Firm pillows for side sleepers?
Aug 13, 2010 1:13 AM
Joined: Jan 16, 2010
Points: 45
You know what I'm talking about side sleepers. We lump our pillows under our neck to give that extra support and we like high pillows that are firm and springy, but not stiff.

 

Right now I have an old polyester filled pillow, but it has developed a depression in the middle after years of use. I have tried some alleged firm pillows, only to find them way too soft.

 

Help!

Re: Firm pillows for side sleepers?
Reply #2 Aug 13, 2010 9:48 PM
Joined: Aug 30, 2007
Points: 464
Bergad
Re: Firm pillows for side sleepers?
Reply #3 Aug 14, 2010 12:06 AM
Joined: Jan 16, 2010
Points: 45
My experience with memory foam has not been that good. They're good for the first month or so, but start losing their shape after that and I start getting horrible neck pain.
Re: Firm pillows for side sleepers?
Reply #4 Aug 14, 2010 12:20 AM
Ouch
Location: San Jose, CA
Joined: Apr 4, 2010
Points: 143
The ECO memory foam contour pillows from Costco.com are pretty good. (NOT the soft Novaform contour pillows they sell in the store. Those are crap.) Very nice support under my neck for side sleeping. I prefer my wife's Tempurpedic neck pillow a little better, so I finally broke down and bought one. Mucho dinero. But, the ECO pillow was the second best that I found. And, I've been through a few in my quest. 

The best thing about Costco.com is that you can return it to your local Costco, if you don't like it. 

Re: Firm pillows for side sleepers?
Reply #5 Aug 14, 2010 12:27 AM
Joined: Jun 28, 2010
Points: 59
Slides wrote:

My experience with memory foam has not been that good. They're good for the first month or so, but start losing their shape after that and I start getting horrible neck pain.


I bought the Tempur-pedic side sleeper pillow. It was stiff, but worked wonders for my sinuses for all of about 4 nights. 5th night it developed a crater where my head was, and never did get back to normal shape. After it lost its shape, neck pain and sinus trouble came back. If it weren't for this "crater" problem, this would have been the perfect side sleeper pillow!

Tempur-pedic tells me it shouldn't do this and sent a replacement. Haven't opened it yet because they screwed up and charged my bank account a second time, for the replacement. Once they get the second charge refunded to my account, I'll give it another try. Let's hope the first one was just a defect, as this pillow really worked wonders for me before it lost its shape.

Re: Firm pillows for side sleepers?
Reply #6 Aug 14, 2010 12:37 AM
Ouch
Location: San Jose, CA
Joined: Apr 4, 2010
Points: 143
We haven't had that crater problem with my wife's TP neck pillow.  I hope I don't have that problem with the new one I ordered. For the obscenely high price I paid, it better not! (Hers was free with the bed.) 
Re: Firm pillows for side sleepers?
Reply #7 Aug 14, 2010 12:40 AM
Ouch
Location: San Jose, CA
Joined: Apr 4, 2010
Points: 143
garypen wrote:
The ECO memory foam contour pillows from Costco.com are pretty good. (NOT the soft Novaform contour pillows they sell in the store. Those are crap.) Very nice support under my neck for side sleeping. I prefer my wife's Tempurpedic neck pillow a little better, so I finally broke down and bought one. Mucho dinero. But, the ECO pillow was the second best that I found. And, I've been through a few in my quest. 

The best thing about Costco.com is that you can return it to your local Costco, if you don't like it. 



I just remembered. The reason I returned one of the neck pillows I had tried, the Luxurest from Absolute Comfort, was that I thought it was too firm. That might be just what you need! http://www.absolutecomfortonsale.com/orthopedicfoampillow.htm
Re: Firm pillows for side sleepers?
Reply #8 Aug 14, 2010 6:57 PM
Joined: Jun 28, 2010
Points: 59
I plan on ordering the neck pillow next. 

One thing I'm finding out using the side pillow is that it was perfect when sleeping flat, but when side sleeping with the head of my bed elevated, I woke up with neck pain. In that position, the pillow seemed to be too fat. I'm thinking of ordering the neck pillow in one size smaller than what TP recommends for my neck size, to use for side sleeping when I raise the head of the bed. Don't know if that's a good approach or not. These pillows are so dang expensive that it's scary buying them just to try to see if something will work and then not have it work.

Do any of you find that you need a thinner pillow when you side sleep on an adjustable bed with the head elevated?

Re: Firm pillows for side sleepers?
Reply #9 Aug 14, 2010 8:15 PM
Joined: Mar 14, 2010
Points: 185
I have not noticed that my memory foam pillows have become misshapen or compressed, or anything. They are rather flat to begin with, no more than 5 inches think in the middle. I've had them for more than a year, and the pillow still pops right back up when I remove pressure.  I wish I could tell what brand they are, but the label doesn't say. I got them at Ross, but seem to remember seeing a Walmart sticker on the box (I could be mistaken). The pillows themselves are a yellowish color and have a blue stretch terry cover.
Re: Firm pillows for side sleepers?
Reply #10 Aug 15, 2010 8:47 PM
Joined: Jul 2, 2010
Points: 3
You may want to give one of these a try:

http://www.amazon.com/LinenSpa-Natural-Talalay-Latex-Pillow/dp/B00382XCL6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1281919480&sr=8-1

Re: Firm pillows for side sleepers?
Reply #11 Aug 16, 2010 2:05 PM
Ouch
Location: San Jose, CA
Joined: Apr 4, 2010
Points: 143
tnpd wrote:

Do any of you find that you need a thinner pillow when you side sleep on an adjustable bed with the head elevated?


I often use the lower side, regardless of the position of the adjustable bed. My shoulder sinks in so much, it provides enough support for side sleeping, and it's also low enough for stomach sleeping, which is nice. Actually, works well for lying on my back too.

I do use the high side for times I want to force myself to only sleep on my side.

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