The 7 Best Pillows for Stomach Sleepers in 2022 (For Relief of Neck & Back Pain)
Coisum Stomach Sleeping Pillow
While generally not recommended by health experts, some people still find sleeping on their stomach more comforting than any other sleeping position. Are you a stomach sleeper yourself? If so, you might find this roundup of the best orthopedic pillows for stomach sleepers helpful. Among our featured pillows, we recommend the Coisum Stomach Sleeping Pillow. With its curved design that supports your neck while you’re comfortably lying on your stomach, belly sleepers will want to give it a try. Read our full review below.
Overview
In the past, sleeping on your stomach is largely frowned upon by a majority of health and sleep experts.
Here’s why:
It is largely because it’s been found that sleeping on your stomach can cause unnecessary strain on your neck and spine, which can give you discomfort the following day.
Not a great way to start your day, right?
However, if you are the type of person who can’t sleep comfortably in any other position, we have good news for you.
Technology in the past decade has caught up in regards to making sleep as comfortable and accessible to everyone – even stomach sleepers.
We’d like to introduce to you the best ortho pillow that’s good for your body and will keep you comfortable all night long.
In this article, not only will we show you the best orthopedic pillows available today, but we will talk about the following key points:
- different factors you need to consider before buying an orthopedic pillow
- why you should use an orthopedic pillow, in the first place
- types of orthopedic pillows
And some bonus things like FAQ’s and medical facts, as well.
So, let’s get started.
The 7 Best Orthopedic Pillows of 2020
Table of Contents
1. Elite Rest Ultra Slim Sleeper
This pillow is made with memory foam, and a fantastic one at that. With its well-thought design, people can keep their heads closer to the mattress when sleeping, which allows for a better neck and spine alignment. That decreases the chances of a person to wake up with any aching at all.
Why should you choose this pillow?
- Its loft measures at 2.5 inches, which is uncommon for memory foam pillows
- Hypoallergenic
- Antimicrobial
- Dust mite and bed bug resistant
2. Jollyvogue Pillows
This pillow offers a pure 100% cotton cover and its filling is composed of high-quality polyester. The best part, though? It’s completely customizable. That’s right, you can customize it to your set of preferences regarding comfort. Additionally, the Jollyvogue pillow keeps you as close to the mattress as possible, which makes it one of the best pillows for stomach and side sleepers.
Why should you choose this pillow?
- Upon selection, the pillow’s feel is medium to firm. However, when you have purchased it, it will come with a filling bag that can add more padding or be used for storage.
- The cover is a 3-layer quilted cotton fabric.
- Dust mite resistant
- Prevents the formation of molds and mildew
3. Belly Sleep Gel Infused Memory Foam
This pillow is designed to eliminate your worries of having neck pain and night sweats. It has a low loft construction and moisture-wicking capabilities, which is perfect for people who sleep on their bellies and who normally wake up, sweating. Belly Sleep’s pillow is sure to keep those discomforts away.
Why should you choose this pillow?
- Infused with a cooling gel for optimum coolness.
- It is a perfect balance of comfort and support for a relaxing and healthy sleep.
- The cover is removable to make it easier to clean.
4. Coisum Stomach Sleeping Pillow
This particular pillow is tailored to fit the needs of people who not only sleep on their stomachs, but also prefer to have their arms hugging the pillow. With its design, your neck will be the one to thank you for choosing this pillow. The company knows that sleeping on your stomach is unhealthy, but they believe that the position is not at fault, but the pillows. Thus, they created this pillow for stomach sleepers specifically. Although they do admit that it takes a while for people to get used to the design. However, they assure that the pillow will provide the comfort you need for a good night’s sleep.
Why should you choose this pillow?
- It is shaped so that your arms are comfortable while embracing the pillow.
- The pillow is made from a slow rebound foam, which creates a fantastic balance between support and comfort.
- The cover is removable and machine washable
5. Bluewave Bedding Super Slim Gel Memory Foam Pillow
Although this article focuses on orthopedic pillows for stomach sleepers, this pillow is perfect for all positions. The way this pillow is designed is set to properly align your shoulders, spine, and neck, in whatever position you’re in. Plus, this pillow can help alleviate orthopedic issues that you might be experiencing.
Why should you choose this pillow?
- The pillow has a dual inner and outer cover.
- Hypoallergenic
- Dust mite resistant
- Prevents mold and mildew from forming.
- Highly durable
- The pillow has moisture-wicking technology
6. Saatva Pillow
The Saatva pillow combines shredded latex with down-alternative materials to provide a firm, yet soft feel to it. It’s designed to have two pillows in one. How does that work? Well, an “inner” pillow is put inside the “outer” pillow. This creates the balance of comfort and support that the company claims. The inner pillow is made from shredded latex for support and the outer pillow is made from down-alternatives to give your head and neck a nice warm hug while you sleep. That makes a pillow excellent for stomach sleepers. Interested in the Saatva pillow? Our team recently posted a full review of the Saatva Latex Pillow.
Why should you choose this pillow?
- The filling of the pillow is up to you. You can either add or subtract, depending on your preferred level of comfort and support.
- The dual layer design.
- Hypoallergenic
- The outer cover is machine washable, but only on a cool cycle with mild detergent.
- Available in King and Queen sizes
7. Casper Down Pillow
Lastly, we have the Casper Down Pillow. It is made of 100% down material. The overall feel that this pillow gives is light and feathery that whenever people put their heads on it, the pillow compresses to the size of a low loft pillow. With this pillow, you can be sure that your neck and back are naturally aligned whenever you sleep on your stomach for a healthier sleep.
