1.1 Is a pillow really necessary for you?
1.2 How do you place your head on the pillow?
Every person has their favorite sleeping position. Quite a number of people find sleeping on their stomach as the most relaxing position. However, as relaxing as this sleeping position is, it poses a number of issues. First, you might suffer from pain in your lower back, experience some pinched nerves at the back of your neck and shoulders. Additionally, you might feel some pain on your buttocks and the legs when you wake up. Nevertheless, there is a solution to all the above stated problems-finding the best pillow for stomach sleepers. In this guide, we will highlight what you should consider while buying a stomach sleeping pillow, the types of stomach sleeper pillows and the best stomach sleeper pillows available in the market.
For a stomach sleeper, there are some considerations that you should make while buying a pillow. Some of the considerations are unique to people who sleep on their stomach while others are general considerations. Highlighted below are some of the considerations.
Is a pillow really necessary for you?
At times no pillow is the best option for some people who sleep on their stomach. Some pillows can either be too low or too high which might cause numbness of the neck and shoulders, pain in the lower back or nerve pinching. Therefore, if you find that most pillows cause you discomfort at night, then you might try the no pillow option. However, the no-pillow option does not work for all people who sleep on their stomach and here are a few more considerations to make while shopping for a pillow.
How do you place your head on the pillow?
Stomach sleeping is a unique position and as such presents unique challenges. Some people do not place their heads fully on the mattress but rather place their foreheads only while the nose and mouth are not placed on the pillow to allow for air intake. However, this position can cause problems for people who lay on their stomachs as it might force one to overstretch the neck. To overcome this challenge, look for a pillow which allows for free air movement even when your nose and mouth are on the pillow.
The best pillow for a stomach sleeper is the one which will provide the required support. Some pillows are too soft while others are too firm such that they cause numbness and general discomfort. Therefore look for pillow that is not too soft neither too hard.
Loft is simply the pillows height or elevation. Different pillows have different heights. Some will lower their loft after you place your head on them while others will not budge. Additionally, other pillows are moldable. For a stomach sleeper, it is best to go for a pillow whose loft changes or one with very low loft. High and medium loft pillows cause straining as the head and spine are often not in alignment which causes discomfort and interruptions while asleep.
A pillow can be soft and offer excellent support or it can be hard or firm and offer miserable support. The best pillows are the ones that will budge to your contours while you sleep. However, there are some thin pillows which offer excellent support and are also firm. They do not change their loft even when pressure is applied on them.
For a stomach sleeper, it is best to go for a moldable or slim pillow.
Although pillows are not as durable as mattresses, you should none the less go for a pillow that will serve you well for a couple of years. Generally speaking, the higher the quality of the pillow you decide to buy, the longer it will last. It is easy to identify a high quality pillow by looking at the material and the workmanship of the same.
It is very important for you as a stomach sleeper to look for a pillow that offers the best support since underperforming pillows put your health at risk. Although not necessarily true, high quality pillows tend to be more expensive than those of lower quality. Although you should not base your judgment of the pillow’s quality on price alone, more highly priced pillows are usually of a higher quality.
What determines the performance (feel, comfort, ease of maintenance and durability) of a pillow is the material it is made of. The type of pillow you choose is of utmost importance. Each material has its own benefits and drawbacks.
For people who sleep on their stomach however, high loft pillows which are firm are not advisable since they cause misalignment between the head and spine which results in general discomfort. The best options are shredded memory pillows since they are malleable and do not have a very high loft.
The pillows are made of buckwheat hulls (outer shells). They weigh around 5 to 10 lbs. and have an adjustable loft. They also offer good conformity to the head’s contours and as such offer good support. However, they are a bit pricy and also noisy because of the husks. Although buckwheat pillows offer good support, they are not advisable for people who sleep on their stomachs since they are a bit too firm.
Down are the soft removable inner plumage found in ducks’ or gooses’ outer feathers. Down pillows have an adjustable loft. They are lightweight and are also very soft and have a long lifespan. On the downside though, they are also a bit pricy and do not retain their shape well. They can also be allergic and you need to fluff them often. Despite these drawbacks, down pillows are appropriate for people who sleep on their stomach since they are thin and can quickly be adjusted for loft. Moreover, though they are thin, they are also very supportive.
They are made of memory foam which can either be solid shredded. They can also be made of viscoelastic polyfoam. The pillows conform very well and are silent. Shredded foam pillows have an adjustable loft. On the downside though, some can be pricy and have a relatively short life span compared to other materials like the buckwheat and down pillows. They can have an odor while new but this soon disappears once you aerate them.
They are the most suitable pillows for people who sleep on their stomach since they are generally thin, conforming, make no noise and are very supportive.
The Shredded Hypoallergenic Certipur Memory Foam Pillow is one of the best pillows that you can buy. It is made of very high quality material to ensure maximum comfort and support. The design of the pillow is also technologically advanced. What’s more, the pillow is also certified.
The pillow has very unique features which makes it a perfect match for stomach sleepers. It has an inner core that is made of memory foam instead of the traditional solid slab which is not as comfortable. Additionally, the inner chamber of the pillow is full of shredded foam. The advantage of shredded foam is that you can fold, twist and turn it in any way you want until you get that perfect sleeping position.
