Studies have found that only 8% of all adults sleep on their backs, even though back sleeping is one of the most advisable and healthy sleeping positions.
Most sleepers either prefer the side sleeping position or the stomach sleeping position. Sleeping on your side is extremely healthy, especially if you curl your legs up in the fetal position because that position offers great spinal alignment.
Stomach sleeping isn’t ideal because it can apply great pressure on your back. This position isn’t conducive to spinal alignment and stomach sleepers often report back pain and neck pain. If you’re a stomach sleeper, you should ideally place a pillow under your stomach while sleeping since that will help align your spine.
In addition to monitoring your sleeping position, you should also be particular with the pillow you choose. Different sleeping positions require different types of pillows. Choosing the wrong pillow can lead to neck pain.
In this article, we discuss what is the best side and stomach pillow in 2020.
Best Pillows for Side Sleepers
When you’re sleeping on your side, your greatest challenge is overcoming the pressure on your neck and shoulders. You must ensure that your neck doesn’t crane downwards while sleeping because that will lead to a stiff neck.
The ideal pillow for side sleepers has a high loft — one that can cover the distance between the mattress and your neck. It should prop your head up at a neutral angle in perfect alignment with your spine and hips. It should also be firm enough that your head doesn’t sink lower at night.
Elite Rest Contour Sleeper
Elite Rest Contour Sleeper is the best memory foam pillow for side sleepers because it has a contoured design. It measures 4 inches at the highest contour and 2.75 inches at the lowest contour — the 4” gusset serves as a neck roll on which you can rest the crook of your neck for ultimate comfort. The memory foam also conforms to the shape of your body for optimal spinal support.
Coisum Cervical Pillow
Coisum Cervical Pillow is the ideal memory foam pillow for those suffering from neck pain. This pillow provides neck and spine alignment using a unique design meant specifically for side sleepers. There’s a cutout on the side that allows you to sleep comfortably on your side — it’s thick and soft enough to maintain your neck and spine in a neutral position and there’s a wing that you can place your arms under. As a memory foam pillow, it further increases spinal support and alignment.
Best Pillows for Stomach Sleepers
When you’re sleeping on your stomach, you should ideally not use a pillow under your face at all. But some people can’t help but use a pillow. If that’s the case, you must opt for a pillow that takes the pressure off your neck and spine, relieving your pressure points.
You need a low loft pillow that will maintain your neck and spine in alignment by not arching your neck upwards. Pillows for stomach sleepers should also be extremely breathable because your face is pressed against the pillow all night.
Elite Rest Ultra Slim Sleeper
Elite Rest Ultra Slim Sleeper is the thinnest pillow on the market with a loft height of only 2.5 inches, which makes it one of the best pillows for stomach sleepers. The low loft height ensures that your neck and spine remain in a neutral position without your neck arching up awkwardly. The memory foam conforms to the shape of your body and the 100% cotton cover keeps the pillow breathable and cool.
Perform Thin Profile Pillow
Perform Thin Profile Pillow is the best contour memory foam low profile pillow on the market. This pillow has a contoured design — one end of the pillow has a loft height of 2.25 inches and the other end of the pillow has a loft height of 3.5 inches. This pillow also comes with a highly-breathable bamboo cover that regulates your body’s temperature and keeps you cool.
Best Pillow for Combination Sleepers — Elite Rest Shredded Memory Foam Pillow
Combination sleepers are those who are prone to tossing and turning in their sleep. If you change your sleeping positions constantly, then you’re a combination sleeper.
Combination sleepers move between stomach sleeping, side sleeping, and back sleeping constantly. While tossing and turning, you may also try to adjust or re-fluff your pillow for maximum comfort. That’s why you need an adjustable pillow with shredded filling that you can adjust easily to change the loft height in different positions.
Elite Rest Shredded Memory Foam Pillow is the best pillow for combination sleepers because it’s filled with shredded memory foam. As such, you can add or remove the filling to increase or decrease the loft height according to your sleep preference. You can also manipulate the filling within the pillow and shift it around while sleeping according to your current sleeping position. It comes with a 100% breathable and machine washable bamboo cover.
Verdict
Side sleepers and stomach sleepers need to opt for different types of pillows that facilitate neck and spine alignment. Choosing the wrong pillow will lead to neck pain and back pain. Side sleepers should generally opt for high loft memory foam pillows that conform to their body and cover the distance between the mattress and their necks. Elite Rest Contour Sleeper is the best memory foam pillow for side sleepers because it has a gusset or neck roll that perfectly cradles and supports the neck, offering optimal neck and spine alignment. Stomach sleepers should opt for low loft pillows that don’t arch their necks up and help them remain in a neutral position. Elite Rest Ultra Slim Sleeper is the best pillow for stomach sleepers because it’s a memory foam pillow with a loft height of only 2.5 inches, which ensures your neck and spine will remain neutral while sleeping on your stomach.
