My Sleep Trial Experiences
Ive mentioned that I am a stomach and side sleeper, and I do nap on my back from time to time, so I figured I could give this pillow a good try. I first tried to find a comfortable fit for back sleeping, as I was interested to see how adjustable the neck bolsters really were based off my friends trial runs. At 5 foot 4 inches and of average build, I assumed Id have different experiences than the first two trials since we are all of such different body types. My own results are found below:
Best For Changing Positions: Tri
The Tri-Core Cervical Support Pillow is designed for back sleepers. The center dips down to cradle the head and promotes proper alignment in the spine for different types of sleepers.
For back sleepers, the sturdy cervical roll supports the neck itself, while the head rests in the contour. One side of the pillow has a larger neck roll for more support, while the other side has a smaller neck roll for less support.
The manufacturer advises that the pillow may not suit side sleepers but also states that if a side sleeper decides to use the pillow, they should use the side areas because they are higher, allowing for proper neck alignment.
The versatility of the pillows design makes it a suitable option for people who switch positions throughout the night.
Adjusting to pillows such as this one can take time because it requires changes in sleep posture. Core Products recommends that, while breaking in a new pillow, people alternate between using this pillow and a standard pillow. This will help their body adjust to the new sleeping posture.
The company describes this pillow as very firm. The pillow has a polyester fiber fill and a cotton-polyester blend cover.
The pros and cons a person can consider include:
Pros:
Does Your Mattress Make A Difference In Your Pillow Choice As A Side Sleeper
The short answer is yes. “In order to maintain your head and neck in neutral alignment, you will want to consider your mattress type when selecting your pillow,” says Dautovich. “If you have a softer mattress, you’re more likely to sink compared to a firmer mattress.” Be sure to choose a pillow that will fill the gap between your head and the mattress. If you have a softer mattress, this may mean choosing a thicker pillow.
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Youll Have Color And Shape Options And Theyre All Toxin
Available in grey or white, the Curve or Classic Zoey Sleep Pillows are designed for preferred sleep positions. Additionally, the pillows foam blend contents are hypoallergenic, so theyre great for those with allergies, as well as certified Certi-PUR US and Oeko Certified meaning they are toxin-free and made without harmful chemicals, ozone-depleting substances, formaldehyde, heavy metals like lead and mercury, PBDEs, or prohibited phthalates. The pillows removable covers are made with Lyocell fibers derived from eucalyptus, oak, and birch wood fibers.
Best Down Alternative: Coop Home Goods Eden Pillow
This pillows fill is a mix of gel-infused memory foam and microfiber. The company writes that it is a supportive alternative to down fill and may be suitable for people who are allergic to down or lead a vegan lifestyle.
A purchase comes with extra filling so a person can add or remove as much as they like to create a height that suits their needs.
Additionally, the pillow features a 100% polyester lining and a breathable pillowcase made from a blend of polyester and bamboo-derived viscose rayon.
Its memory foam holds CertiPUR-US and Greenguard Gold certifications.
According to the company, this pillow is hypoallergenic and the cover is washable.
The pros and cons a person can consider include:
Pros:
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Types Of Pillow Inserts
The type you choose will depend on the level of comfort you want. A down pillow, for instance, is excellent if youre looking for a softer, more natural feeling that doesnt collapse easily. Additionally, its recommended for people who suffer from allergies as it doesnt need to be changed every few months.
However, down pillows can be expensive because of their delicate nature and require extra care when cleaning. On the other hand, a synthetic insert is a much cheaper version but has a firmer feel. As a result, its better for those who sleep with their head partly propped up or who have neck pain as it provides good support without collapsing in the middle of the night. Synthetic inserts are also more durable than their down counterpart and dont require extra care when cleaned.
One good example of synthetic pillows is memory foam. These pillows are making their name because of their ability to conform to your body shape as you sleep. It also relieves pressure points which can prevent back pain in the morning. Unfortunately, it wont provide much warmth against cold climates.
Latex pillows are another option for those needing more softness or warmth during winter. However, they can give off a specific smell that may not sit well with some individuals. They also dont provide much support compared with other types of pillows inserts.
