You've probably heard lots of advice about how to get better sleep — for example, by not looking at your phone before bed, or by avoiding late-night snacks. However, choosing the right pillow is also crucial. Shopping for a pillow might seem straightforward enough, but finding a good pillow is about more than basic comfort; pillows provide support to your head, neck, shoulders, and spine.
That's why it's also important to consider your sleeping position when choosing a pillow. Whether you're a side sleeper, back sleeper, or stomach sleeper, we've compiled some recommendations to help make shopping for your next pillow a bit easier.
Pillows for Back Sleepers
If you sleep on your back, you won't want a pillow that's too firm — but too soft won't work either. You'll want a pillow that keeps your neck and spine aligned, and if your pillow is too high or too low, it could cause your neck to tilt.
Beckham Hotel Collection Down-Alternative Pillow
Starting at
$59.99
from
This Beckham Hotel Collection pillow is a relatively affordable option for back sleepers. It's not too firm and not too soft, providing the right amount of support for your head. The pillow also boasts a "bounce-back design," so it maintains its shape.
More from LittleThings: The Absolute Best Gifts To Give Beauty-Product-Obsessed Moms This Year
Layla Adjustable Fill Kapok Pillow
The Layla Adjustable Fill Kapok Pillow is another pillow that maintains its shape, and although its softness is reminiscent of a cloud, it still provides sufficient support. Back sleepers want to avoid pillows that are too high or too firm, making this one a great option — it's meant to "cradle" you as you sleep.
Purple Harmony Pillow
The Purple Harmony Pillow works well for back sleepers. It keeps your neck aligned with your spine, and also maintains its shape over time, so it doesn't get too flat and uncomfortable. With this pillow, you can also select your preferred pillow height, though Purple notes that back sleepers usually prefer a pillow with a lower height. If you're a combination sleeper, meaning you change positions, you might prefer the medium-height option.
Pillows for Stomach Sleepers
Stomach sleepers also tend to benefit from a thin, lower-height pillow. A thin pillow will help you maintain a neutral spine position, while a pillow that is too high or thick could tilt your neck and leave you waking up in pain.
Amazon Basics Down Alternative Pillow
The Amazon Basics Down Alternative Pillow is an affordable option for stomach sleepers. The pillow's soft density could also work for back sleepers (a medium density option is also available for back and side sleepers). The pillow is fairly thin, making it a more comfortable option for stomach sleepers.
Bluewave Bedding Ultra Slim Gel Memory Foam Pillow for Stomach and Back Sleepers
Some stomach sleepers might prefer a memory foam pillow. The Bluewave Bedding Ultra Slim Gel Memory Foam Pillow is ideal for stomach sleepers because it offers the typical feeling and firmness of memory foam without being too high. The low-height pillows are designed with stomach sleepers (and back sleepers) in mind, and you can even choose between an extra slim, hyper slim, ultra slim or super slim pillow (hint: they're all pretty slim, but the thickest is 3.25" while the thinnest is 1.75").
BLISSBURY Stomach Sleeping Pillow
If you're a frequent traveler, you might appreciate that the BLISSBURY Stomach Sleeping Pillow comes with a bag, so you can easily travel with your pillow that was made specifically for stomach sleepers. This pillow is thin and made with Premium 50D memory foam to help reduce the discomfort that come from sleeping on your stomach. The flat, thin memory foam also might help reduce snoring.
Pillows for Side Sleepers
For side sleepers, a pillow that is thicker and firm is generally better — meaning you'll probably want to choose a pillow that's different from the ones a back sleeper or stomach sleeper would typically choose.
Coop Home Goods The Original Cut-Out Adjustable Pillow
This pillow was made for side sleepers — and its shape makes that clear. The pillow's shoulder notch, which makes the pillow look crescent-shaped, keeps you in place while you sleep and provides more support. Because of the extra support it provides for your neck and shoulders, it could also help reduce pain you experience in these areas.
Dream Serenity Side Sleeper Memory Foam Pillow
The Dream Serenity Side Sleeper Memory Foam Pillow is designed to support your head and neck. Its bean shape provides extra support while you're sleeping on your side. It also uses Cooling Active Chill technology to keep you cool throughout the night.
ZAMAT Adjustable Memory Foam Neck Pillow
$49.99
from
The ZAMAT Adjustable Memory Foam Neck Pillow is marketed as a pillow for all types of sleepers, but the extra support its shape provides for your head and neck makes it stand out as a solid option for side sleepers. It even gives you a place to rest your arms and wrists, so if you often find yourself waking up with neck pain or wrist pain, this pillow might help.
*Psst: if you choose to purchase an item from this post, LittleThings.com may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
