How To Choose The Suitable Pillow for Stomach Sleepers
Side sleeping is considered to be the healthiest and most comfortable sleeping position of all. However, there are a bunch of people who prefer sleeping on their stomach which, in all fairness, is the least recommended position of all. When you sleep on your stomach (pillow or not), your head will be resting in such a position that it will put a lot of strain on your neck. Even so, you sometimes can’t help it. And that’s why it’s important to have a suitable pillow that offers as much support in this position as possible.
Pros and Cons of Stomach Sleeping
In all honestly, stomach sleeping is a position that offers more cons compared to the advantages it brings to the table. So, why would anyone sleep in this position in the first place?
- Out of all the three main sleeping positions, stomach sleeping is the one that reduces the chances of snoring the most. When you sleep on your back, you are very likely to end up snoring, but when you sleep on the stomach, it doesn’t give your throat muscles a chance to relax that much, which means that the airway is less likely to be blocked.
- People who sleep on their stomach have also fewer chances of ending up with wrinkles, at least compared to those who sleep on the side. One of the cons of sleeping on the side is the fact that the face compresses against the pillow enough to make it prone to wrinkle developed.
But are these two advantages enough to outweigh the downsides that come with resting in this particular sleeping position?
- One of the major downsides of sleeping on your stomach is the fact that there is a lot of potential for neck pain. When you turn your head to the side (which is kind of unavoidable since you can’t sleep face-down into the bed or you’ll suffocate), this forces your neck muscles quite a lot and makes you more susceptible to neck pain.
- This position can also put a lot of strain on the spine because the weight of your stomach can actually cause it to weight the body down into the bed in this particular area of the body. This means that the spine’s curvature is likely to flatten, causing you to feel pressure along the spine. This can be somewhat avoided by choosing a mattress that doesn’t allow the body to sink into the bed too much (firm mattresses are usually a good choice for stomach sleepers).
- When you sleep on your stomach, you are also more likely to experience discomfort while sleeping, making you more likely to toss and turn in an attempt to find the right sleeping position. Needless to say, this could cause you to wake up and can disrupt your sleep up to a point where you discover that you’re not resting properly anymore.
Top 7 Pillows for Stomach Sleepers
1. Layla Kapok Pillow
The Layla Kapok pillow is a champion regardless of your favorite sleeping positions. It is created by bringing forward a combination of shredded memory foam fill combines with the fibers of a kapok tree. The cover might be made of lycra, viscose, and polyester, but it stands out because of the copper infusion which makes it one of the most breathable covers on the market.
While there are no multiple firmness options to choose from, the Kapok is a pillow that provides the sleepers with a medium-soft feel that does a really fine job in conforming to one’s sleeping needs. Because it’s highly flexible, it also provides a great level of flexibility for people who want to maneuver their pillow until they find the right shape for their sleeping needs.
There are plenty of strong selling points for the Kapok pillow, but the ones that really make this product stand out of the crowd are the close conforming features, the high levels of moldability, and the excellent temperature neutrality it provides.
Who Should Buy This?
The Layla Kapok pillow is a really good product for heavyweight sleepers (more than 230 pounds) regardless of their favorite sleeping positions, but also a wise choice for everyone who tends to sleep hot.
A luxurious pillow, plush and airy, soft and supportive at the same time.
View DealPros:
- Great pressure point relief.
- Sleeps cool.
- Copper-infusion for better circulation.
- Good sleep trial.
Cons:
- Difficult to clean.
2. Lofe Pillow
Next up, we have the Lofe pillow, a product that we found appealing and suitable for stomach sleepers for a variety of different reasons. First of all, it’s a low profile pillow that makes it more suitable for people who like to sleep on their stomachs, as it only measures 3.25 inches in thickness. It comes with ergonomic edges that will support neck rotations.
The cover is made from bamboo and it is removable and washable, which is always a good feature to have because it eases up the maintenance process of the product. The inside of the pillow is made with gel-infused memory foam in order to prevent this comfortable material from trapping way to much body heat and causing the midnight sweats.
The end result is a pillow that offers premium soft foam and high contouring benefits. Interestingly enough, you will receive one additional cover for the pillow, which means that you don’t have to wait for the one you’re washing to dry out before you can actually use the pillow again.
Who Should Buy This?
The Lofe pillow is great for stomach sleepers who tend to feel thermal discomfort, but also for those who are interested in a product that’s easy to clean and comes with additional goodies in the package.
Pros:
- Breathable bamboo cover.
- Removable and washable cover.
- Gel-infused memory foam.
- Additional cover included.
Cons:
- Slight off-gassing.
3. Xtreme Comforts
Xtreme Comfort is an amazingly good brand of pillows and if you are particularly interested in having a quality and breathable cover on your stomach pillow, this is the product to choose. It comes in three different sizes instead of forcing you to opt for a single standard size.
While the brand is known for making a wider range of pillows, this is the one that you must opt for if you are a stomach sleeper because it comes with five inches of thickness instead of 7, which is the traditional version.
The pillow also uses the company’s patented Kool-Flow cover which is made from micro-vented bamboo and provides high moisture-wicking capacity and a level of breathability that you’re surely going to love. Being hypoallergenic, it poses no threat to people who need to steer clear of allergy-triggering contaminants.
Who Should Buy This?
