Menu

What's The Best Pillow For Stomach Sleepers In 2018?

There are few arguments that have no real solution to them, and the best way to sleep and be comfortable is one of those arguments. Some say that you need to alternate sleeping on your side. Some will say that you need to sleep on your back. Others will say that sleeping on your stomach is the way to go. The truth is that, even among scientists who have dedicated their entire lives to studying the different ways that we sleep, there is not really a consensus when it comes to what is the best way to sleep, the best posture to seek, and the best way to properly protect and support your body while in repose.

As a general rule, the best thing that you can do for yourself when it comes to sleeping is make sure that you’re doing whatever is comfortable. Believe it or not, your body will generally know what it needs when you’re going to be, and if you fall asleep in strange postures, it will almost always try to reach a better posture while you sleep.

The best thing that you can do, then, is to find a way to make yourself comfortable. After all, one of the keys to not only falling asleep quickly, but also to getting a good night’s sleep, is to make sure that you are doing everything that you can to make sure you’re comfortable. If you’re not comfortable, you can’t fall asleep (unless you’re me, but I’ve invested time in learning how to sleep standing up, so you can’t all do that). ​

What is the best pillow for stomach sleepers?

A pillow for stomach sleepers can be anything, really. Some stomach sleepers even do something as simple as utilizing a regular pillow, which they fold in a specific way in order to make it more comfortable for themselves. Some people will just utilize a regular pillow, and not fold it over at all to make it more comfortable for them to sleep with. However, there are, in fact, a few pillows that are custom-made for those who spend their entire night sleeping on their stomachs.

These pillows can vary wildly, from being the kind of pillow that you would think proper for use for any kind of sleeping, to being strangely designed with the stomach-sleeping audience in mind. They all attempt to do the same thing, however; allow you to sleep comfortably while you’re on your stomach.

Why Is A Pillow For Stomach Sleepers Important?

 It is important because sleep is so very important! A bad night’s sleep can do all sorts of bad things to you. Having a bad night’s sleep or two during the week can leave you feeling sluggish and a bit lazy during the day, sometimes making it hard to concentrate on tasks or to stay awake (which can be dangerous, especially if you drive often). If you are regularly not getting a good night’s sleep, the issues begin to compound themselves, to the point that you’re not only going to be having issues associated with being tired, but you can find yourself constantly fatigued, or even feeling physically ill.

 It is important because sleep is so very important! A bad night’s sleep can do all sorts of bad things to you. Having a bad night’s sleep or two during the week can leave you feeling sluggish and a bit lazy during the day, sometimes making it hard to concentrate on tasks or to stay awake (which can be dangerous, especially if you drive often). If you are regularly not getting a good night’s sleep, the issues begin to compound themselves, to the point that you’re not only going to be having issues associated with being tired, but you can find yourself constantly fatigued, or even feeling physically ill.

If you’re constantly unable to get a good night’s sleep, you can experience symptoms more worrying still, including hallucinations and a severely weakened immune system. In other words, though we don’t often think about it as such, the amount of sleep we get, and the quality of that sleep, is very important to our wellbeing and to making sure that we will be healthy in the long run.

If you’re not getting the best sleep that you can, if you’re constantly waking up, if you’re uncomfortable in the night, if you’re not able to fall asleep in a timely manner, then you’re going to find that you’re not going to be getting the quality of sleep that you really need. So, if this is the case, you need to do something different, and for those who sleep on their stomach, one of the best things that you can do is to go out and find yourself the best pillow for your sleeping needs.

Most pillows are designed for those that are going to be sleeping on their back or on their sides. Laying face-down on the standard pillow is not a real option, unless you’re hoping to smother yourself in your sleep, and spending long periods of time lying on your stomach while your head is facing left or right on the pillow is the kind of thing that can lead you to neck issues, the least of which are that feeling when you wake up that you have a ‘stiff’ neck.

