5 Best Pillows For Side Sleepers with Unbiased Reviews
The best side sleeper pillows are designed to combat the common problems associated with side sleeping such as neck pain, shoulder pain, numb arm, etc. Moreover, since they have the right level of firmness, they conform easily and fill the gap between head, neck, and shoulder. Thus, they keep the spine and body aligned properly.
Sleeping on the side is the most common position and requires some extra firmness and support to avoid any body aches. If the pain interferes with your everyday life, a side sleeper pillow is vital because it distributes your body weight evenly, taking pressure off your back, arms, shoulders, and neck.
In the following, we’ll let you know what you should focus on when you’re about to purchase your first side sleeping pillow. We’ll also present a selection of 5 great such products that could meet your requirements. Try them for an improved orthopedic health and a better sleep.
Recommended Best Pillows for Side Sleepers
Benefits of a Side Sleeper Pillow
When you sleep on a traditional soft pillow, additional pressure is building up in your cervical area, the hips, and the lower back, because your spine sits in an unnatural position. But all that can change by harnessing the benefits of a side sleeping pillow. If you think that it is not that vital, then the information below should make you change your mind.
Who Should Buy a Side Sleeping Pillow?
1) A pillow, designed for side sleepers, is must for people who sleep on their side. Besides, From the top of our heads: the people who suffer from any form of neck and back pain must have one.
It can so happen that you’d want to sleep on your side, but the pillow you have now doesn’t’ make it any easier because you feel like you fall through it. Rest assured; this won’t happen with a side sleeper pillow.
2) Moreover – and perhaps one of its most significant benefits – it can be a genuine life-saver for people who deal with sleep apnea. It is a condition that makes a person stop breathing for a couple of seconds.
Sleep apnea usually affects people who sleep on their back. You can do yourself a favor and change your sleeping position. As you might expect, side sleepers would make the best of it, as well.
3) As for the last category of people that can get help by purchasing a side pillow, this is comprised of snorers. Whoever sleeps in the same bedroom with you won’t be kept up all night long if you stop sleeping face-up and sleep on the side instead. Sleeping on the side reduces snoring. Also Read: Best Pillows for Snoring.
How Does a Side Sleeper Pillow Work?
A pillow for side sleepers differs from a normal one in the sense that it facilitates proper spine alignment and distributes one’s weight evenly. We’ve already mentioned that a common pillow will keep your neck at an odd angle.
Subsequently, your spine will be misaligned. In the long run, it will be almost impossible to straighten it up. A side sleeping pillow fills that space between the neck and the shoulder-blade and cradles your head perfectly.
If you’re suffering from shoulder pain, the side sleeping pillow will come in handy, thanks to the properties mentioned above. On top of all these aspects, it has better support for the knees, the stomach, and the back. (Also Check: Pillows for Stomach Sleepers; Pillows for Back Sleepers.)
There’s more than just one type of side sleeping pillow, but we will tackle them all later on. We mentioned them just to give you a clue that a side pillow can be used for various purposes, unlike a traditional one.
How to Position Pillows Correctly for Side Sleeping
There’s no law carved in stone in respect with how you should position your pillow if you’re a side sleeper. However, there are a few ways you can do it, so let’s take a look at them.
3 Types of Side Sleeper Pillows
Even though it might not seem like there are different types of side sleeping pillows, the reality is altogether different. There are three main types you should be familiar with, so you can make the best decision when purchasing one:
Important Factors to Consider When Buying a Side Sleeper Pillow
It’s less likely you’ll be happy with your purchase if you don’t keep an eye on a few crucial aspects concerning the product you wish to buy.
You might find it difficult to believe that you shouldn’t take a thing as common as a pillow for granted, but if you care about your sleep, you should be careful.
Michael Breus puts it rightly about pillows – “Pillows can not only impact the quality of our sleep, but also how healthfully we rest and recharge”. What more can we say about the importance of a right pillow for a healthy life?
For side sleepers, there are several important factors to look for in a pillow before making a purchase. Let’s see the factors you should check on each product, be it on the Internet or in a store.
5 Top Rated & Best Pillows for Side Sleepers with Reviews
Now that we’ve seen what you should look out for when hunting for the very best side sleeping pillow let’s broaden our horizons even more by talking about 5 of the most efficient products you can find on the market at the moment. You should feel 100% prepared for your first side sleeping pillow now!
1. Xtreme Comforts Hypoallergenic Pillow
We’ve chosen to present you this product because it’s not your customary side sleeping pillow, but one that can be easily used in all sleeping positions. That’s economy right there.
On top of that, it has all the properties of a top-tier pillow: it inhibits the colonization of dust mites because it is properly ventilated and it can be thrown into the washing machine without risking to get a basket of rags out.
