Best Pillows for Stomach Sleepers – UK 2022

Stomach sleepers usually have to struggle a lot when finding good sleeping pillows suited to their sleep pattern and position. This is because pillows are made to suit the 93% majority of the population who sleep on their backs or sides, rather than the 7% of the population who sleep on their bellies or stomachs.

Hence stomach sleepers have traditionally relied on using hard pillows meant for the back sleepers’ spine alignment. This causes bodily discomfort and muscular pain to the stomach sleepers because the hard pillows elevate your neck too much, misaligning your spine and causing back, neck and shoulder pain, which can turn chronic if you keep sleeping on your stomach with a hard pillow under your head.

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The Best Front Sleeping Pillows

Best Overall – Bluewave Bedding Ultra Slim Gel Memory Foam Pillow

Best For Support – Elviros Cervical Contour Memory Foam Pillow

Best For Value – Umi Slim Bed Pillows

Best Feather – Snuggledown Goose Feather & Down Pillow

Best For Comfort – Utopia Bedding Premium Bed Pillows

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In this article, we’re going to guide you on what kind of pillows are best for belly sleepers, how to choose the right pillow, and the advantages plus disadvantages of belly sleeping habits.

How to choose the right type of pillow for belly sleepers?

If you’re a stomach sleeper, here’s how you can choose the best pillow and sleeping materials to reduce stress and strain on your body.

Belly sleepers need a different kind of pillow than regular ones to ensure maximum comfort and reduce the danger of muscular pain. There’s a handful of things you need to keep in mind before purchasing your sleeping pillow; such as size, softness, support, price, flexibility and other factors which will be discussed in detail below.

Our Best Selections

Best Overall – Bluewave Bedding Ultra Slim Gel Memory Foam Pillow

If you’re a restless sleeper who eventually ends up on your stomach, this pillow will keep you comfortable throughout the night. This pillow has worked wonders for those who sleep in numerous positions. One reviewer said, “this pillow hasn’t given me any neck pain or headaches since day 1.” 

The combination of support and the materials that this pillow is constructed with is ideal for those who snore at night. Often, the pillow is what is disrupting your airways, and this pillow can help guide your head into the right position to alleviate that. Furthermore, the material wicks away moisture so you don’t have to worry about waking up covered in sweat.

The soft and comfortable memory foam ensures your neck and back stay supported as you rest. Cooling technology and antimicrobial coating will also prevent you from sweating through the pillow. Overall, the majority of consumers who have tried this pillow are grateful they invested. 

Best For Support – Elviros Cervical Contour Memory Foam Pillow

Those who live with pain in their necks and backs will want to try this contour memory foam pillow. A customer with arthritis who has injured their neck has even said that they’ve tried numerous pillows due to restless sleep and have found this one helps tremendously, once you get used to the unique shape. 

One of the best features for stomach sleepers is the divots in the pillow that allows for you to comfortably rest your arms within them, rather than having them bunch up under the pillow and disrupting how your headrests. You can also flip the pillow around for the proper support if you decide you want to sleep in another position. 

The impactful relief of this pillow can be attributed to the unique design, which is modelled after the contours of our bodies to reduce strain and keep our airways clear. The memory foam is also sturdy enough to ensure you don’t feel like you’re sinking in, but still get the breathability and flexibility of the material.

Best For Value – Umi Slim Bed Pillows

Pillows can be quite the investment, and you aren’t always getting your money’s worth. This pair of pillows are thin, ensuring that your neck and head get the right kind of support to comfortably sleep on your back. Many reviewers are happy with the product they got for their money. 

The unique cotton material that these pillows are stuffed with helps the pillow filling to stay evenly distributed to ensure the support you need lasts throughout the night. Furthermore, the breathable material is gentle on the skin, which is ideal for those who find they are sensitive to certain fabrics. 

It’s recommended that you fluff out the pillow a bit before sleeping on it for best results. That being said, the pillows are very thin, and they are meant to be that way. 

There is still ample support to be found from these slimmer pillows, especially for those who haven’t found comfort with thick and plush pillows. 

Best Feather – Snuggledown Goose Feather & Down Pillow

If you find your ears or head hurts when sleeping on your stomach, the softness of this pillow might just be exactly what you’re looking for. Reviewers appreciate the feathery softness of these pillows, making them perfect for those who find a firm pillow is too uncomfortable. One even said these pillows are like “sleeping on a cloud.”

You get two pillows with your purchase, and you are also able to choose what type of feathers you would prefer in your pillows. Options include softened feathers, two types of goose feathers, or duck feathers. 