Why should you choose this pillow?
- Down pillows are not usually machine washable and dryable, but the Casper down pillow is the exception.
- Free shipping and returns within US and Canada.
- The company offers a 100-night trial.
- Removable cover
Why Is Using An Orthopedic Pillow Important For Stomach Sleepers?
Sleeping on your stomach can create unneeded pressure on your spine, neck, and shoulders, which result in pain on those areas of the body; and can lead to more severe cases if prolonged. In comes the orthopedic pillow. The word orthopedic itself means that it provides support and fix any injury that might have stemmed from sleep.
Questions You Need To Ask When Shopping For The Best Orthopedic Pillows For Stomach Sleepers
Now that we’ve shown you the best orthopedic pillows, we also need to discuss the things you need to consider when shopping for it.
There are a few things that you need to focus on, mainly:
- Firmness
- Loft
- Materials
Once you’ve taken all of that into consideration, it will be much easier for you to select the right pillow.
What Are The Types of Orthopedic Pillows?
When it comes to the construction of the pillow, it’s best to know what kind of materials were used. The most common are down, down alternative, and memory foam, and latex. But wait, “What are those?”, you might ask.
Well, we will be discussing all four of them for you.
Down – Down is a type of pillow that contains genuine feathers from geese and ducks. The pillow provides a soft and fluffy feel to it that people can squeeze into, which makes it the optimal pillow for stomach sleepers.
Down-Alternative – Down alternatives are created to feel exactly like down pillows. The reason is that a down-alternative pillow costs significantly less compared to a true down pillow. This pillow is filled with either fibers that come from trees or proprietary polyester.
Memory Foam – Although memory foam is not ideal for stomach sleepers because memory foam tends to be on the firmer side of a pillow’s “softness” scale. However, people can still opt for one but have to make sure that the pillow is extra soft.
Latex – These pillows can either be filled with a piece of latex or shreds of it. Latex pillows offer a more unique support for stomach sleepers due to the fact that it quickly responds to pressure. Although it is a bit firmer than down and down alternatives, shredded latex almost always has a mix of down-alternative materials for a softer feel.
What Is Loft And What Does It Have To Do With Choosing A Pillow?
When talking about orthopedic pillows a loft is the height of the pillow when laid down. For people who prefer to sleep on their stomachs, the shorter the loft, the better, preferably 2 inches. or less. This is because stomach sleepers need a pillow that naturally aligns the spine in a healthy posture, and pillows with a low loft can greatly help with that. Plus, it’s a fantastic way of getting rid of any future neck problems.
So, to be safe, it’s best to buy pillows with low lofts. However, some pillows might have a loft of greater than 4-in., but as long as the materials are soft and can be compressed down into at least 2-in., it’s still okay. See our guide above regarding the materials.
Is Breathability And Coolness Important When Choosing An Orthopedic Pillow?
Indeed, they are. Although you might not be prone to night sweats, choosing a pillow that is cool and well-ventilated can make you sleep faster and eliminates discomfort all the more. That is why, it is important to consider a pillow’s breathability.
Some added materials that companies use to help make pillows cooler and more breathable:
- Copper or Graphite infused into the cover fabric
- Phase Change Material or PCM
- Cooling gel pads
- Shredded or ventilated foam for more breathability
Ultimately, when shopping for a pillow, coolness and breathability is key for a peaceful night’s sleep. That goes for all sleeping positions, not just for stomach sleepers. Remember, a cool pillow is a great pillow.
Are Orthopedic Pillows Durable?
Like any other pillows, its lifespan can last for 5 to 10 years, depending on the materials and usage. However, according to plenty of research, you should start replacing your pillows after 1 to 2 years of using it. This promotes optimal sleeping conditions.
How Much Am I Going To Spend?
Don’t worry, buying an orthopedic pillow won’t cost you an arm and a limb. All products that are listed below are affordable and are of great value for their price. However, we recommend to always read customer reviews before buying one in order for you to know if it’s a good investment or a bad one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are. In fact, down pillows are specifically designed for them. Since sleeping on your stomach creates pressure on your neck and back, down pillows offer support by naturally aligning them while you sleep.
In general, yes, it isn’t recommended. However, orthopedic pillows have now changed the game and made it healthier for people who prefer sleeping on their bellies at night.
Nowadays, there are plenty of orthopedic pillows that can offer both comfort and support for stomach sleepers. Fortunately for you, we’ve narrowed the number down to seven to make it easier for you. Please see our list above for the best orthopedic pillows for people who love sleeping on their stomachs.
Shredded foam pillows are ideal for people who love to sleep either on their sides or on their stomachs. It’s important to keep in mind that a shredded foam pillow, when bought, is a bit firmer, which would require you to remove some of the filling for it to have a balance between comfort and support.
Conclusion
The right pillow should not only provide a peaceful night’s rest, but it should also enable you to have a healthier sleep. For stomach sleepers, the pillows featured here can greatly help in reducing any future pains or aches on your neck, back, and shoulders. On top of that, these pillows can provide relief if you’re experiencing aches or pains already.
Although some of the pillows listed above need a certain amount of time to get used to them, it is well-worth the trouble. Caring for our bodies does not stop the moment we close our eyes and go to bed. It’s a 24/7 process.
The introduction of orthopedic pillows brings much needed support for everyone. The softness provides a sense of calm during sleep, and the firmness provides neutral spine alignment. The result? Optimal sleep that makes you feel more relaxed when you wake up.
Disclaimer
If you are experiencing sleeping disorders for several nights, we recommend that you seek medical attention. This article only provides a general guide and should not be used to treat any disorder that anyone is experiencing.