As for the material, this is made with shredded memory foam, which makes it at once firm and flexible. The foam does not make it prone to flattening, as well. It always springs back to its initial shape and molds on your body once you go to sleep.
At this point, it’s safe to say this comes with all the features a good side sleeping pillow (and not only) should come with. Plus, it comes in three available sizes, which makes it so much easier to choose the perfect product.
PROS
CONS
2. Classic Brands Conforma Cushion
This had to make it into our top because it offers an unprecedented degree of cervical support. While many memory foam pillows can feel a bit harsh on the skin, the Conforma Cushion is a lot softer.
Like the previous pillow, this too can be used in other sleeping positions, particularly on the back, so you hit two birds with one stone. There will be no pressure whatsoever on your back, shoulders, and neck. Subsequently, you’ll finally get a good night’s sleep.
Keep in mind that this is not very soft. It does have a plushy concreteness, but that’s like a five on a scale of 10. Of course, this is not to say it’s stern. Not at all. It accommodates the side sleeper’s head properly and returns to the original form when he/she wakes up.
Moreover, you’ll be happy to know it doesn’t heat up like so many other subpar pillows, thanks to its ventilation system. This is a pretty decent choice for side sleepers.
PROS
CONS
3. SleepBetter Memory Foam Pillow
Cotton and memory foam make an infallible combination in pillows, and that’s why we felt like this particular SleepBetter product had to be mentioned in this buying guide.
What makes this stand out from the crowd is the way in which it was made, in the sense that the sides of it are much thicker than its center. This fills out the space between the neck and the shoulders perfectly, so it’s a great pillow for side sleepers.
Another nice feature is its capability to absorb your temperature without heating up. This is possible thanks to the Phase-changing material (PCM) beads embedded in the cotton cover.
Now returning to that cotton & memory foam combo, you should know this makes the pillow an extremely comfortable product for side sleepers. So comfortable, in fact, that you’ll start hating your alarm even more than you do now.
Given that the largest size is 23 x 15.5 x 5”, you can rest assured it is optimal for side sleeping.
PROS
CONS
4. Serta Gel Memory Foam Side Sleeper Pillow
Serta’s pillow had to be introduced to you because it’s a unique product. You can seldom find a pillow that can be the solution to all your problems, but you might have just hit the bulls-eye with this one.
Not only it promotes the alignment of the spine, but it also gets rid of the pressure that causes your neck, hip or back pain. So, it’s ideal for side sleepers. It looks a little weird, that’s true, but that merely contributes to its uniqueness.
Due to having been made with gel memory foam, it has two properties you will like: it does not go flat and feels so soft that you’ll have the sensation you’re sleeping on a cloud instead of a pillow.
A gigantic perk of this model is its feature that allows it to irradiate the heat away from your head. You won’t wake up with half of your face red and swollen. It stays cool no matter what, and subsequently, so shall you.
PROS
CONS
5. SleepBetter Gel Fiber Side Sleeper Pillow
Another SleepBetter product in our top, but since it’s filled with gel fiber instead of memory foam, we just had to give it a shout out.
This might just be one of the few pillows that are as soft as they look. You can use it if you’re a side sleeper, of course, but it’s made in such a way that it’s great for all sleeping positions.
SleepBetter certainly does not fool around when it comes to materials: regarding comfort, this pillow is unmatched, thanks to the gel fiber and cotton it was made with.
Now we should talk about the Gusset stitching on the sides. We all know that a traditional pillow collapses when we sleep. This does not happen with this model because the stitching always keeps it in place and elevates it above the mattress. Even though this is on the 5th place in our top, it’s one of the best side sleeping pillows you can purchase.
PROS
CONS
Must Read: Before You Go!
The best pillow for side sleepers is the one that creates a perfect alignment of the head, neck, and spine. If you sleep on your side, investing in an excellent pillow will surely give you the right comfort and support that your body craves for.
We are sure that this article assisted you in finding the best product. All the 5 pillows we’ve just mentioned are great, so you can’t go wrong with whatever choice you might make. You will be surprised how much difference a side sleeper pillow could make to your sleep quality.
We hope you’ve found this rather extensive buying guide helpful and that we’ve provided all the information in a concise and easy-to-understand manner. Spread the word if the side sleeping pillow has made a positive difference in your life and if you’re happy you’ve been introduced to it!
About the Author Jessica Larsen
I am a big advocate that having great sleep is something everyone deserves. With over 10 years of experience in this field, I would love to use this platform as a means to help you achieve a good night's sleep.
You Must Also Read
Best Pillow Case In 2021 – A Complete Buyer’s Guide
Most Comfortable Pillows In 2021 – A Review Of The Top 10 Brands
My Pillow Lawsuit – The $1 Million Consumer Protection Lawsuit
Best Down Pillows In 2021 – Comprehensive Review For Top 8 Picks