Side Sleeping Memory Foam Pillow

Dreamcloud Best Rest Memory Foam Pillow

• Available sizes: standard or king
• Pros: financing available, 50-night trial, free shipping and returns
• Cons: cover is not machine washable

This pillow from DreamCloud is designed to fully support your head, shoulders, and neck while sleeping.

The foam is infused with a copper gel to create a cooling effect, and after a few nights in the writers bed, she can attest to the fact that it really does stay cool.

The pillow also returned to its original shape after use, no matter how much she switched sides and sleeping positions in the night.

This memory foam pillow comes with a 50-night, risk-free trial as well as free shipping and free returns within that trial period window. Financing options are also available.

Best Memory Foam Pillow: Wondersleep Dream Rite Shredded Hypoallergenic Memory Foam Pillow

Memory foam styles are among the best pillows for side sleepers. Like a warm hug, this WonderSleep pillow has just the right density and recovers with every move, which means no more head sinking. Its also made of premium fabric that will dissipate the heat your head produces while you sleep. So toss out your old pillow, along with the rest of these bedroom items that probably need replacing, and finally get a comfortable, truly restful night of sleep.

Via Chilisleep.com

Amerisleep Comfort Classic Pillow

The Amerisleep Comfort Classic Pillow provides the loft and custom contouring side sleepers need for optimal spinal alignment. This CertiPUR-US® certified pillow doesnt contain formaldehyde, PBDEs, or other harmful or odor-causing chemicals.

Bio-Pur®, the same foam used in the comfort layer of Amerisleeps mattresses, gives this pillow its six-inch loft, adaptable contouring, and breathability. This foam molds under pressure and heat for individualized support. However, Bio-Pur® is also designed with advanced open cells, which allows a greater volume of air and heat to circulate, leading to cooler nights rest. A soft, breathable fabric covers the pillow, further promoting airflow and comfort.

Amerisleep offers a 10-year warranty that covers defects like weak seams and misshapen or cracked foam.

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Best Pregnancy Pillow: Boppy Side Sleeper Pregnancy Support Pillow

For pregnant women, side sleeping can help take the pressure off their bladder and reduce back pain, says Foley. This Boppy support pillow is versatile and will aid back sleepers in feeling more comfortable on their side. It also can sit in between your legs as you sleep, which Foley adds can also help maintain the alignment of your spine. While there are giant C-shaped options on the market for a pregnant mother to hug, this smaller option is less of a commitment.

Next, read this review of the Pillow Cubeand why wed recommend it for side sleepers.

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How Do You Pick A Side Sleeper Pillow

Start by measuring the space between your head and the mattress when lying on your side. Youll need a pillow with at least that much loft. Depending on the fills softness, you may need a higher loft to completely fill the space.

Youll also have to think about what kind of feel you like. Firm pillows prevent the head from pressing too far into the pillow and pushing the spine out of alignment. However, if you like a soft pillow, you may need something with more loft that will pack down under the weight of your head.

Do you mind a lumpy surface, or do you prefer a smooth pillow? A shredded pillow gives you some adaptability, but if the lumps will bother you, youre better off with a solid pillow.

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Best Pillow For Neck Pain: Tempur

This pick is another suggestion from Dr. Okubadejo, which makes sense because it will provide you with the proper alignment and support. Following the natural curve of your body, the contoured shape ensures your head will rest in the best possible position all night. It might be hard to believe, but if you lay your head on this pillow at night, youll wake up without your usual aches and pains.

via Amazon.com

Best Sleeping Positions For Neck Pain

Generally, if youre experiencing neck pain, its best to sleep on your back or side.

Sleeping on your stomach, especially if youre sleeping with a pillow thats too thick, can put excess pressure on your cervical spine and cause neck pain.

Keep your neck aligned with your body. You may want to place a pillow under your knees to keep your spine in proper alignment.

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Who Could Best Benefit From A Contour Memory Foam Pillow

Contour is a popular choice of pillow for people with neck problems or people who sleep on their back. The pillow is a block of foam with a dipping groove in the middle. The groove makes two ridges on either side, and serves as a headrest and allows the ridges to support the neck while sleeping on your back.

Memory foam pillows work based on the heat from your body, softening into the ideal shape to support your head and neck. Its especially beneficial to those suffering pain in particular parts of the body.

Best Adjustable Pillow For Back And Side Sleepers

Avocado Green Pillow

Price: $$

This adjustable pillow from Avocado is filled with Global Organic Latex Standard organic certified latex and Global Organic Textile Standard organic certified kapok fiber inside an organic jersey cotton liner. The whole thing is covered with a machine-washable organic quilted cotton cover.

