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If you sleep on your side with a flimsy pillow, it might be the reason why you feel tired all the time. Finding the best pillows for side sleepers doesn’t necessarily mean replacing your trusty old pillow with the fanciest or buzziest piece of bedding at the moment; it just means shopping with your comfort in mind. The wrong pillow—one that isn’t supportive or tall enough—won’t just create aches and pains; it can actually cause you to get lower-quality rest. Replacing your old pillow with a high-quality pillow made for side-sleeping should help you wake up feeling more refreshed and far less creaky.
How to find the best pillow for side sleepers
When shopping for a good pillow, “the goal is to ensure that your neck and head are aligned straight over your shoulders when sleeping,” Srikant Kondapaneni, MD previously told SELF. Finding a pillow that allows for this kind of spinal alignment will help your whole body relax and will make it easier to drift off to sleep.
Height
Your pillow should be thick enough to give your shoulder enough space to prevent it from rolling or hunching forward, Angelie Mascarinas, MD, a physiatrist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, tells SELF. The exact height that’s right for you will depend, in part, on your body’s shape; if you have broad shoulders, a taller pillow that provides more room for your shoulder to rest comfortably will probably feel better for you. If you’re not sure where to begin when shopping, start with a pillow that’s between 4 and 5.5 inches, Dr. Mascarinas says.
Firmness
Dr. Mascarinas says a medium-firm pillow is best for side sleepers. If your head is sinking deeply into the pillow, it’s probably too soft. And if your head is at an upward angle and you can’t fully relax your neck and shoulders, it’s probably too hard. Ultimately, though, the level of firmness comes down to personal preference, and it may take some trial and error to figure out what works best for you.
Even if you know these general tips, finding the best pillows for side sleepers can be an overwhelming process, given the sheer number of pillows on the market. That’s why we’ve rounded up our top picks. If it’s time to upgrade to a new pillow, check out the full list below and get ready for more restful nights.
All products featured on SELF are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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