Customize This Pillow To A Just
Coop Home Goods
Prime Day Deal: A popular adjustable foam pillow on sale for $58.
Fill: Shredded memory foam | Trial period: 100-night sleep trial | Adjustable: Yes
The pillow thats right for someone else might not be perfect for youthats why Coops pillow is adjustable. You can remove or add the foam fill until you find the firmness level thats just right for you. Its also GreenGuard Gold certified and contains no toxic or harmful chemicals. Also worth noting: The cover and fill are machine-washable, so you can keep both your pillow cases and your actual pillow super clean.
What the reviews Say: With nearly 50,000 ratings, the vast majority of which gives five stars, its a winner for lots of folks: I am a side sleeper who desires a great deal of support. Because this pillow has pieces of memory foam instead of a solid piece, it does not condense and it is airy, providing airflow keeping it cool. My highest recommendation!
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Why Its Good For Back Sleepers
- The ergonomic memory foam keeps the neck supported without causing any craning.
- It has a firm feel with slow-sinking memory foam.
- It comes in three different sizes, so you can pick the right one for you.
Price: $109$149 with a 5-year warranty.
Check out our full review of the TEMPUR-Neck Pillow for more information!
The TEMPUR-Neck is a molded memory foam pillow with an ergonomic shape designed to follow the natural curvature of the body.
Choose The Right Loft
According to Josh Tal of Josh Tal & Associates Sleep and Health Psychotherapists, people who sleep on their sides need to look for a pillow that provides support for the shoulder, neck and head, and allows for a neutral, supportive position. Because of this, Tal says, side sleepers usually prefer a pillow with more loft to cradle the head, paired with an indentation to comfort the shoulder and a potentially an elevated bump in the bottom of the pillow to support the neck.
Also, keep in mind that everyones neck is different, so the type of contour or density of fill that achieves this will vary from individual to individual. If youre smaller-framed, you may need a lower loft pillow if youre bigger, you may need a higher loft pillow to keep the neck aligned with the spine.
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Tips For Side Sleepers
- Invest in a good quality mattress with optimum cushioning. This helps relieve pressure in the back, hips, and spine and distributes it for a comfortable sleep. Look for a mattress that isnt so soft that your body sinks into it, rather, a medium-firm cushion that adjusts to the contours of your body would be ideal.
- To improve alignment of the spine and to reduce the pressure on your hips and lower back, consider sleeping with a pillow between your knees. Use moldable materials like shredded foam for comfort. Additionally, the pillow can also be placed beneath your legs for the same purpose.
- If you arent pleased with your bed, invest in a topper for your mattress that can reverse how hard or soft it feels. This can reduce the pressure on your joints and muscles.
Tencel Cover With Breathable Mesh Sides
Tencel is a similar to bamboo as it is derived from the cellulose fiber of wood pulp. Although a more natural material, it does require a synthetic process to be finally made into a fabric. The resulting material is a plush thick fabric that is highly breathable, soft, and naturally hypoallergenic. This cover is not removable and is built into the construction of the pillow design with three separate zippers for adjustability within the three main compartments of the pillow. This whole position helps keep my head straight and in between my shoulders for proper cervical spine alignment. There is both a larger and smaller side to this to fit a greater number of different people.
It is thick and quilted, as well as incredibly soft and comforting. It also repels dirt very well and does spot clean excellently. The sides are a finely woven mesh as well to increase airflow, plus these easily mark the larger and smaller neck support of the pillow. With reinforced stitching along the separate compartments, the cover is a very important part of the overall comfort.
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Do You Have Any Chronic Medical Issues
If you suffer from a particular medical condition that prevents you from sleeping comfortably, make sure that the ergonomic pillow you choose is designed to cater to it.
For chronic neck pain and poor cervical mobility, a contoured pillow is best. Similarly, choose a wedge-style pillow if you suffer from acid reflux and a CPAP pillow if you plan to use the pillow with a CPAP machine. By adapting your purchase to your medical condition, you are more likely to experience a more restful sleep with your new ergonomic pillow.