The pillow comes with an extra bag of fill, so you can customize its volume to accommodate your preferred back or side sleeping position and extend its life span.

Avocado offers a 100-night trial, free shipping, and a 1-year warranty.

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Best Cooling Pillow For Side Sleepers: Casper Foam Pillow With Snow Technology

Also available at Casper and Target.

Who it’s for: People who want a cooling pillow that maintains its shape.

Who it isn’t for: People who want a pillow that can be adjusted to their desired loft or firmness.

Made from solid-core memory foam, this sturdy pillow from Casper will maintain its shape throughout the night and provide the height and firmness necessary to support a side sleeper’s neck. But this pillow really stands out for its cooling abilities. We tested the version that comes with “Snow Technology,” a type of temperature-regulating technology that absorbs heat away from your head and neck as you sleep. Plus, it’s constructed with three layers of breathable memory foam designed to promote air circulation. In our testing, it did prove itself able to pull away heat, rising just 8 degrees Fahrenheit in 15 minutes and keeping our tester cool and comfortable.

Although the memory foam inner pillow is not machine-washable, the polyester-spandex cover is, and it remained just as soft post-wash as it was right out of the package. This pillow isn’t adjustable like many shredded memory foam pillows, but it will still provide the loft and firmness necessary for side sleepersno fluffing or reshaping necessary.

Product Details:

What Makes A Pillow Best For Back And Stomach Sleepers

In stomach and back sleeping positions, your head is positioned close to the surface of your mattress, requiring just a bit of support to keep your neck and spine aligned. A pillow with too much loft, though, can force your head and neck out of alignment and create severe pain and discomfort. Our low loft pillow design cradles your head in stomach and back sleeping positions, help you enjoy your deepest night’s sleep.

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Best Pillows For Side Sleepers Video

Watch our video below to learn more about our labs top picks for pillows for side sleepers.

We provide an overview about each of our picks, covering features that set each pillow apart from the competition. Further down, well take a closer look at how pillows affect side sleeping and offer a few tips for choosing a pillow based on thickness, material composition, price, and other factors.

Labor Day Sales Are Still Going On!

Labor Day is now behind us, but many companies are still offering major holiday discounts. Check our product reviews below for discount information. You can also head to our list of Labor Day deals and discounts.

How To Sleep On Your Side

As you now know, side-sleeping has many benefits. But if youre a back or stomach sleeper, it can be difficult to shake up your habits.

Need some help? Here are a few tips to follow if you want to join the side sleeper club.

• Opt for a medium-firm mattress that offers a good balance of comfort and support, such as one of the best mattresses for side sleepers.
• Find a pillow that helps you maintain a neutral alignment. Again, when youre side-sleeping, you want to ensure your ears line up with your shoulders.
• When resting on your side, place your arms and hands beneath your shoulders.
• If you suffer from joint pain, place a pillow between your knees.
• Lift your knees toward your chest to alleviate back pain.

Also Check: What Mattress Keeps You Cool

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.

What Makes A Pillow Best For Side Sleepers

In side sleeping positions, your head will be elevated just a bit from the surface of your mattress. To prevent dangerous stress on your neck and spine as your head falls to meet the top of your pillow, we’ve designed a high loft pillow with a sturdy shredded memory core that sits perfectly beneath your head, providing important support and alignment.

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Most Recommended Shredded Coop Home Goods King & Queen Size Pillow

The Coop Home Goods Shredded Memory Foam Pillow with Bamboo Cover is the best selling pillow on Amazon and quite rightly so. This fantastic US manufactured pillow is both hypoallergenic and dust mite resistant.

It comes with a 30-day free trial and a 5-year warranty . A handful of the features and benefits of the Coop Home Goods shredded pillow are:

• It provides plushness, breathability & shape-ability.
• It provides the support of memory foam.
• It keeps you cool at night.

Overall, if you are looking for a memory foam pillow that provides support and pressure relief, that isnt too hot and stuffy then this is the perfect choice for you.

What Were Looking For:

Loft: The loft, or height, of your pillow is a crucial factor for side sleepers to consider. Dr. Toussaint-Keshinro explains that keeping your head, neck, and shoulders in a neutral and even position is most important. If a pillow is too flat or too high, it can create an uneven muscle tone in the neck and shoulders, leading to spasms over time. While there isnt a formula to figure out the ideal loft of your pillow, Dr. Dennis Colonello, celebrity and professional-athlete chiropractor at Peak Wellness and all33 co-founder, suggests that your pillow be around four inches off of your mattress. But dont go breaking out your ruler just yet, as there is wiggle room with this number. For taller people with broader shoulders, a higher loft may be more comfortable, and conversely, a petite person with more narrow shoulders will likely rest comfortably with a lower loft.