Because of this, and to make sure you’re getting the best sleep that you can, a special pillow may be necessary.

One Thing Not To Expect From A Pillow For Stomach Sleepers

While I have said a lot about how much a pillow may be able to do for your quality of sleep, there is one thing that a pillow for stomach sleepers will not be able to do. It will not be able to fix other problems that may be impacting your quality of sleep. If you have apnea, it’s not going to do anything to help that, for example, or if you have some sort of muscle or neck issues that are making it less than comfortable for you to lay down. Though this pillow can make it more comfortable for you to lay down and sleep on your stomach, you’re going to find that it only does so much, after all.

Different Types Of Pillows For Stomach Sleepers

There are a couple of different designs that are considered to be useful for those who sleep on their stomachs when it comes to making a better pillow for their comfort. Of course, these pillows can be made from a wide variety of different materials – whatever is capable of supporting the weight of the body is generally considered to be a viable pillow. The more important thing here is the shape and the function of the pillow, not so much what it is made of, whether that is goose down or memory foam or some other sort of cushion.

 That’s not to say that any cushion will do – again, your head needs proper cushioning to keep you comfortable and to support your head so your neck doesn’t have to support it all night. But here are a couple of different kinds of pillow design that may be able to help you get the most out of your night’s sleep. 

Wedge-Shaped Pillows

The first design that deserves a mention is a wedge-shaped pillow. A wedge- shaped pillow is exactly what you would think it is; a pillow that is designed in the shape of a wedge, which is meant to help you be more comfortable when you’re sleeping. They have a tapered incline, and they may either have no cover or have a cover that can be removed for washing.

The wedge-shaped pillow has a lot of uses, some of which you may be interested in even if you’re not a stomach sleeper. They are commonly used for those who need to elevate their head while they’re sleeping in order to avoid suffering from various afflictions. For example, those who suffer from heartburn or acid reflux conditions, including those with issues like GERD, may find these pillows to be good for them. As most gastroenterologists will tell you, raising the head can help to prevent acid from reaching the esophagus and throat in general, limiting symptoms experienced.

In rare cases, it may even be able to help you with issues that lead to sleep apnea. However, these cases are very rare, and it is likely to be something that you will need to use in conjunction with other methods of managing your sleep apnea, if you would like to see any long-term relief. 

Thin Pillows

When you are looking to find a good way to support your head and to be comfortable, one of the most important things that you consider is the neck. Most of the issues that people have with the way that they sleep is related to the way that their neck is positioned while they’re sleeping, after all, and that means that if you’re looking to improve your sleep, you need to make sure your neck is not over-extending in any particular direction. In order to accomplish this, you may find it to be in your best interest to utilize a pillow that is thin, but that will present you with a good amount of support while laying on your stomach. A thin pillow can make sure your neck remains in a natural position throughout the night, which makes it easier for you to not only fall asleep in the first place, but will also help you to make sure that, upon waking up in the morning, your neck doesn’t hurt.

Hypoallergenic Pillows

If you sleep on your back, with your head facing upward, or even on your side, then you are not likely to have a lot of problems with the amount of allergens trapped on your pillow. However, if you’re sleeping with your head in the pillow, or with your head close to the pillow, specifically your nose and your mouth, then you are likely to find out that you are going to be more prone to allergies.

Your pillow is likely to attract pollen, dander, dust, etc. It’s a natural result of the design of the pillow that we have been using for centuries, and of the soft materials that we like to use to cushion our heads. What, then, can be done to make sure that you’ll be more comfortable?

Well, you can buy a hypoallergenic pillow. This pillow will help you to not only be comfortable, but to prevent cold and flu-like symptoms and keep you less likely to have to deal with allergic reactions to the common allergens present in your home and environment.

