Being a aspect sleeper will be difficult. You need to continuously flip and flop for the fitting place and sometimes use a number of pillows to assist your physique’s stress factors. Physique pillows are the obvious answer, lengthy sufficient to cuddle totally 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 range shapes to see which model 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 selections—together with completely different fill, firmness, and form—however these are our picks.
Take a look at our many different sleep-related guides, together with the Best Mattresses, Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers, Best Organic Mattresses, and Favorite Pillows.
Up to date October 2024: We have added the Bedgear Physique Pillow, Arctic Sleep Medium Consolation Cool Gel Reminiscence Foam Physique Pillow, Alwyn Residence Polyester Medium Pillow, White Noise Reminiscence Foam Physique Pillow, Butcher Fiber Plush Pillow, Eli & Elm Aspect 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 offer assist between your arms and stress factors like between the knees. Whereas firmness and softness are a matter of private desire, you typically need a physique pillow that strikes the fitting stability, to offer assist with out being too heavy or agency for the limbs that relaxation beneath the pillow. In the event you’re simply on the lookout for a pillow to hug whilst you sleep, one thing lighter and softer is finest. However you probably 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 aspect sleeper, however I toss and switch between either side, so pillows with assist on both aspect have been examined too. I additionally have a tendency to curve right into a extra fetal place, so I needed 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 may possibly really feel too heavy for a aspect sleeper whose limbs go beneath the pillow. Polyester or different artificial filling is commonly probably the most plush and malleable however might not present sufficient assist. Many have a mix of each or shredded reminiscence foam, which might present construction whereas nonetheless being comfortable sufficient to sink into. This is determined by private desire and want, however fill kind is one thing to pay attention to when on the lookout for the right side-sleeper physique pillow.
An ordinary physique pillow that is lengthy sufficient to offer full-length assist 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 assist 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 components of the physique you need most supported within the side-sleeping place.