Furthermore, you will still get that comfy springy support that you require despite the position you decide to settle in. The cover of the pillow is also another interesting feature because it is made of hypoallergenic bamboo which is not only eco-friendly but also breathable.
The manufacturers of this pillow know that you do not want to catch some nasty bugs in your sleep. That is why they have made the foam interior dust mite resistant. The interior also contains microbial and anti-bacterial properties to ensure a totally healthy and comfortable good night sleep.
If you have a king or queen sized bed, there is nothing to worry about either since the pillow is available in both sizes. The Shredded Hypoallergenic Certipur Memory Foam Pillow comes in standard thickness but the best thing is that you can position it into the thickness that you feel most comfortable at thanks to the shredded foam interior.
Has a stay cool fabric and offers superior air flow such that air is not restrained while sleeping on your stomach.
Although shredded foam pillows tend to get uneven at times, it is easy to make them comfortable. Additionally, they offer so many advantages and come packed with a host of wonderful features. You can thin them out or puff them up as much as you want, they also “move” together with you when you change your sleeping position at night.
Elite Rest Ultra Slim Sleeper Memory Foam Pillow offers the ultimate thinness that some people crave for. It is the ideal alternative to standard cotton and memory foam filled pillows since it is only 2.5 inches thick. It the perfect match for the stomach sleeper who wants to feel as little material between their heads and the bed. It not only offers a perfect elevation for your head but it also ensures that your spine is not out of alignment with the head.
It is a perfect alternative for people who like to place their hands under the pillows. Despite, its slim thickness, the Elite Rest Ultra Slim Pillow has a very firm core which ensures that its shape does not change no matter how much a restless sleeper you are.
Has a unique half-moon shape to ensure that your head is elevated at the right position and in alignment with your spine.
It has a flat bottom and a rounded top. This shape makes it lay perfectly on the mattress.
Has anti-bacterial and anti- microbial property which ensures that you are safe from nasty bed bugs and infections.
Although the pillow is thin, its genius lies in its shape. Thanks to the half-moon shape, the pillow offers excellent support for the head, neck, shoulders and back.
Different people prefer different pillow thicknesses to sleep comfortably. It is therefore prudent to test out the pillow before purchase it to see if it is comfortable for you or you would rather get a thicker one. The difference between the ultra slim and the slim pillow is only an inch but this is a huge difference when it comes to the comfort that you derive from each pillow.
For a stomach sleeper, you need a pillow that does not lift your head too high otherwise you will have problems with your spine, neck and shoulders. The appropriate pillow should position your head at the right angle.
A very thick pillow will cause arching of the back which is a recipe for disaster. The Slim Sleeper Memory Foam Pillow is the perfect choice for stomach sleepers because of its thickness. It also has a hypoallergenic memory interior and its cotton cover is washable.
The pillow is flat shaped and as such, it offers comfort and prevents pads on your face while sleeping on your stomach. Its interior is also firm but the firmness does not prevent it from shifting with you at night as you move to different head positions while asleep.
Air flow is very important and the pillow ensures that you get adequate supply of the same.
The material used to make the pillow is very durable and also of simple design which makes it very easy to take care of. This is a perfect match for people who sleep on their stomachs since it will not cover your face during the night.
The pillow gets its name from the six microfiber sections that you can add or remove in accordance to your preference. The Pancake Pillow is a perfect fit for people who want to adjust the elevation of their pillows. The microfiber sections are very soft and also luxurious to make your night’s sleep as restful as possible.
Has a hypoallergenic property which allows for maximum air flow. It also maintains optimum temperature all night long.
When you are not using any layers, you can store them in the accompanying interior layers bag.
One of the main draw backs of the pancake pillow is that it is not pad memory foam. However, the pillow gives the stomach sleeper firm support since it contains microfiber interior. Additionally, the extra layers of the pillow can be shared among family members or other guests.
The eLuxurySupply Extra Soft Filled Pillow offers the perfect balance between comfort and depth. The pillow is extremely soft and comes in three different sizes. You can either purchase the queen sized option or a small handy pillow which you can easily carry while travelling.
One of the greatest features of the pillow is that you can sleep comfortably on your stomach since it gives you the perfect spinal alignment. As a result, your neck, shoulder and back muscles are totally relaxed and you will not develop any nerve pinching at all.
With the pillow, you will not experience some common problems like headaches, pain in your lower back, numbness and stiffness of the shoulders which are very prevalent among people who sleep on their stomach.
Very soft and it is perfect for stomach sleeper, pregnant women as well as back sleepers.
The eLuxurySupply Extra Soft Filled Pillow is a very comfortable pillow for people who sleep on their stomachs. Additionally, it is priced just right and it is easily available on Amazon. It also comes in three different sizes to fit your particular needs.
With a little time and dedication, finding the best pillow should not be a very daunting task. When you take your time to choose the best stomach sleeper pillow, then you will go home and enjoy a good night’s sleep. Highlighted above are excellent pillows for people who sleep on their stomach and also a very helpful guide on what to consider while choosing the best stomach sleeper pillow.