How To Choose The Best Pillow For You

Figuring out which pillow will work the best for you is the kind of thing that I can’t really tell you. The only thing that I can suggest is that you search around to find what pillow works for you and your specific issues. However, there are a few pieces of advice that I can give you when trying to make that determination. That advice is: 

  • Don’t pick a pillow that makes you feel smothered. This is one of those things that just makes it hard to fall asleep, and depending on how you sleep, you may be uncomfortable or worse. 
  • Pay attention to your neck. If your neck is feeling sore when you wake up every morning, you’re going to need to switch pillows. Sure, your neck may feel a bit stiff every so often; that is natural and can be due to. But if it is a continuing issue, you need to switch pillows. 
  • Do you have allergies? If so, you need a pillow that is hypoallergenic. Just trust me on this, and you can thank me when you don’t wake up with a dripping nose and a scratchy throat every morning. 

These are good, general pieces of advice that all can benefit from.

Comparison Table

Mobile Users: For optimal viewing, tilt your phone to landscape (wide-view) to see the entire table.

The 7 Best Pillows For Stomach Sleepers

There are many pillows out there, but which ones will be the best for those of us who sleep on our stomachs, whether we do so every so often or constantly? Well, here are just the seven best that we have found. 

1. Deluxe Comfort MJ1430 Face Down Pillow


This is one of those wedge-shaped pillow I talked about a bit earlier, and as far as they go, this is one of the more interesting ones. It not only has a wedge shape to it, but it also has a notch that has been cut into the top of it. This being the case, it can be a comfortable pillow, especially if you’re the kind of person who stays in one place the entire night once they settle in (and if you’re that kind of person, I want you to know how jealous I am of you).

The construction of the pillow is simple enough. It starts with polyurethane foam, and then they put a pillow cover over it. Take into account the notch up at the top, and you’ve got a pillow that will be decently comfortable and that will keep you properly supported. The great thing about that pillow case is that when your pillow is beginning to get a bit questionable, and perhaps a bit funky, you can remove it and wash it in your washing machine with no problems.

If you’re looking for a pillow, especially one that you can lay most of your chest, neck, and of course your face on, you’re going to find that the Deluxe Comfort MJ1430 Face Down Pillow is great. This is doubly true if you’re the kind of person who naturally falls into a sleep posture with your face down, but you don’t want to have your face being smothered by your pillow all night. 

Pros


  • Comfortable and supportive
  • Pillowcase makes for easy cleaning

Cons


  • Can be a bit too long for some people
  • The cut-out isn’t as useful as you’d think, and if your face isn’t thin, it may not be very comfortable for you.

2. Xtreme Comfort Slim Hypoallergenic Bamboo Pillow


When you think of bamboo, chances are that you don’t think of comfort or a soft and yet supportive place to lay your head. No, more likely you think of pandas, or the jungles of Asia, or something similar. And while that makes sense, the fact is that there’s a lot more to it than that.

You see, bamboo fibers can be, and have been, used for much more than just feeding pandas that aren’t interested in anything other than eating. When interwoven with other fibers and with a bit of treatment, bamboo fibers can create a soft, comfortable, supportive pillow, and one that is good for almost anyone.

Combining bamboo, shredded memory foam, and a hypoallergenic pillow top, this pillow combines the best of what standard pillow design can do for you, along with a new twist concerning the materials being used, and in doing so it makes a pillow that is good for you, even

if you’re going to be laying face-down on it. With its hypoallergenic materials and the cover, plus the comfort, and the proper support, there is very little that this pillow can’t do, including being a great support pillow for those who like to lay on their stomachs.

This is a pillow that you should definitely take a look at, and you will be glad that you did. 

Pros


  • Hypoallergenic
  • Extremely comfortable
  • Easy to wash
  • Remains cool 

Cons


  • Not especially designed for those who sleep on their stomachs, just naturally a good choice

3. Just My Height Ultraslim Memory Foam Pillow By Bristol Innovation


This is one of those pillows that works by providing just the right amount of thickness and padding, not by being specially shaped or anything like that. It’s a slim pillow, providing just enough support so that you will be able to lay your head on it without holding your neck at an awkward position either way. The result is a pillow that makes sure you’re going to be comfortable, and that prevents the over extension of your neck, providing you with greater comfort, a better night’s sleep, and little to no stiffness in the neck when you wake up.

