Being a aspect sleeper may be difficult. You must continually flip and flop for the best place and sometimes use a number of pillows to assist your physique’s strain factors. Physique pillows are the obvious resolution, lengthy sufficient to cuddle totally whereas nonetheless supporting your limbs.
I selected physique pillows in a spread of shapes and kinds, 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 per week whereas sleeping and lounging to see how the fill modified and moved over time and which pillow labored greatest for a aspect sleeper’s distinctive wants. There are tons of decisions—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 House 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 aspect sleeper, you’ll need a pillow that’s lengthy sufficient to supply assist between your arms and strain factors like between the knees. Whereas firmness and softness are a matter of private choice, you typically need a physique pillow that strikes the best stability, to supply assist with out being too heavy or agency for the limbs that relaxation beneath the pillow. For those who’re simply searching for a pillow to hug when you sleep, one thing lighter and softer is greatest. However in case you have joint or spinal ache, one thing a bit extra agency with extra assist is greatest. You’ll additionally wish to take into consideration which pillow form will assist which a part of your physique greatest, relying in your wants. I’m a strict aspect sleeper, however I toss and switch between each side, so pillows with assist on both aspect had been examined too. I additionally have a tendency to curve 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 might probably really feel too heavy for a aspect sleeper whose limbs go beneath the pillow. Polyester or different artificial filling is usually essentially the most plush and malleable however could not present sufficient assist. Many have a mix of each or shredded reminiscence foam, which might present construction whereas nonetheless being tender sufficient to sink into. This is dependent upon private choice and want, however fill sort is one thing to pay attention to when searching for the right side-sleeper physique pillow.
A normal physique pillow that is lengthy sufficient to supply full-length assist for the physique is good, giving sufficient room to stretch out or cuddle in numerous positions. Physique pillows in U or C shapes can present extra total assist and are perfect for pregnant individuals or these with again or leg points, however can typically make the sleeper run scorching due to all the surrounding materials. However in the end, the popular form is essentially depending on what components of the physique you need most supported within the side-sleeping place.
