The days when any normal type of pillow could do the trick should be a thing of the past. As we grow older we tend to become more selective of the type of pillow that we need for our good night’s sleep. Indeed there cannot be anything more terrible than struggling to sleep, troubled by discomfort while asleep or wake up drained for the day or worst, wake up with an aching neck.
Many people also spend some time finding the best mattresses for them. A pillow deserves the same amount of attention simply because it plays an important role in the quality of your sleep. It is important to know that there are many types on the market, including those special pillows for back sleepers. .
Similar to mattresses, not all pillows are suitable for back sleepers and you’re likely to find some that suits you more than others. Back-sleeping often requires pillows that are thicker than stomach sleeping, but not as thick as the ones side sleepers need.
Any pillow for back sleepers should always have the primary goal of proper spinal support as opposed to either collapsing the head down low or raising it up too high.
If your goal is to significantly enhance the quality of your sleep, read through our guide to choosing the best pillows for those who sleep on their back.
1. GhostBed Shredded Memory Foam Pillow
- CUSTOMIZE YOUR FILL - Personalize your comfort with the...
- STAY COOL ALL NIGHT - Breathable and instantly cool to the touch,...
- IMPROVE YOUR SLEEP - Too hot? Too cold? Too firm? Too soft? The...
- CERTI-PUR US CERTIFIED - Sleep soundly knowing you and your loved...
- PERFECT FOR ALL SLEEPERS - Because of its adjustable loft, the...
While this pillow can be beneficial to any sleeping position, it could be the best for back sleepers. It’s a gel memory foam with an adequately generous height that provides for a very elastically supportive grasp of the head.
The Ghostbed pillow consists of 4 layers; first layer is a removable and washable layer which helps with cooling. Second layer is the support core that provides enhanced support with no interference to the circulation of air. Third layer is a phase change material with adaptive thermal properties for warmth during winter as well as coolness during summer. Finally the fourth layer is air diffusing mesh cover that enhances the flow of air.
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2. Coop Home Goods Original Adjustable Pillow
- FINALLY – YOU HAVE FOUND THE ONE! – Meet the world’s best...
- FULLY ADJUSTABLE, YOU ARE IN CONTROL – Experiencing pain,...
- IS YOUR PILLOW GREEN GUARD GOLD CERTIFIED? – Our Coop Home...
- WE CARE – ONLY THE HIGHEST QUALITY MATERIALS USED! - The case...
- Made in the USA with domestic and imported materials. Unlike...
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3. Amazon Basics Down Alternative Pillows for Stomach and Back Sleepers
- Bed pillow offers exceptional comfort for a better night's sleep
- Includes (2) Standard-size 26 x 20-inch bed pillows
- Soft density for stomach and back sleepers; 100% polyester...
- Down alternative fill offers a great option for allergy sufferers
- Made in OEKO-TEX Standard 100% certified factory, an independent...
The Amazon Basics Down Alternative Pillows are uniquely created for the stomach and back-sleeping people characterized by a soft variety to support those who desire a lightweight, comfortable feature. This standard-size, sold in pack of 2, has a down alternative material to provide the feeling of using natural down without the diseases causing it. These are normal sized pillows that measure 26 inches in length, 20 inches in width though made with extremely smooth microfiber fabric that allows the pillows to be comfortable and easy for washing without many restrictions on the frequency of washing.
These are affordable Amazon Basics Down Alternative Pillows that offer incredible softness and comfort and should be used by light sleepers or people who don’t want large pillows. Perfect for stomach and back sleepers but those who require a slightly more firm bed will not be thrilled. They are convenient for daily or guest-room use because they are easy to wash and are not allergenic.
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4. Coop Home Goods Premium Bamboo Adjustable Pillow
- LOOK NO FURTHER, HOT SLEEPERS - Your search for the perfect...
- FULLY ADJUSTABLE, YOU ARE IN CONTROL – Experiencing pain,...
- IS YOUR PILLOW GREEN GUARD GOLD CERTIFIED? – Our Coop Home...
- WE CARE – ONLY THE HIGHEST QUALITY MATERIALS USED! - The case...
- YOUR BEST SLEEP EVER, GUARANTEED - You can now purchase with...
This adjustable pillow is perfect for medium to firm feel pillows as it is full of memory foam and microfiber.’ If you are a back sleeper, then the support-infiltrated firmness combined with the suppleness will work wonders for your back. This is a wonderful pillow that can actually make it almost impossible to toss and turn when sleeping.
Its Coop Home Goods pillow sides are designed to be opened to allow one to add or remove stuffing to his or her preference of level of support as well as height. Moreover, the soft cover- made from polyester and viscose rayon from bamboo, are hypoallergenic that also ensures its user a dust mite free environment.
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5. Bedstory Down Alternative Pillow
- ☁️CLOUD-LIKE EXPERIENCE: BedStory hotel luxury pillows come...
- ????️SUPPORTIVE COMFORT: With this bed pillow, you can feel...
- ????SKIN FRIENDLY: Filled with down alternative fibers, this...
- ✅MACHINE WASHABLE PILLOW: The stain-resistant pillows are easy...
- ✅WHAT YOU GET: BedStory 2 Pack queen size pillows 20 x 30...
This is one of the pillows that have been well and truly designed for the back sleepers out there. This pillow has a definite proportion of the materials for the balance of the head, and proper support for the spine all the time.
