Being a aspect sleeper might be difficult. You need to consistently flip and flop for the appropriate place and infrequently use a number of pillows to help your physique’s stress factors. Physique pillows are the obvious answer, lengthy sufficient to cuddle absolutely whereas nonetheless supporting your limbs.
I selected physique pillows in a variety of shapes and kinds, from conventional, lengthy, rectangular physique pillows to being pregnant pillows in a spread shapes to see which type labored finest 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 finest for a aspect sleeper’s distinctive wants. There are tons of decisions—together with totally different fill, firmness, and form—however these are our picks.
Take a look at our many different sleep-related guides, together with Greatest Mattresses, Greatest Mattresses for Facet Sleepers, Greatest Natural Mattresses, and Favourite Pillows.
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What to Look For
As a aspect sleeper, you’ll need 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 choice, you typically need a physique pillow that strikes the appropriate steadiness, to supply help with out being too heavy or agency for the limbs that relaxation beneath the pillow. For those who’re simply in search of a pillow to hug whilst you sleep, one thing lighter and softer is finest. However in case you have joint or spinal ache, one thing a bit extra agency with extra help is finest. You’ll additionally need to take into consideration which pillow form will help which a part of your physique finest, relying in your wants. I’m a strict aspect sleeper, however I toss and switch between either side, so pillows with help 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 could possibly really feel too heavy for a aspect sleeper whose limbs go beneath the pillow. Polyester or different artificial filling is commonly essentially the most plush and malleable however could not present sufficient help. Many have a combination of each or shredded reminiscence foam, which may present construction whereas nonetheless being smooth sufficient to sink into. This depends upon private choice and want, however fill kind is one thing to pay attention to when in search of the proper side-sleeper physique pillow.
A regular 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 total help 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 basically depending on what elements of the physique you need most supported within the side-sleeping place.