This pillow is a mind-blowingly small 3-inches thick. This makes for a very thin pillow, but with the addition of the memory foam, it is also a lot more likely to provide the support that you need. The trick to making a great memory foam pillow is to make sure that you have the thickness of the foam (or the foam/gel mixture, whatever you may be using) just right. Too thick, and you wind up with a pillow that is more like a rock. Too soft, and you end up with a pillow that you just sink into, one that barely provides any support at all. A good combination is key, and Bristol Innovation has mastered the mix of their memory foam, providing you with a pillow that has just the right amount of give.

If you’re looking for an ultra-thin pillow that will be just right for you when you’re sleeping on your stomach, give this offering from Bristol Innovation a try. 

Pros


  • Very comfortable blend of memory foam
  • Very thin
  • Great support

Cons


  • Can be a bit warm
  • Not supportive enough for some people

4. DC Labs Elite Rest Ultra Slim Sleeper Memory Foam Pillow


I don’t usually trust things that have ‘DC’ in them. For example, Washington DC, one of the worst parts of the country and a tiny area with literally the worst traffic pattern I’ve experienced outside of New York City and LA. But in this case, I’ll make an exception, because these guys have put together a great memory foam pillow that will properly cradle your head while you’re trying to get a decent night’s sleep.

This pillow has an interesting design; on one side, it is somewhat rounded, like a normal pillow, and on the other side, it is flat as a pancake. This gives you a choice of what kind of surface you want to lay on, and if you’re a stomach sleeper, it can give you the choice between sleeping with your face straight down or with it comfortably to one side.

One of the best things about the pillow is that it is made with memory foam. You see, this allows you to not only have a comfortable pillow with the right amount of support, but also to have one that is hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, and resistant to bed bugs. That’s kind of the best combination.

If you are looking for a great pillow that is thin, then you just won’t find a better pillow than this offering. This offering is 2 and a half inches thick, and it will provide you plentiful comfort and support to make sure that you are able to get a great night’s sleep.

Pros


  • Very Comfortable
  • Interesting design
  • Hypoallergenic and antimicrobial

Cons


  • Very slim, may not be enough support for everyone
  • Does not stay as cool as certain other pillows

5. The Pancake Pillow


It is so rare to find a pillow that not only is comfortable, but also one that makes me think of food and then makes me hungry. Luckily, the pancake pillow can do both.

All joking aside, this is a great pillow that looks a bit weird, but that you should definitely take a look at. It allows you to ‘stack’ the pillows accordingly, so that you can get as much, or as little, support as you need. It comes with six of these soft stackable pillows, and you basically stack them inside the included pillow case to get the support that you desire. Sounds pretty easy, right? That’s because it is.

Of course, there are going to be questions about what the pillow case that it utilizes is like. In this case, you should rest easy, knowing that on its own, this machine-washable pillow case is a decent pillow case. It is a 300 thread-count Cotton outer case, and it is basically a standard/queen -sized pillow, so if you want to use your own pillow case, you can always buy one in those sizes. The stackable pillows are designed from the finest of down alternative microfibers, which means that this is a hypoallergenic pillow, as well as being antimicrobial.

All things considered, this is probably my favorite pillow reviewed. Not just because I like the way that it is made, but because I like having an adjustable pillow. You can basically use this as six different pillow sizes, so if you need a slim pillow, or if you need a thick pillow, you can go ahead and choose which is best for you at the time. Great for those nights when you suddenly feel like you need more or less support, too. 

