Being a facet sleeper will be difficult. You need to consistently flip and flop for the precise place and sometimes use a number of pillows to help your physique’s stress factors. Physique pillows are the obvious resolution, lengthy sufficient to cuddle totally whereas nonetheless supporting your limbs.
I selected physique pillows in a variety of shapes and types, from conventional, lengthy, rectangular physique pillows to being pregnant pillows in a range shapes to see which model labored greatest for a strict side-only sleeper like me. I examined every of the pillows for every week whereas sleeping and lounging to see how the fill modified and moved over time and which pillow labored greatest for a facet sleeper’s distinctive wants. There are tons of selections—together with completely different fill, firmness, and form—however these are our picks.
Try our many different sleep-related guides, together with the Finest Mattresses, Finest Mattresses for Facet Sleepers, Finest Natural Mattresses, and Favourite Pillows.
Up to date October 2024: We have added the Bedgear Physique Pillow, Arctic Sleep Medium Consolation Cool Gel Reminiscence Foam Physique Pillow, Alwyn Dwelling Polyester Medium Pillow, White Noise Reminiscence Foam Physique Pillow, Butcher Fiber Plush Pillow, Eli & Elm Facet Sleeper, and Eli & Elm Reminiscence Foam Physique Pillow.
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What to Look For
As a facet sleeper, you’ll desire a pillow that’s lengthy sufficient to supply help between your arms and stress factors like between the knees. Whereas firmness and softness are a matter of private desire, you typically desire a physique pillow that strikes the precise stability, to supply help with out being too heavy or agency for the limbs that relaxation beneath the pillow. Should you’re simply searching for a pillow to hug whilst you sleep, one thing lighter and softer is greatest. However you probably have joint or spinal ache, one thing a bit extra agency with extra help is greatest. You’ll additionally need to take into consideration which pillow form will help which a part of your physique greatest, relying in your wants. I’m a strict facet sleeper, however I toss and switch between each side, so pillows with help on both facet have been examined too. I additionally have a tendency to twist right into a extra fetal place, so I wished one thing that had sufficient width to totally wrap my legs and arms round.
Whereas many head pillows and mattresses favor reminiscence foam, relying on the froth’s denseness, it could really feel too heavy for a facet sleeper whose limbs go beneath the pillow. Polyester or different artificial filling is commonly essentially the most plush and malleable however might not present sufficient help. Many have a mix of each or shredded reminiscence foam, which may present construction whereas nonetheless being smooth sufficient to sink into. This depends upon private desire and want, however fill kind is one thing to pay attention to when searching for the proper side-sleeper physique pillow.
An ordinary physique pillow that is lengthy sufficient to supply full-length help for the physique is good, giving sufficient room to stretch out or cuddle in varied positions. Physique pillows in U or C shapes can present extra general help and are perfect for pregnant individuals or these with again or leg points, however can typically make the sleeper run scorching due to the entire surrounding materials. However finally, the popular form is basically depending on what elements of the physique you need most supported within the side-sleeping place.