This pillow has extra soft down alternative foam which essentially only flattens if at all times in use. You also do not deal with chemicals and the same makes this pillow to be allergens free as well. This makes it an easy to maintain pillow for back sleepers since it is fully breathable but its cover is machine washable.
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What Should You Consider When Buying the Best Pillow for Back Sleepers
1. Support
The best pillows for back sleepers must keep head and neck intact unlike delivering them sinking down on the mattress. Supporting, in most cases, combines a material of a pillow to create it, height, and hardness.
2. Material
The material used in a pillow largely determine the support or comfort. In an ideal world you should consider one which is thick and firm enough to comfortably hold and support your head and neck through the night. In which case, feather pillows may not be particularly useful for the back sleeper, because the feathers tend to suction to the back, and stay that way.
3. Loft
Loft refers to how the pillow provides this thickness to the sleeper when there is nothing on top of it. Pillow that should be suitable for back sleepers should be semi-firm, with thickness ranging between 3 to 5 inches. This amount of loft is enough to ensure that the spine remains in right position should one be lying down, or asleep.
However, if you have a problem with your spine, you can always go for a pillow with a height that would be most suitable when sleeping on the back.
4. Moldability
This entails how the mould when one places the head and neck on top of it with the pillow still retaining its shape. Hence, the back sleepers best pillows should blend to a person’s sleeping pattern by easily contouring around the head and neck area. This offer the comfort and support for the user at a user specific level.
It is important to note that moldability plays a very important role for memory foam pillows. It allows the pillow to regain its normal form when the pressure on top of it is removed.
5. Level of Firmness
This is determined by the density of the material used. Regardless of the pillow type, the level of firmness is of great influence to your spinal structure. Usually, it is recommended to purchase a pillow that will have your neck in line with the rest of the body structures. So that your neck does not protrude out to the front or crouches down too low at the back.
6. Pressure Relief
Relief in a pillow is dependent with the firmness and the height of the pillow. This is done by the pillow providing support to spread this weight on top evenly. If this is not attained, abnormal pressure points may build up that can at sometime result to discomfort as well as pain.
7. Price
The cost vary widely when it comes to pillows. The price will mainly depend on the raw materials used and also the manner in which was built. Latex pillows are also a little more expensive than memory foam pillows in the current market though this may vary slightly. Surprisingly, the best pillows for back sleeping can be relatively pricey, but most of them are not overly so. Besides, it is always cheap considering that you are investing on one’s wellbeing.
Benefits of the Back Sleeping
In comparison to side and stomach sleeping, back sleeping provides less risky overall sleeping position for side sleeper spine health. Some of the pillows suitable for back sleeping position are best suited to supporting the general contour of your spine, while at the same time supporting your head, neck, chest, back, and shoulders. This is being useful in so far as it reduces the likelihood of discomfort, strain, or muscular ‘pulls,’ all of which can occur during and after the process of sleep.
When your spine is rightly placed, or in other words when you are comfortable you don’t have to worry about back or neck pains. If at all you would encounter any of the aforementioned side effects, then you would find that a back pillow would go along away in managing most of the pains and aches that come with it. Word also has it that a proper back sleeper pillow can go a long way in alleviating some of the symptoms of sleep apnea.
Tips for Back Sleepers
Choosing the right type of pillow does not necessarily imply better sleep quality. Some other considerations come in as far as having quality sleep in the night is concerned. For the following tips, plus the selection of an ideal pillow for back sleeping people, your probability of enjoying a good nights sleep are highly likely.
- Choose the right mattress – According to research, the back sleepers should use moderate firmness of a mattress since it will provide enough support to the lower back avoiding any back aches. But the actual weight dictates the perfect level of firmness that provides comfort on your body and at the same time support.
- Use a support pillow under your knees - You should get a small pillow that will help you keep the natural curve of your back and avoid putting pressure on various points.
- Eat light before bed - This is because sometime around bedtime is hazardous to those who suffer from acid reflux when they are on their back. If you are not going to have a light dinner then try to consume food at least four hours before going to sleep.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pillows for Back Sleepers
1. How common is back sleeping?
Experts in this field guesstimate that only 10% of the population are back sleepers. This might actually be a tad shocking when you consider sleeping on your back is arguably one of the healthiest and most recommended sleeping positions. This position minimizes unnecessary pressure point formation hence neither do you develop muscle strains and emergences of pains along the way.
2. What is the most vital aspect to consider for a back sleeper pillow?
In our substantially informed opinion, lloft should be the most important factor to look for when searching for the perfect pillow for a back sleeper. Medium loft is always recommended as the first option as the pillow is not flat to allow tilting of the head back or exert pressure to the neck and spinal column. However, if you placed it thick the pillow will also bend your head up to high because of the pressure exerted by the material.
3. What is the worst pillow I could use as a back sleeper?
One that has an unsuitable loft. As mentioned earlier that the loft of the pillow is what defines the amount of pressure that your head and neck receives. In as much as we are hard put to pin point one particular type of pillow suitable for back sleepers, there is need to also consider the material used. This influences it’s feel on the skin which is a matter of personal opinion in the end.
4. Is sleeping on the back healthy for pregnant women?
It depends. For the first trimester, a pregnant woman can go ahead and sleep on her back as she will be just fine. Nevertheless, the sleep position is discouraged in the second and the third trimester by medical practitioners. They should be advised to sleep on their left side which is something that they should do without fail.
Women who are pregnant should avoid sleeping on their back, thus, they should get a body or pregnancy cushion that assists them to master side sleeping position. They are very useful in reducing stress on the hips and the back area of the lower back.