Pros


  • Stackable and adjustable
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Washable pillow case included

Cons


  • Can be pretty pricey, easily one of the most expensive we reviewed

6. Extra Soft Down Filled Pillow For Stomach Sleepers


I have slept many different places and with many different substances for a pillow, and I have never found something I could lay my head on that felt so right to me as a down-filled pillow. Sure, there are some minor problems that you will experience with a down filled pillow. For example, it is filled with feathers, and because of that, you may eventually have to deal with a few of them poking you or something like that. But really, it’s a great pillow filler, and I love them.

This Extra-Soft Pillow is filled with 80 percent down and 20 percent feather blend, to ensure comfort and to ensure that you will be comfortable for a good night’s sleep. But this pillow also manages to provide you with the appropriate amount of support for you neck, which is really important for those who sleep on their stomachs.

How does it perform when it comes to these other pillows? Well, it is hypoallergenic, and the entire pillow, not just the pillow case, is machine washable. That means that if it’s getting a bit hard to form it to the way you like it, you’re going to simply need to pop it in the wash and then fluff it out when you take it out of the machine. In fact, it is suggested that you throw it in your dryer once or twice a month for ten minutes to keep it properly fluffy and comfortable! If you’re a fan of down, like I am, you’re going to want to look into this option. 

Pros


  • The softness of down
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Machine washable

Cons


  • Not specifically designed for stomach sleepers
  • On the expensive side of the spectrum

7. DC Labs Slim Sleeper Memory Foam Pillow


A second offering form DC Labs, and one that is, much like the first offering, a worthwhile pillow. It is not as thin as the Ultra Slim option discussed above, but the difference is not that great, coming in at only being a difference of about a half inch.

As with the above reviewed pillow from DC Labs, you’ll find that this is another memory foam pillow. And as with the thinner relative, it is a pillow that has the right firmness from the memory foam; the kind of firmness that gives you enough comfort, while also ensuring that you are going to get the support that your neck is going to need. You’re going to find that this pillow is comfortable, and if you’re looking for a nice pillow to make sure you don’t hurt your neck and you get the support you need, then this is the one for you.

This pillow is antimicrobial, hypoallergenic, and it comes with its own cotton pillow case that will allow you to be more comfortable still. The cotton pillow case is also machine washable, so you can keep it clean during use.

If you’re a fan of memory foam pillows, but you feel that you need a bit more thickness than the Ultra Slim can provide, then you’re going to find that this pillow has just the right amount of thickness for you. A great purchase, and an affordable one as well. 

Pros


  • Affordable
  • Hypoallergenic and antimicrobial
  • Comes with removable cotton pillow case

Cons


  • As with all memory foam pillows, it can hold in heat, making you a bit warm overnight.

So, if you’re looking for a great pillow to help you sleep comfortably through the night while lying on your stomach, here are just a few great options. If you don’t find one in this list that you think is right for you, then the best advice I can give you is this; go to your local mattress store or your local department store, and just try pillows out. Give each one a few minutes’ worth of testing, and see if you feel that vibe, that unseen resonance that your body seems to hit when you’re able to fall asleep because you’re comfortable. Many businesses will even offer you a money-back guarantee when it comes to pillows, so you don’t have to worry if it doesn’t work out in the first week or so.

Whatever pillow you go with, make sure that it allows you to get the proper amount of sleep, allows you to sleep comfortably, and most important off all, that the pillow allows you to get QUALITY sleep that leaves you refreshed when you awake in the morning. In doing this, you will ensure a better life, a better mood, and a great night’s sleep. 

About the Author

Peekaboo! Barbara speaking. I'm currently the Chief Editor at Sleep Titan and my job is to make sure that the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed on all of our amazing content! The lovely people here at Sleep Titan often tell me that my Friendly Superpowers come out after a glass of wine, but personally, I prefer a strong IPA. The sort of strength that screams alpha all the way! Maybe that's the reason why everyone wants me to have a drink around here. Right?!

Leave a Comment:

WordPress › Error

The site is experiencing technical difficulties.