These pillows also come with 100% cotton covers and are machine washable. It’s recommended you use a pillowcase with these, as the feathers do occasionally escape the cover, which happens with most feather-filled pillows.

Best For Comfort – Utopia Bedding Premium Bed Pillows

Comfort is key with any pillow, and finding the right balance between a pillow that is soft enough to be comfortable but firm enough to support your body can be difficult. This set of premium bed pillows has been quite popular amongst customers who have been on the hunt for the right pillow for a long time. 

Reviewers are also pleasantly surprised that these pillows hold their shape even after months of use, especially considering they are thick pillows. Despite their thickness, they manage to offer nice support for the neck and shoulders without having to strain to get comfortable. 

It’s recommended to allow these pillows to fluff up to their full potential after removing them from the package. Once they are ready to sleep with, they are soft enough to comfortably rest your head upon. The fabric is also breathable, which is ideal if you get hot when you’re sleeping. 

Considerations when buying a stomach sleeping pillow

When shopping for sleeping pillows, keep in mind your comfort takes precedence above any factors. It’s easy to be distracted with deals and discounts and end up buying the wrong kind of pillow but that will not prove to be beneficial for you in the long run. Here are a few things to keep under consideration when purchasing your sleeping pillow:

1. Height: This should be the main concern since a very low height can cause strain on the neck and a very high pillow height can cause chronic shoulder and neck pain. The height of a pillow can be adjusted by using more material such as pillow fillings (feathers, cotton) hence you need to know which height your pillow must be for you to fill it accordingly. For most stomach sleepers, a low pillow height (3 inches, no less) is recommended medically for neck support.
2. Support and pressure relief: The reason we alter the height of the pillow (among other factors) is to ensure maximum support to the spine, back, neck and shoulders. These areas of the body must be properly supported to reduce the risk of stiffness or unease after you wake up. The pillow must also be soft and aerodynamic enough to provide your head with some pressure relief.
3. Softness and flexibility: Stomach sleepers need pillows that are either soft or firm and flexible enough to provide support to their heads while sleeping. It all depends on what your head size is and how soft or flexible you need the pillow to be. Most people prefer pillows made with latex, memory foam or feathers as they prove to be the softest and most flexible materials.
4.  Price: The price of normal pillows can range from £10 to £100 depending on the type of materials they’ve used (memory foam, polyester), so it is important that you buy a good quality pillow even if it’s pricier as it ensures less replacing cost and more durability.

What type of pillow filling is the best for belly sleepers?

Pillow filling material comes in different types, each with its benefits and disadvantages. Here we’ll tell you about the filling material most suitable for stomach sleeping pillows:

1. Memory foam: This is a flexible material that engulfs the head, aligns the spine and gives it the support it needs to sleep peacefully, although it gives off the gas so odour sensitive people shouldn’t use it. You can use a solid memory foam core or shredded one to fill your pillow.
2. Feather: Some pillows use duck or geese feathers as filling material, which is beneficial for belly sleepers as it makes the pillow very soft and flexible. However, because they’re so flexible, they often lose their shape and need to be fluffed up often into proper shape.
3. Cotton or Polyester: A very airy and comfortable material, a cotton or polyester filled pillow is very traditional and provides a comfortable, super soft sleeping experience. They are also usually cheaper than other fillings so can be a great option if you are unsure of the other materials and want a safe choice.
   

Is it bad to sleep on your stomach?

It’s not necessarily bad, but it’s a known fact that stomach sleepers tend to experience more neck and back pain than the majority of back sleepers. This is because of the misalignment of the spine while sleeping on your stomachs, which can be rectified by a good pillow as aforementioned.

General sleep tips for stomach sleepers

Along with choosing the right pillow, here are some other tips that stomach sleepers can use to reduce the fringe effects of belly sleeping on their body:

1. Choosing a firmer mattress will prove to be beneficial for stomach sleepers as it will straighten your body while simultaneously aligning your spine, reducing body pains and aches.
2. Sleeping with a straight head rather than sideways turned will angle your head and reduce neck strain, as sideways sleeping causes stiffness and neck pains.
3. Using a pillow under certain body parts such as the pelvis or stomach will prop up your body at a better angle, causing less backache and spinal stiffness.

Health benefits and implications of stomach sleeping

Some health benefits of stomach sleeping include reduced snoring (because of your head alignment) and less sleep apnea (erratic breathing and stops in between breaths). Despite all these benefits, there’s also some implications of stomach sleeping; poor sleep leading to exhaustion throughout the day, muscular and body strain, neck and shoulder aches, and spinal misalignment.

Last update on 2024-04-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API