Brooklyn Bedding Editor’s Choice
Cons
- Some sleepers claim its too firm.
For a pillow that not a lot of people have heard of, Zamat has some very impressive features. A superb pillow for pain relief while sleeping, the ZAMAT cervical pillow has an ergonomic form that provides good support for your head and neck.
The ZAMAT sleeping pillow has many different smart designs, including its special butterfly form, neck contour, core cavity, and adjustable height. The memory foam used in the construction of this orthopedic pillow is of the highest possible quality and carries the CertiPUR-US seal of approval.
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Do Higher Pillows Help With Neck Pain
Not necessarily. If your pillow is too high, it can throw your spine out of alignment and create even more pain, Nagle says. Ideally, you want to look for a pillow with a medium height to help you achieve this. If youre unsure if a particular pillows height is right for you, opt for an adjustable pillow.
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.
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Loft Of Caspers Down Pillow
The loft of a pillow basically means how high or tall it is. In this case, its loft is about 5.5 decompressed, and about 2.5 when your head is laying on it. More often than not, petite folks should consider a pillow on the thinner side, while heavier individuals should look into purchasing a thicker pillow. We really like this Casper pillow because it compresses enough for petite sleepers, but is thick enough for heavier folks too.
It doesnt respond quickly to pressure like the neutral-foam Tuft & Needle pillow, but its also not slow like memory foam pillows. Check out the video above to see what were talking aboutwe thought it was similar to the way a marshmallow bounces back if you squeeze it between your fingers. Overall, we thought Caspers down pillow was pretty comfortable and accommodating.
How To Select The Best Pillow For Neck Pain
At night when you lay down to sleep, you want your head to be properly supported so that your neck muscles can relax, says Nicole Nagle, DPT. With the wrong pillow, your neck muscles are working overtime at night and this is not going to help your neck pain, she says. Nagle recommends keeping the following factors in mind when looking for a pillow to help ease pain:
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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.
$12499 From $9999 At Eli & Elm
The supportive Eli & Elm Side Sleeper pillow has a curved cutout that creates room for your shoulder when sleeping on your side, setting this pillow apart from the rest. We found the extra room quite comfortable and also appreciated how it let us hold onto the edges of the pillow while sleeping on our side, keeping our arms and hands more comfortable too. As a bonus, we loved that we felt like we were cradled when we slept on our backs too, so its a great choice if you shift positions often.
The pillow is filled with a blend of latex and polyester that is adjustable and removable. Similar to other adjustable pillows, you can take out as much fill as you want to achieve the exact height and firmness level thats most comfortable. We found the pillow came with plenty of fill for those that like a firm pillow, though we had to remove some to soften it up. If you like an extra-firm pillow, Eli & Elm offers an option to buy extra fill. It took a few nights of trial and error before we figured out the optimal amount of fill, but once we did we found the pillow very comfortable.
The Side Sleeper has two slight drawbacks. First, we found that the pillow sleeps slightly hot not so much so it disturbed our sleep but if you are sensitive you may want to keep that in mind or plan to accessorize with some of our recommendations for hot sleepers.
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How To Position Your Pillows As A Side Sleeper
Before you drift off to sleep, consider positioning your pillows like this to improve your sleep posture and prevent pain.
- When you lie down on your pillow, make sure your ears are in line with your shoulders and your chin is neutrally positioned. Tucking your chin against your chest or curving your neck down can lead to pain over time.
- Place a second pillow between your knees and lift them up towards your chest. This helps keep pressure off your knees and hips, which means your back will stay straighter at night.
- Make sure your arms and hands are below your shoulders. Some people find hugging another pillow near their waists can make this more comfortable. You can also try using a body pillow as a between the legs and under the arm solution.
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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How Long Do Body Pillows Last
A body pillows life expectancy will vary based on its materials and construction. Like other pillows, body pillows can absorb oil and dead skin cells, which could attract dust mites. If the pillow is washable, regular laundering can help, but your body pillow may still go flat over time. In general, most pillows will last up to two years. However, body pillows made of durable materials like latex and down may last for much longer.