Firmness: All of our experts agreed that medium-firm pillows tend to be the best option for people sleeping on their side. While there is room for personal preference here, a medium-firm pillow helps your head stay in the right position without sinking while you sleep. For people who like to dream on a bed that feels like fresh brioche buns instead of a firmer surface, gusseted-down and down-alternative pillows can be a plush compromise. Additionally, Cushner and Foley suggest memory foam pillows, as they sort of mimic the softness of down by contouring to your body, while still providing support.

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How To Choose A Pillow For Side Sleepers

The best pillow for side sleepers will provide adequate cushioning to support the head and neck. Our testing shows that pillows that either sink too deeply or feel too thick can interfere with spinal alignment, and neck and shoulder aches typically occur as a result. In determining the best pillow, you should look at several factors, including loft, firmness level, and material composition. In the next few sections, well discuss how side sleepers can find a pillow that will work for them.

How Do You Care For A Memory Foam Pillow

Memory foam pillows arent machine washable. So the first step for caring for a memory foam pillow is purchasing a pillowcase. Clean the case regularly to remove dead skin and dust mites.

Many of the pillows on this list come with a machine washable cover. For deep cleaning, a simple hack is to apply a layer of baking soda to the bare pillow, then vacuum it.

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Why Its Good For Side Sleepers

• The foam contours nicely to the head and neck, promoting spinal alignment.
• Its adjustable, so sleepers can choose the right comfort level for them.
• Its polyester fiber provides support for sleepers.

Price: $65$85 with a 365-night trial.

Our full review for the Brooklinen Marlow pillow is coming soon!

With a classic memory foam feel, this latest pillow from Brooklinen should give side sleepers plenty of contouring and pressure relief.

What Is The Best Pillow For Side Sleepers With Neck Problems

The best pillows for neck pain contain the right loft and fill to fully support the neck without taking the head out of a neutral position works best. For some people, thats a solid or contour pillow that hugs the curves of the spine and allows the head to sink into the pillow. The memory foam will further contour to the sleeper the longer their head stays on the pillow.

Others will find relief with shredded latex or memory foam that allows them to adjust the shape of the pillow for better neck support.

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Best Down Alternative Pillow For Side Sleepers

Tuft & Needle Down Alternative Pillow Set

Price: $$

Sensitive to down, but still prefer its light support over the weightiness of foam? Tuft & Needles down alternative pillow is a hypoallergenic synthetic that works well for both side and back sleepers. These pillows are sold in sets of two and can be machine washed.

The company offers a 2-year warranty and a 100-night sleep trial.

Who Is It For

There are two height options, 5 or 6, and what you get will depend on how tall you are. Its made from a single piece of thick memory foam, which gives it a slow-moving feel. Youll sink in a little bit, but because this pillow is so tall, your head and neck will stay in a neutral alignment while you sleep.

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Lay On The Pillow For At Least 15 Minutes

Susan J. Gordon research professor at the Flinders University College of Nursing and Health Sciences in Adelaide, Australia, who has studied the effect of pillow types in relation to sleep quality and their effect on waking back and neck pain, recommends laying on a pillow for at least 15 minutes to try it out. Thats the time it takes for the body to fully settle so youll know whether or not the pillow is right for you.

What Size Pillows Are Available

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.

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Who Shouldnt Use Memory Foam Pillows

People who get hot when they sleep: Some memory foam pillows can trap heat or get warmer as you lie on them. Some people say they make them sweaty. If youâre a hot sleeper, be mindful of this.

People who are sensitive to off-gassing: Some memory foam products have chemicals in them called VOCs, or volatile organic compounds. These chemicals can give off a bad smell when the pillow is new. This is called off-gassing. Some people may be extra-sensitive to the odor. It may cause a hard time breathing, headaches, nausea, eye and throat irritation, or asthma. The smell should fade after a few days or a week in a well-ventilated area. Also, you can look for brands labeled âlow VOCs.â

Show Sources

The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine: “Improving the Quality of Sleep With an Optimal Pillow: a Randomized, Comparative Study.”

National Sleep Foundation: “What is Memory Foam?” “Choosing a Mattress: Everything You Need to Know,” “Best Online Mattress.”

The Journal of Physical Therapy Science: “Development and Comparative Evaluation of New Shapes of Pillows.”

Cedars-Sinai: “Cervical Spine.”