Are you a member of the side sleeping society? Since you are right on this article, I believe that it is safe to assume that it is highly likely that you are one of the the 69% of the human population of the world who are side sleepers.

Based on a 1000 people surveyed by Professor Idzikowski, 690 were found to be a kind of side sleeper. Side sleepers sleep in either a fetal, a log, or a yearner type position. Most people don’t make side sleeping a big deal, but some people,like myself, do take the time to ask the question, “Am I getting the most out of my sleep?” Especially since I particularly care a lot about sleep and how it affects the brain, as well as on the body and beauty.

Selecting the best pillow for side sleepers is a time-consuming task. If you are in a hurry and want some quick suggestions there are some insightful suggestions at the bottom of this post supported by the content within this post itself.

The best pillow is actually arbitrary from person to person since there are 3 variations of side sleeping and every person has his or her taste on pillow softness as well as hygiene and other benefits the pillow is attributed to.

The keys to selecting the best side sleeper pillow for you are as follows:

1. Soft pillows might be comfortable, but they might leave your neck aching after a long night’s sleep. Firm pillows do a much better job of cradling the neck. Choose firm or memory foam pillows for the neck.
2. Choose the right pillow for your variation of sleeping position.
3. Choose the pillow which claim to have the health benefits you are looking for.
4. Choose pillows that have dust mite proof covers. These are much better than hypo-allergenic pillows(according to Dr Jacqueline Eghrari-Sabet, Allergist).

Variations of Side Sleeping and their prescribed pillows

For log and yearning position side sleepers, I have observed among people that they find it comfortable to have a neck or cervical pillow supplemented with a knee pillow combination is the best side sleeper pillow combination, since it not only supports the neck by providing a deep area for the head to rest but also a supportive part to keep the neck in aligned with the spine while sleeping, and additionally the knee pillow provides a good support for the lower spine preventing twists as your lower body twists from side-to-side.

On the other hand yearners and fetal side sleepers can consider the body pillow as the best side sleeper pillow, since the body pillow come in different shapes and sizes and provides not only neck support but also something to hug while sleeping as well.

Known Benefits of these Pillows for Side Sleepers

Using an orthopedic pillow such as the body, cervical, or neck pillow has its advantages. This is why many side sleepers such as myself opt to spend much of our hard-earned money as well as our valuable time in canvasing and selecting the best pillow(s) for our needs.

Based on user/owners’ claims, orthopedic pillows have had theraputic benefits such as relieving sleep apnea, snoring, insomnia, breathing difficulty, blood circulation problems, acid reflux, GERD, lower back pain, sciatica pain, neck pain, whiplash, and even rotator cuff injury. If you are a side sleeper who has had a rotator cuff injury, you might also want to hear out a word of advise from a side sleeper who had a rotator cuff injury. Aside from looking for claimed benefits, the  pillow you select should also be comfortable for you as well.

Example, the cervical pillow has a curved design that adapts to head, neck and shoulder contour for side sleepers providing relief for neck pain, frozen shoulder, stiff neck, headaches. Plus it helps release breathing airways to reduce snoring and sleep apnea symptoms.

The body pillow on the other hand provides full comfort to the side sleeper by cradling from neck to back to knees. It replaces 3 pillows all in one for a better sleeping position.

Considerations for Side Sleepers while choosing the best pillow for themselves

When considering to buy the best pillow  of your sleeping type, consider the following:

• The material that the pillow contains.(some people are allergic to down/buckwheat so hypoallergenic materials are best), the materials also count for the lifespan of the pillow itself. You can stay away from hypoallergenic pillows if they are not worth the budget, just make sure that the covers are dust mite proof.
• The material you are going to cover your pillow with must be always be cleaned to prevent acne.(side sleepers have their faces in contact with their pillow for hours on end). For more personal insights about side sleeping and acne, visit our other article, Advice from a fellow Side Sleeper.
• Your side sleeping position type. Above, I have mentioned some common side sleeping positions. Most of the assumptions I have stated are based on the many side sleepers I have observed.
• Price is always a concern especially on a tight budget, but if you spend way more time at your home rather than travelling, you might want to consider investing for long term on your side sleeper pillow.

Some General Recommendations

For a simple neck pillow, we recommend you try out the ‘Z by Malouf Memory Foam Molded Contour Neck Pillow – Luxurious Washable Cover, STANDARD‘. It is dust mite proof, comes with a hygienic cover, firm, molded to give neck support, has numerous health benefits as well as a lot of good customer reviews. I myself use this pillow and though I am prone to acne, I don’t seem to get much using this.

For a knee/wedge pillow, you can use regular standard cervical pillows if you don’t have the luxury of time on your hands. I use a normal fluffy cervical pillow wedged between my knees, myself, since I cannot spare the 24 dollars.

The Original Body Pillow from 1988 has been used by my relatives for a long time and they are still using them up to now. I’ve tried using it myself and found that it is durable, dense enough to support your body, comfortable for fetal side sleepers like me. Pregnant women can also use this comfortably.

Why should you choose side sleeper pillow wisely instead of just trying out our recommendations?

We spend more than 7 hours on our beds sleeping. It’s very important to get the most out of our sleep, but the best side sleeper pillow varies from person to person’s preference. With this in mind as well as information on the benefits of the best pillows for side sleepers, why not take time out to invest on a side sleeper pillow that will help you get the most out of your sleep instead of just taking recommendations that fit the bill?