If you sleep on your side, selecting an adequate pillow can help maintain good posture. Be sure to opt for one with enough loft so as to align your head and neck with the rest of your spine.
An ideal pillow features memory foam or latex that’s breathable, bouncy, mite-resistant and mite-proof; or try one designed specifically to support side sleepers.
Memory Foam
Sixty percent of adults sleep on their sides, making this position one of the healthiest sleeping positions for spine alignment. If you prefer side sleeping, look for a medium-firm pillow to give your neck and head plenty of support without crushing or straining your shoulders; memory foam pillows such as our top pick from Brooklinen often receive positive recommendations as they retain their shape even under weight of your head while you slumber.
Latex can provide an effective alternative to memory foam, thanks to its natural and synthetic varieties. Latex’s soft bounce and air flow properties make it more suitable than memory foam in terms of sinkage or becoming too firm with use; furthermore, its temperature regulation qualities help regulate temperature regulation. Plus, latex comes in various thicknesses and densities so you can find something suitable for you – from our next pick shredded latex (available through Puffy) all the way up to firmer options available from Puffy!
Consider materials like down and down-alternatives as alternatives, which offer softness without being as malleable as polyester. Although more susceptible to compression than memory foam, down/alternatives could still provide enough loft and support for side sleepers if reinforced with extra feathers or polyfoam layers.
Eli & Elm’s Shredded Memory Foam Mattress is especially designed to suit side sleepers, with adjustable fill that you can tailor to meet the loft and firmness preferences of side sleeping individuals. Crafted from 100 percent organic cotton grown without genetically modified seeds or synthetic pesticides and filled with ethically sourced wool and natural shredded Talalay latex for soft yet supportive comfort; additionally its perforated bamboo cover keeps things cool to touch as temperature rose only 4 degrees after 15 minutes on it!
Latex
Those who sleep on their sides rely heavily on pillows to support the curve of their spine, yet an old and insufficient pillow could lead to backache during the day. We therefore recommend replacing standard pillows every 1-2 years in order to ensure they still provide enough support and ensure no changes have taken place that compromise its shape or support for neck and spine health.
When selecting a pillow suitable for side sleepers, we always advise taking into account its loft, or thickness. Pillows with medium to high loft levels will maintain proper alignment of their head, neck, and shoulders.
Our top picks for side sleepers all provide enough lift to support the curve of their spine without forcing their heads too far down or too far up. Furthermore, it’s wise to opt for pillows with great breathability if possible as this will keep you cool while sleeping.
Latex pillows are highly recommended by our sleep experts as they offer a buoyant feeling without sinkage, unlike memory foam or down options. Latex is made from rubber trees (Havea Brasiliensis), grown in tropical climates. Their liquid latex is transformed into solid form for mattresses, pillows and other rubber products; synthetic latex (made with Styrene Butadiene Rubber or SBR) may be another option; but our experts find it less comfortable.
Down Alternative
Side sleepers looking for a soft yet cozy pillow that provides ample neck support will find this Lagoon Hippo Pillow set ideal. Crafted with 100 percent CertiPUR-US certified memory foam that forms to your head and neck for comfortable contouring while helping keep spine alignment in check, it makes a good addition to any bed.
This pillow’s shredded memory foam filling provides for a more responsive experience than solid foam, while also sleeping cooler. Furthermore, unlike many memory foam pillows that gradually lose their loft over time, this one promises to maintain its loft night after night.
Feather pillows tend to be light and fluffy, yet less supportive than other fill types. Our testers were impressed to discover that Coop Home Goods’s YOYO Body Pillow offered substantial neck support even for side sleepers who twitch during the night, thanks to its molded, contoured design which supported neutral posture for head and neck support and reduced strain on shoulder muscles and prevented pain from developing in these areas.
Coop Home Goods Original Body Pillow offers another soft pillow option for side sleepers: its plush Coop Home Goods Original Body Pillow fits between the knees to keep hips and back aligned and head elevated while providing ample cradling comfort courtesy of its boomerang-shaped design cradling head and neck in comfort while its adjustable internal fill allows it to fit your size comfortably – although advertised as side sleeping support it has proven equally supportive for back or stomach sleepers as well.
This white feather pillow combines the luxuriousness of down with memory foam’s structure to offer plenty of support while remaining hypoallergenic, washable, and fluffy post-wash. It keeps your neck and spine in an ergonomic position while providing plenty of comfort. It stays fluffy too!
Cotton
Side sleeping is considered to be one of the best sleep positions, as it aligns the spine and relieves lower back pain while aligning snoring and lower back discomfort. Unfortunately, side sleeping may also cause neck and shoulder pain if your mattress or pillow doesn’t adequately support this position. David Rubin from Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab notes: “To keep your neck neutrally aligned with upper back alignment while sleeping on your side is key. Our tests showed memory foam, latex and down pillows all provided adequate support for side sleepers when tested against popular styles – memory foam, down and latex all provided enough support compared with popular styles compared with popular styles being tested against side sleepers.
“Soft pillows will cause your head to sink too far down into the mattress, without enough support,” according to Brookfield chiropractor Dr. Grant Radermacher in Wisconsin. Finding a pillow suitable to your body may require trial and error;
Simba’s Puffy Pillow features a cooling cover and three layers that can be removed or rearranged to suit side sleepers’ preferences, providing full customization of pillow height. The inner layer combines ethically sourced wool and natural Talalay latex, both thermoregulating to adjust to body temperatures while sleeping; its outer layer, made of 100 percent organic cotton is hypoallergenic, eco-friendly and offers a 60-day trial to help find comfort – we suggest the firm version for side slumbers! Available both firm or soft-medium firmness levels; side sleepers should choose accordingly!
Polyester
A pillow designed specifically to meet the needs of side sleepers should be constructed from firm materials like memory foam or latex, with an appropriate loft (height). This helps keep the neck aligned with its spine, alleviating back pain and stiffness while also helping prevent tilted sleeping positions that could result in headaches or other symptoms in other parts of the body.
The Puffy Pillow is an ideal option for side sleepers, thanks to its adjustable filling which enables you to add or remove foam until finding the ideal combination of loft and firmness. Plus, with its cooling cover it makes it great choice for hot sleepers too! Additionally, made in America and with a 101 night trial you can see for yourself.
Real down pillows may provide another option for side sleepers, though these can be expensive and lose their fluffiness over time. An Amazon Basics Down Alternative Pillow may be better as it’s hypoallergenic, washable and significantly less costly compared to real down. Furthermore, its similar support provides for a similar night’s rest.
Solid memory foam has long been recommended by our experts for its durable support for head and neck areas, maintaining its shape well while offering substantial head and neck relief. Ideal for side sleepers who want to avoid an empty feeling in the center of their pillow, Coop Home Sleep Smart shredded memory foam pillows provide plush neck support without sinking too deeply into softness – offering an ideal combination of firmness and loft with their 60-day trial guarantee.
The Sleep Loft - Online mattress showroom 