If you’re a side sleeper, we have good and bad news for you. The bad news? This is the trickiest sleeping position to find the perfect pillow for, and you require extra support for a comfortable night. The good news is that sleeping on your side is actually the most popular position, more so than back or stomach sleepers, so you’re not alone in the quest to find side sleeper pillows that won’t cramp your style – or your neck.
If you’ve always gone with a standard set of pillows, you may be wondering what kind of pillow side sleepers should use? The answer depends on several factors: your height, the mattress you use, and how active a sleeper you are. So, how are side sleeper pillows different, and how can you find the right one for you? Allow us to guide you through the things to consider when finding the perfect pillow to lay your head on for the night.
How are side sleeper pillows different?
Simply put, a side sleeper pillow has more jobs to do than one for a back or front sleeper, in order to keep your spine in a neutral position. No matter how you sleep, it’s important to keep your spine aligned in this neutral way to avoid placing strain on the neck muscles and risk throwing your back out. Side sleeper pillows require some clever thinking to ensure that your head is cushioned without being too elevated, your shoulder can be accommodated while you’re sleeping on your side, and your neck isn’t taking on any extra tension to make you feel comfortable.
There are a number of ways a pillow can achieve this delicate balance. Some use extra dense down or down alternative fillings to give firm support. Memory foam can also be used to offer firmness while still feeling soft, and there are a number of pillows with served cutouts for shoulders, divots to accommodate heads, cube shapes for height, or curved sides to encourage the spine’s natural curvature.
What kind of pillow is best for side sleepers with neck pain?
If you’re waking up in the morning with a sore neck, there are a few factors that might be causing you nighttime woes. When your neck, head and shoulders aren’t aligned, extra tension is placed on your neck, which is what causes stiffness and pain in the morning. The problem may stem from having too much height under your head or not enough. In general, you’re aiming for the perfect balance. You should be able to comfortably rest your head on the pillow and feel that your neck is straight and level, and your shoulders rest easily on the mattress. Different mattresses will hold your body weight differently too, with some allowing you to ‘sink’ into the bed more and others holding your weight fairly firmly on the surface of the mattress. For example, if you have a memory foam mattress, you may find you don’t need as high a pillow because your shoulder sinks down further into the bed, giving you less of an angle to correct with your head and neck position.
What height pillow is best for side sleepers?
If you have a coil or spring mattress — Spring mattresses tend to be, well, springier than their foam or all-latex counterparts, so you may find your shoulder sinks into the mattress let, requiring extra height to keep your head level with the rest of your body. For height, a high cube-shaped pillow made from a dense material will give you the support you need.
If you have a memory foam mattress — Pressure points like hips and shoulders can sink into memory foam’s core more easily, so in general, you’ll need a side sleeper pillow that is plenty firm but not so big with the height factor. A down pillow with chambers to keep density consistent or a memory foam pillow will work well too.
If you toss and turn during the night — You may be wondering where you fit in if your sleep style isn’t totally consistent — a lot of us toss and turn during the night, starting on our side or back but moving into multiple different positions. If that sounds like you, an adaptable pillow that offers both higher and lower zones will allow you to naturally find the right spot for your head and neck to lie comfortably in line with your back and lower spine.
If you feel the heat while you sleep — A lot of us tend to run hot at night, particularly if you live in a warm or humid climate. A buckwheat pillow offers an ingenious solution to stifling hot bedding, allowing air to circulate and providing a dense pillow that will not deflate or move around during sleep. A memory foam pillow with a cooling gel-infused core can also help mitigate any nighttime sweats.
Buy side sleeper pillows from SwissAire and enjoy the best night’s sleep
SwissAire offers a range of ergonomic and adaptable pillows that combine the best features of many different pillows to give you the side sleeper pillow of your dreams. For a breathable and cooling pillow that gives you all the benefits of memory foam, you’ll love our viscoelastic ergonomic side sleeper pillow, characterised by its open cell structure that allows for air circulation even on very hot nights. The unique Swiss-made design gently encourages side sleepers into a back sleeping position for a more balanced night and to help minimise back problems and neck stiffness.
If you find that your sleeping style changes a lot or you struggle to find a pillow that feels just right, our 5 in 1 memory foam pillow is for you. The design comes with 3 different adjustable heights to help you find the perfect height for your unique neck curvature. Its moisture-wicking properties and washable machine design mean you can enjoy a fresh and clean pillow for longer and one that’s perfectly fitted to your height, mattress and sleeping style. Still not sure which pillow is right for you? Get in touch with our team and speak to the Singapore side sleeper pillow experts today.