If you're in the market for the best pillow for front sleepers, we are here to walk you through our top picks. you'll want to make sure you choose the best pillow for your sleeping position. After all, you won't have a good night's sleep if you spend all night tossing and turning because you're resting your head on something uncomfortable. The best pillows for front sleepers are designed for those who drift off lying on their stomach.
According to Dreams, front sleepers tend to benefit from a soft support pillow. If you sleep on your front with your arms around the pillow and head to one side, a pillow that’s soft and shallow is likely to be your best choice. It prevents your head from being tipped back too far and potentially causes neck or back pain. It's important your neck and spine stay neutral and aligned as much as possible, so a soft pillow or one that’s flat is your best bet. Alternatively, if you need extra support, there are also orthopaedic pillows to combat neck pain.
Best pillow for front sleepers at a glance:
• Our pick: Simba Hybrid Pillow - View on Simba Sleep
• Best hypoallergenic pillows: Silentnight Just Like Down Pillows - View on Amazon UK
• Best duck feather pillow: John Lewis Natural Duck Feather Standard Pillow - View on John Lewis
• Best anti-allergy pillows: Slumberdown Anti Allergy Pillows - View on Amazon UK
If you’re a front sleeper and you like natural fibres, a feather pillow or a duck-down pillow could be a good choice. Feather and down pillows are some of the softest pillow types out there, and they’re mouldable, too, so your head will be gently supported, cradled and not able to roll around.
So without further ado, here are our top picks for the best pillow for front sleepers that will help you drift off to sleep-supported and comfortable.
Best pillows for front sleepers
Our pick
simbasleep.com
The Simba Hybrid Pillow will provide flexible support for your neck and head as it's packed with clever little cubes of open-cell foam called Nanocubes, which you can remove or add in to find the perfect balance of height and firmness to help you drift off. It also features a technology called Stratos, which is applied to the soft cotton pillow to regulate your temperature while you sleep and absorbs, stores and releases heat so you're always at the perfect temperature.
Our review: "Sleeping on this pillow has felt like what I'd imagine resting my head on a cloud would feel like. It's super soft while also being supportive and I love how you can take the little cubes in and out so you can make it more or less supportive to suit your preference."
Pros
- Mesh border for maximum airflow
- Soft, durable and hypoallergenic microfibre fill
- Adjustable firmness
Cons
- Pillowcase could get dirty more easily because it's white
Best hypoallergenic pillows
These Silentnight Just Like Down Pillows are filled with soft-touch hollowfibre to provide a down-like feel for extra comfort and warmth for the perfect night’s sleep. They're hypoallergenic so they shouldn't trigger any allergies while you're lying face down while trying to sleep.
Customer review: "Love these pillows! Of course the real test will come when washed: will they keep their shape?? I do hope so, they’re the best pair of pillows I ever bought. And very reasonably priced. NB: AND, as an added bonus, they come in the most beautiful zipped bag, nice and big. I would have paid this price just for the storage bag!!"
Pros
- Fully machine washable
- Two in a pack
- Hypoallergenic
Cons
- Some reviewers felt they could be plumper
Best duck feather pillow
www.johnlewis.com
A great option for those looking for a soft yet supportive feel, thanks to its natural duck feather filling. The filling of this John Lewis Natural Duck Feather Standard Pillow is sealed in a tightly woven fabric cover, which acts as a barrier against dust mites. Plus, an odour-free peppermint treatment is applied to the cover to give it antimicrobial protection so that it stays fresher and cleaner for longer.
Customer review: "These pillows are a must! My sleep has improved with these pillows!"
Pros
- Machine washable at 40°C
- Naturally breathable
- Sealed in a tightly woven fabric cover which acts as a barrier against dust mites
Cons
- It may have a slight odour when you first take it out of the packaging due to it being made from natural materials
Best anti-allergy pillows
Support your head and align your body with this Slumberdown Anti Allergy Pillow duo and you'll have a comfortable night's sleep on your front. These pillows are specifically made with an anti-allergy filling and have been approved by Allergy UK for their hypoallergenic properties. When it comes to keeping them clean, you can put them in the washing machine and the tumble dryer and simply pop them straight back on your bed afterwards.
Customer review: "Great product for those who like softness like me, Great that it's anti allergy as well."
Pros
- Washing machine and tumble dryer friendly
- Soft-to-the-touch microfibre cover
- Nice and soft
Cons
- Some may prefer a firmer pillow
Best goose down pillow
Give your bedding that staying-at-a-hotel feeling with this Snuggledown Hungarian Goose Down White Pillow. It's constructed with a blend of 80 per cent goose down and 20 per cent goose feather, which is then encased in a 300 thread count, soft-touch cotton fabric for a more luxe touch. As well as feeling good, it makes sure your head and body are in the prime position for sleeping so you shouldn't wake up in the morning feeling sore and achy.
