillow, which means there are multiple compartments inside, each filled with stuffing. In the outer two of this pillows three chambers, thick clusters of Canadian goose down create a luxurious level of fill and keep your head wonderfully well supported.
Thanks to its malleable filling, Soak& Sleeps pillow has tremendous versatility. In our testing, it provided support and comfort while we rested in various positions, including front, back and side. We also liked the use of two seams around the edge, which seems to help the pillow keep its shape.
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How To Sleep Better
In general, getting enough quality sleep, i.e. reaching that oh-so-important REM stage, requires individuals to adopt good sleeping habits and conditions.
This means abstaining from caffeine before bedtime, maintaining a comfortable temperature in your bedroom, finding a suitable mattress, and of course, investing in a good quality pillow.
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.
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What’s The Ideal Sleep Position
While the ideal sleeping is generally thought by experts to be sleeping on your back, which is better for the head, spine and overall body, there are advantages to sleeping on your side. These include reducing snoring, helping to minimise the effects of acid reflux and can eliminate certain lower back and joint pain.
What Is The Best Pillow Positioning For Back Pain
Sleep posture can exacerbate or alleviate back pain. Sleeping on your back is often considered the best positioning for back pain. This position is most likely to encourage sleepers to maintain a neutral posture, which keeps the spine aligned and reduces pressure on the lumbar region. Sleepers can use pillows strategically to relieve back pain.
Stomach sleeping is one of the worst sleeping positions for back pain, as it puts pressure on the lower back and often leads to spinal misalignment.
The following sleeping positions, along with their potential benefits and drawbacks, should be considered:
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