If you’ve been struggling to get a good night’s sleep, you might have just decided to live with it, however there is a solution out there – a body pillow! Whether you suffer from back pain, whether you’re pregnant or whether you just feel uncomfortable in bed, finding a body pillow to suit you could be the best way to finally have a restful night.
What Exactly Is A Body Pillow?
As you might expect from the name, a body pillow is a pillow, just like you would have for your head in bed, but that is longer and has been designed to support the whole body during sleep. Available in several shapes and sizes, they are elongated so they can support the head, back, shoulders and the upper legs. Some pillows are as long as 6 feet.
How Do You Use A Body Pillow?
There are several ways that you can use your body pillow to get a better night of sleep. The best way for you depends on which position gives you the greatest feeling of relaxation.
Back Sleepers
If you are more comfortable sleeping on your back, hugging the pillow with its top on your shoulder and your arm curled around it may be the most comfortable way to rest. U-shaped pillows are also ideal for back sleepers, and shorter versions cradle your neck to remove the tension your back experiences in bed by keeping the spine neutrally aligned.
Side Sleepers
More than half of all people sleep on their side, so putting the top of the pillow below your head will give you enough support to stop the pain in your neck. Holding the rest of your pillow close to you for greater comfort and possibly rest your leg over it.
Travelers
If you change position many times in the night, you will need a full body pillow which moves with you when you change your position. You can start off holding it and end the night with it behind your back to give you support where you need it.
People With Back Problems
If you suffer from sciatica due to deteriorated vertebrae in your lower back, you can use a full body pillow to press your back into during sleep. If you have a pulled back muscle, long body pillows are an ideal barrier to keep you firmly in place in bed, while if you’re pregnant, you can use the pillow to cradle the side of your head to keep your spine in better alignment with the pillow supporting your stomach and easing your lower back pain. You can also put the lower part of your pillow between your knees for even greater relief.
Which Are The Best Body Pillows?
The Snuggle-Pedic Memory Foam Full Body Pillow is highly rated for giving your joints and muscles relief and support for a sounder sleep.
Filled with hypoallergenic memory foam and CertiPur-US certified foam, which has been shredded for greater breathability and a cooler feel, this comfortable pillow has a polyester, Lycra and bamboo viscose cover, and measures 54” x 20”. It conforms around the body’s contours for the ultimate comfort and support, and thanks to its 20 year manufacturer’s warranty you’ll have complete peace of mind.
This is the perfect pillow for side sleepers that need support and comfort, and while it is large and fluffy, those with back pain often find it helpful. It is even suitable for taller than average people and it can be machine washed, although the cover isn’t removable which means that the whole thing needs to go in the machine if it becomes dirty.
The Leachco Snoogle Total Body Pillow is another popular option, especially among pregnant women who appreciate the full body support it provides.
Having been designed by a mother and registered nurse, this pillow has a removable cover that is made from a cotton/polyester blend, and while the cover can be machine washed, the pillow cannot and must be spot cleaned. This pillow measures 60” x 24.8” x 7.2”.
Having a horseshoe shape, this pillow features a hook to one end to give better support to the neck and head, as well as a long body to give extra support to the back and stomach, and a curving end which tucks comfortably between the knees. The handy user manual shows the user six ways of aligning the pillow to achieve optimal comfort for your own sleeping style and it even comes in 6 colors. This is a durable and versatile pillow and while it is large and non-machine washable, it has proven to be very popular with all kinds of sleepers.
One more popular option is the Coop Home Goods Memory Foam body pillow which has a filling made from shredded CertiPUR US certified gel infused memory foam.
Its cover hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites making it ideal for those with allergies, and it can easily be customized to suit your firmness preferences since you can just remove foam and add it again to suit your needs. The pillow measures 20” x 54” and since it has a 100 day guarantee and a 5 year warranty, you have total peace of mind. If you’re a side sleeper, you can customize this pillow to have more filling towards the neck and less around the knees, and as the memory foam circulates air very effectively and molds to the individual shape of your body, it rates very highly among all kinds of users.
What’s Next
Whatever type of sleeper you are, if you’ve been finding it difficult to get comfortable in bed at night, it’s well worth trying a body pillow. They aren’t just for people who are pregnant or who suffer from back problems, they really can improve the quality of sleep for anyone, and you’re sure to find one that perfects suits your own sleeping style and your own individual needs so you can enjoy a better night than ever before.
For more of our in-depth reviews, including recommendations for the best mattresses, beds, toppers and more, check out our homepage! It’s a convenient place to find all our content.
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