The Best Pillow For Your Sleep Style

If you’re a side sleeper, you probably need more support as you rest. Sleeping on your side results in a large amount of space between the mattress and your head, which can make sleep uncomfortable. Standard pillows aren’t sufficient for providing the support side sleepers need. That’s why side sleepers often complain of neck pain, and they sometimes get little rest because they toss and turn from one side to the other, trying to find a comfortable position.

Side sleeping is the most common sleeping position by far. For this sleep style, you’ll want a firm or extra-firm pillow to support your neck and head. Researchers believe a pillow that’s 10 centimeters, or about 4 inches, high is the perfect height for side sleepers, but this may vary slightly from person to person. Many people find the most comfort with memory foam or latex pillows, especially those that feature a contour for your head. These styles are firm and won’t break down as quickly as a traditional down or polyester pillow.

Back sleepers don’t have the same discomforts as side sleepers, but they may suffer from restlessness or interrupted sleep. It’s common for back sleepers to have issues with sleep apnea or snoring, which can be disruptive to the sleeper as well as anyone else in the bed. It’s not uncommon for back sleepers to wake up feeling groggy and not well-rested, though they don’t remember waking up throughout the night.

The best pillows for back sleepers are those that cradle the head. A medium or medium-firm style is best. If you regularly snore or have sleep apnea, you may find that a wedge-shaped pillow under your head and shoulders helps alleviate some of your issues.

Stomach sleepers have fewer complaints of snoring, but they do experience discomfort if they use the wrong pillow. If you sleep on your stomach, you may find your standard pillow too uncomfortable, so you sleep with your face flat on the mattress, which is hardly restful. With a large pillow, though, you are raising your head too far off the mattress, which puts a strain on your neck and shoulders. You very likely wake up with a crick in your neck if you sleep this way often.

A thin, soft pillow is the best option for stomach sleepers. You need a pillow to support your neck but look for one that isn’t too firm. A thin foam pillow or feather pillow will offer the perfect amount of support.

If you’re one of the rare types who shifts from one position to the next as you sleep, you need a special type of pillow that fits all your sleep positions. Believe it or not, there are pillows that have both firm and soft sections as well as pillows that feature a low center for back sleeping and higher sides for side sleeping.

If you have sciatica or other back issues and tend to sleep on your side, you may benefit from another pillow wedged between your knees to help stabilize your spine.  Back sleepers find that a pillow placed behind the knees is helpful because it relieves pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Whatever your sleep position, we’re here to help you find the perfect solution. Get the best sleep of your life by visiting The Mattress Hub. Our sleep experts will help you rest up at the friendliest mattress stores in Wichita, KS.