The Xtreme Comforts is one of the best cooling pillows designed for stomach sleepers thanks to its micro-vented and moisture-wicking cover.
It is made with certified foam that comes in shredded bits for more moldability.
View DealPros:
- 3 size options.
- Machine-washable.
- Quality construction.
Cons:
- Not as slim as advertised.
4. Milemont Pillow
Here’s another good pillow that doesn’t cost a fortune and meets all the requirements needed for us to label it as a good bargain buy. The pillow comes with a fill that’s made entirely out of shredded memory foam, being highly adjustable when you want to mold it and squeeze it. Being certified foam, you also have the peace of mind knowing that this is a toxin-free product suitable for any family member.
It is only available in a single size, which is a real shame because we always want to see more sizing options. For not, we’ll just have to settle for this 28 x 18-inch pillow. As far as the cover is concerned, the Milemont pillow comes with a blend that’s 51 percent polyethylene and 49 percent polyester.
A very important thing to note here is that the pillow isn’t machine washable, so if you’re interested in a product that’s easier to care for by simply throwing it in the washing machine, we do suggest looking at some of the other products in this list.
Who Should Buy This?
Those of you looking for a pillow suitable for stomach sleepers that doesn’t break the back are surely going to fall head over heels for the Milemont pillow.
Offering hotel-quality softness, our breathable shredded foam pillows are designed to align to your neck, spine and upper body
View DealPros:
- Good price.
- High levels of moldability.
- Certified memory foam.
- Good for all sleeping positions.
Cons:
- Difficult to clean.
- Slight off-gassing.
5. Milemont Ventilated Pillow
We bring Milemont to this list once more because this time we have a product that’s been highly praised by its customers and it’s one of the best-selling stomach pillows at the moment. It is available in three different sizes, so there’s already more versatility compared to what we see in other products in this category.
The inside of the pillow is represented by a chunk of memory foam that takes two distinct measures in providing better breathability. First, there is the air-cell technology that brings forth the perforated mastery of this block of memory foam. That means that air can easily travel through the surface of the pillow. Then, the memory foam is also infused with gel, meaning less heat retention.
But another really interesting thing is the fact that the cover has a double-sided design, unlike anything we’ve seen before. One of the sides is made out of polyester and ice fabric, while the other is made out of a blend of Tencel and polyester.
Who Should Buy This?
Looking for a breathable, affordable, supportive, and highly conforming pillow for stomach sleeping? Milemont might have just the right thing.
Both sides are really soft and breathable, making it a really awesome cooling pillow for side sleepers.
View DealPros:
- AirCell memory foam.
- Gel-infused fill.
- Washable pillow-case.
- Double-sided case.
- 3 size options.
Cons:
- Complaints about it being too firm.
6. HOKEKI Pillow
You might be a stomach sleeper, but maybe you like to sleep on the side and there may even be some time throughout the night when you find yourself resting on your back. That means that you need a pillow to provide support and comfort in all three main sleeping positions, and that’s exactly what the Hokeki pillow does.
The pillow is made from memory foam and has a concave design that basically caters to the needs of different parts of your upper body, making sure that the head and the neck are properly supported and comfortable enough to allow you to sleep soundly throughout the entire night.
The cover is made from a blend of polyester and rayon that leads to a breathable cover and an overall hypoallergenic sleeping environment. The Hokeki pillow is basically suitable for all sleeping positions because it offers a medium with a slow response that supports the weight of the head without straining the neck all that much.
Who Should Buy This?
If you’re a combination sleeper and you need a pillow that’s capable of providing support even when you switch from one position to another.
It feels soft and comfortable, healthier and safer
View DealPros:
- Memory foam construction.
- Concave design.
- Removable cover.
Cons:
- Slight off-gassing.
7. Deluxe Comfort
To end our series of mini-reviews in style, we wanted to give you a different alternative to all the products that we’ve seen today. This isn’t the average stomach pillow that supports you when turning your head to the side, but rather one designed to have you sleep with your face down, facing the mattress.
It is basically a wedge pillow with a U-shaped type of design and a specific hole that’s meant to allow your face to breathe while you sleep on your stomach. The pillow is made from a giant block of polyurethane foam which means that there is no way for you to adjust the loft. The materials of the cover are not specified, but we do know that the cover can be unzipped and washed in your home washing machine.
Who Should Buy This?
If none of the stomach pillows worked so far and you would like to try out a more unconventional design, take a peek at the Deluxe Comfort pillow.
Enables you to sleep comfortably and safely face-down
View DealPros:
- Washable cover.
- Promotes good spinal position.
- Good for back pain.
- Face support.
Cons:
- Might put strain on the neck.
Bottom Line
As a stomach sleeper, finding absolute comfort without any neck strain is going to be extremely difficult. Even if you decide to sleep without a pillow, there will still be a lot of strain on your neck due to the fact that your head has to be turned so you can breathe normally. There are a few benefits to side sleeping, such as the fact that it eliminates the chances of snoring quite a lot.
Even so, it’s important to keep in mind that when you buy a pillow for stomach sleeping, there are certain standards that it has to meet, like the fact that it can’t have too much loft or else it double the amount of strain put on your neck because it lifts the head way too much. Other than that, you simply have to follow the guidelines that you would normally follow when buying pretty much any type of pillow.