How to Choose the Best Pillow For a Side Sleeper
Finding the best pillow for a side sleeper is a lot different than finding one for a full sleeper. A good full sleeper may have some or all of their pillows positioned in a way that completely covers them, whereas for a side sleeper, the best pillow position is one that allows them to be able to see out of the sides of the bed. Below are some tips on how to choose the best pillow for a side sleeper:
Make sure the mattress on which you will be sleeping is firm enough for a side sleeper, but not so firm that the sleeper is unable to reach the sides of the bed. This is an important consideration for both full and side sleeper mattresses.
Your mattress should be firm enough for a side sleeper to rest on their back comfortably. While the head is supported with a slant toward the center of the mattress, the shoulders are supported at the edges by the base of the bed. If the pillow is not positioned close enough to the head to hold them up, the side sleeper may tip over and injure themselves.
There are many types of pillow for a side sleeper available. Many of them are made to provide the support to the neck and head for each side of the body.
The neck support for a side sleeper should be similar to that of a full sleeper. A pillow that provides too much support for a side sleeper may result in the side sleeper slipping forward out of the bottom bunk of the bed.
It is important that the support for the head of a side sleeper is the same as that of a full sleeper. The head should be supported by the same area of the mattress as it is on a full sleeper. The head needs to be lifted off the mattress in order to allow the full sleeper to be comfortable.
Some pillows have features which will allow the full sleeper to remove their pillow completely from the side sleeper and lay completely flat on their side. This may not be comfortable for the side sleeper, but in many cases, the smaller head which can easily roll to the side when the sleeper is fully asleep can be greatly increased.
The head support should be sufficient for the side sleeper to be able to lift their head completely off the mattress without putting their neck in an unnatural position. The head should not have to come up over the eyes to get a good night’s sleep.
Head support is not adequate for a side sleeper, but it is often a consideration when making a decision between a half and full size mattress. A full size mattress will provide more of a head support than a half-size mattress.
The head should not slip forward on a pillow for a side sleeper, but it should also not slip forward enough that the full sleeper cannot reach the sides of the bed. The pillow should be positioned in such a way that it is able to help the sides of the bed to keep the full sleeper on the bottom side of the bed.
Both full and side sleeper mattresses come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The shape of the mattress that will provide the best support for your individual shape and size will vary based on the options that are available.
Many pillows for a side sleeper come in memory foam material. If you have a memory foam pillow, the shape of the bed may be adjusted in order to create the desired level of comfort for the side sleeper.
