Be a side Getting a good night’s sleep can be a challenge. You have to constantly toss and turn to find the right position and often use multiple pillows to support pressure points on your body. Body pillows are the most obvious solution, as they are long enough to fully snuggle you in while still supporting your limbs.
I chose body pillows of a variety of shapes and styles, from traditional, long, rectangular body pillows to pregnancy pillows of various shapes to see which style worked best for a strict side sleeper like me. I tested each of the pillows for a week while sleeping and resting to see how the filling changed and moved over time and which pillow worked best for a side sleeper’s unique needs. There are many options, including different fillings, firmnesses, and shapes, but these are our picks.
Check out our many other sleep-related guides, including the best mattresses, best mattresses for side sleepers, best organic mattresses, and favorite pillows.
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What to look for
If you sleep on your side, you’ll need a pillow that’s long enough to provide support between your arms and pressure points like between your knees. While firmness and softness are a matter of personal preference, you often want a body pillow that strikes the right balance, to provide support without being too heavy or firm for the limbs resting beneath the pillow. If you’re just looking for a pillow to hug while you sleep, something lighter and softer is best. But if you have joint or spine pain, something a little firmer with more support is best. You’ll also want to think about what shape of pillow will best support what part of your body, based on your needs. I sleep strictly on my side, but I move between both sides, so I also tested pillows with support on both sides. I also tend to slouch into more of a fetal position, so I wanted something that was wide enough to fully envelop my legs and arms.
While many head pillows and mattresses prefer memory foam, depending on the density of the foam, it may prove too heavy for a side sleeper whose limbs are under the pillow. Polyester or other synthetic fill is often the most plush and pliable, but may not provide enough support. Many have a mix of both or shredded memory foam, which can provide structure while still being soft enough to sink into. This depends on personal preference and needs, but the type of fill is something to consider when looking for the perfect body pillow for side sleeping.
A standard body pillow that is long enough to provide full body support is ideal, as it provides enough room to stretch out or curl up in various positions. U- or C-shaped body pillows can provide more overall support and are great for pregnant women or those with back or leg issues, but they can often cause the sleeper to get hot due to all the material surrounding them. But ultimately, the preferred shape largely depends on which parts of your body you want to be most supported in the side sleeping position.