What's the best pillow position for the best night's sleep? Sleep experts weigh in

When trying to achieve the best night's sleep, we put a lot of store on our mattress choices. And of course, that makes sense, the right mattress can make or break a night's sleep. But your choice of pillow is just as important. And it's not just about choosing the best pillow either, it's about the whole setup, how many pillows you have, and what positions they are in. 

If you find you are waking up feeling unrested, or with aches and pains in your back and neck, it's probably time to try something different with your pillow. A simple switch can make all the difference. So we asked the experts what are the best ways to sleep with your pillow, how can we be using pillows to get a comfier, more supportive night's sleep?

Why is it important to have the right pillow in the correct position?

If you can’t get quality sleep due to discomfort or wake up the next morning with aches and pains, it may be time to evaluate if your pillows may be to blame. 'Joints can become sore when held at the extreme of their normal range of motion for prolonged periods of time,' explains chiropractor Rubina Tahir. This includes during sleep (after all, we spend approximately a third of our lives catching ZZZ’s), but also while texting, driving, and sitting with poor posture.

'Pillows are designed to support the natural curves of your spine,' Dr. Tahir continues. 'Too many pillows can force your head into forward flexion, and you will likely wake up with a stiff neck or wake up in the middle of the night, which leads to non-restorative sleep habits.'

Moreover, the type of pillows you need and how/where to place them will largely depend on your preferred sleeping position. For instance, Dr. Tahir explains that 'Flat pillows aren’t suitable for back or side sleeping, as the curve in the neck should always be reinforced.'

Dr Rubina Tahir

Rubina Tahir is a board-certified Chiropractor, and describes herself as 'a woman on a mission to inspire healthy lifestyles'. Rubina earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Western Ontario (2002), her Doctorate of Chiropractic (2005) from New York Chiropractic College, and her Medical Acupuncture Certificate from McMaster University (2012).

What's the best pillow position based on your sleep position?

Back sleepers

 According to Dr. Tahir, back sleepers should avoid sleeping on stacked pillows. Otherwise, they’ll run the risk of waking up with a headache, stiff neck, and potential TMJ pain. 'Proper alignment is achieved by supporting the natural curves of the spine,' she shares. 'This is done by making sure the pillow offers support to the curve of the neck.' Again, flat pillows are a no-go for back sleepers, as are feather pillows, and definitely never try sleeping without a pillow. 

Instead, she says that back sleepers will get more support from the best memory foam pillow or a water pillow – as well as sleeping with a pillow beneath the legs. 'If you sleep on your back and don’t use a pillow under the hamstrings, you could be putting unnecessary strain on your hips and lower back,' Dr. Tahir warns. 'This will increase wear and tear on joints, putting you at risk for arthritis.' To avoid this strain, she recommends placing a firm pillow (or two, as needed) beneath the hamstrings, which can also help provide relief from aches and sciatica.

Side sleepers

Side sleepers may find the best night’s rest by sleeping on a bucket-style pillow. (Dr. Tahir recommends the D-Core Cervical Support Pillow in particular, which she says is also suitable for back sleepers.)

'This style of pillow will support the neck as well as provide room for the shoulder joints to rest comfortably,' she explains. In addition, she suggests that 'side sleepers place a non-bulky wedge pillow between the knees to achieve optimal pain-free angles for the hips, knees, and ankles.'

Stomach sleepers

If you regularly sleep on your stomach, Dr. Tahir strongly urges you to train yourself to sleep in a different position. She says it’ll take about two weeks, but it’s doable and worth the potential sleeplessness as you adjust. According to the chiropractor, a pillow will do little to provide support in this position as it’s innately jarring for the joints and muscles.

'Imagine walking around all day with your head turned to one side. Your joints will become stiff and muscles will develop trigger points (aka knots),' she notes. While she understands it may feel comfortable to lay on your stomach before catching shut-eye, that’s only because the muscles are still active. 'During sleep, muscle activity and breath rate decrease, so what starts off feeling comfortable is not the case for deep sleep.' she explains.

With these points in mind, if you absolutely can’t switch from stomach sleeping, a thin, low pillow will promote alignment without causing additional undue stress.

The best pillows for a better night's sleep

FAQs

The best pillow position and how many you should have is personal. So we would advise you just to test out different arrangements until you find what's right for you. Just always ensure your spine is aligned, your neck isn't too curved and you feel your pillow position gives you enough support so you don't wake up with any aches or pains.