Customer review: "The Hungarian Goose Down pillow is even better than I imagined it would be ! I have used it for about 4-5 weeks and it is so very very comfortable and I honestly look forward to getting into bed to lay my head on it. It is soft, it retains its shape, there's no sweating from it at all, I wake up feeling refreshed and having had a very good sleep which I didn't have before with my previous pillow. Would recommend to friends and family and anyone else who is thinking of buying it."
Pros
- Machine washable and tumble dry
- Soft feel
- Supports neck and shoulders as well as your head and back
Cons
- You may find the feathers poke through the cover
Highly rated pillows
With over 10,000 reviews, the Adam Home Pillows Two Pack is clearly a popular choice on Amazon. Reviewers have rated them highly for being very comfy, fluffy and soft, while also being quite deep. Other promising features are the breathable cover that allows for maximum airflow and the durable and hypoallergenic filling that helps give these pillows their shape.
Customer review: "These pillows are fabulous. I can't believe the difference they have made, just the right softness, and depth. First time for ages, I have got out of bed, without the usual aches and pains. Also, at a very reasonable
price."
Pros
- Cotton and polyester cover
- Hypoallergenic
- Two in a pack
Cons
- Cannot be tumble dried
Best value pillow pair
www.dunelm.com
With non-allergenic properties and a double-stitched piped edge finish, the Dorma Full Forever Soft-Support Pillow Pair will stay in tip-top condition for longer. Both the clusterfibre polyester filling and cotton cover on the outside are super soft so it'll feel nice as you rest your head.
Customer review: "Good quality pillows! Feel full and bouncy, comfortable to sleep on."
Pros
- Contains recycled fibres
- 233 thread count
- Luxuriously soft
Cons
- Some people may prefer a pillow with a more natural filling
Best wedge pillow
www.dunelm.com
The subtle shape of this Wedge Support Soft-Support Pillow will slightly tilt your head and neck to provide comfort to your lower back, ticking all the right boxes for front sleepers. It is made to offer soft support with the polyester hollowfibre filling providing extra comfort.
Customer review: "It is very comfy, elevates you but without the rigidness of a normal wedge. I’ve had neck surgery and have a lot of neck issues and this has been really good. On days when I need my neck to be flatter I wriggle down and use the bottom edge and it’s perfect. Would love it even more if it had a cover with it!"
Pros
- Provides lower back support
- Polyester hollowfibre filling
- Soft support
Cons
- You may find it hard to get a pillowcase that fits the shape of the pillow
Best pillow for front sleepers FAQs
How many pillows should front sleepers sleep on?
One pillow should be enough for front sleepers as you want to keep your spine aligned as straight as possible and having more than one may cause you to lift your head too far. This could result in you waking up in the morning with pain in your neck and back.
Tips for those who sleep on their front:
You may find sleeping on your front the most comfortable position, but you could actually do more harm than good. According to Belly Sleep, lower back issues and pain can be increased by stomach sleeping as the spine becomes misaligned, causing strain to surrounding muscles, tendons, ligaments and even bones.
Being a stomach sleeper can also put pressure on your neck and shoulders, so you'll want to look for a pillow for neck pain that will keep you comfortable and supported. Also, depending on your head position, sleeping on your front can make breathing more difficult or cut off airflow completely.
To stay safe as well as comfortable while sleeping on your front, we've put together some tips, with the help of Belly Sleep, so you can have the best night's rest possible.
Keep your legs equal and flat
If you keep your legs in the same flat position, this will help to keep your spine in a straight alignment. If you're someone who is sleeping on their front with one leg up, you will twist your spine, which will do even more damage.
Stretch often
Stretching is a great way to alleviate any pain you might have incurred while sleeping. Some of the best stretches front sleepers can do are ones that push your pelvis back as when you sleep on your stomach, your pelvis naturally falls forward.
Try to align yourself better before you fall asleep
Before you drift off, try and make sure you're in the best position possible to minimise the pressure on your spine. Your hips should be straight with your hands by your side, your back shouldn't be curved and your spine not twisted.
Prop up your head and pelvis with a pillow
You push yourself down into your mattress when you sleep on your front, which can cause pressure on multiple areas of the body. Making sure you've got the best pillow for front sleepers to rest your head will open your breathing passage while elevating your head enough so that you aren't forced to turn your neck one way or another.
You may also want to try propping up your pelvis with a flat pillow as this will lift your spine and keep the curve, while ultimately softening the pressure and helping you to sleep more comfortably.
If you think back pain is stopping you from getting a full night's sleep, you may need a specialist pillow to take some of the pressure off. Take a look at our best pillow for back pain roundup for more information.
Rosie Floyd is a Pets, Homes and Garden Product Writer for Yours, specialising in home appliances, décor and furnishings, as well as all things dogs. After completing her Journalism & Media degree from Coventry University back in 2015, she started her career writing about must-visit holiday destinations, moving on to creating content around outdoor living and garden buildings, before joining the team at Bauer.
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