Being a facet sleeper will be difficult. You need to consistently flip and flop for the suitable place and infrequently use a number of pillows to assist your physique’s strain 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 types, from conventional, lengthy, rectangular physique pillows to being pregnant pillows in a spread shapes to see which model labored finest 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 finest 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 Greatest Mattresses, Greatest Mattresses for Aspect Sleepers, Greatest 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 Aspect Sleeper, and Eli & Elm Reminiscence Foam Physique Pillow.
Energy up with limitless entry to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting that is too necessary to disregard for simply $2.50 $1 monthly for 1 yr. Contains limitless digital entry and unique subscriber-only content material. Subscribe At present.
What to Look For
As a facet sleeper, you’ll need a pillow that’s lengthy sufficient to offer assist between your arms and strain factors like between the knees. Whereas firmness and softness are a matter of non-public choice, you usually need a physique pillow that strikes the suitable steadiness, to offer assist with out being too heavy or agency for the limbs that relaxation beneath the pillow. In case you’re simply in search of a pillow to hug when you sleep, one thing lighter and softer is finest. However if in case you have joint or spinal ache, one thing a bit extra agency with extra assist is finest. You’ll additionally need to take into consideration which pillow form will assist which a part of your physique finest, relying in your wants. I’m a strict facet sleeper, however I toss and switch between each side, so pillows with assist on both facet had 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 will probably really feel too heavy for a facet sleeper whose limbs go beneath the pillow. Polyester or different artificial filling is commonly probably the most plush and malleable however could not present sufficient assist. Many have a combination of each or shredded reminiscence foam, which may present construction whereas nonetheless being tender sufficient to sink into. This is dependent upon private choice and wish, however fill sort 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 offer full-length assist for the physique is right, giving sufficient room to stretch out or cuddle in varied positions. Physique pillows in U or C shapes can present extra total assist and are perfect for pregnant folks or these with again or leg points, however can usually 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.