Improve your sleep quality and reduce neck pain with the right pillow, the Sleep Gonggam Milk Pillow, the ultimate solution for neck pain and side sleepers.
A majority of individuals favor side sleeping over other sleeping positions. If you’re one of these side sleepers, your mattress must provide ample support and cushioning to maintain spinal alignment. However, selecting the right pillow for this sleep position holds equal importance. For side sleepers, pillows with a bit more thickness are often necessary to bridge the gap between the head and neck. Pillows that are too slim may lack the requisite cushioning, while those that are overly thick could disrupt spinal alignment, potentially resulting in increased pressure points.
If you’re grappling with continuous neck pain, whether due to an injury or daily stressors, a supportive pillow can significantly enhance your sleep quality and alleviate daytime neck pain. Neck discomfort isn’t picky and can affect any sleeper, whether they sleep on their back, side, stomach, or a combination. Yet, experts suggest that those with neck pain should primarily sleep on their side or back. This posture ensures that the head, neck, and spine receive adequate support in a neutral position.
How to Find the Best Pillow for Neck Support for Side Sleepers?
Choosing the Right Firmness and Fill
Pillows offering enhanced support, particularly firmer ones, are best suited for those experiencing neck pain. Those suffering from neck or back discomfort will find that medium-firm mattresses and pillows offer optimal nocturnal support. Such pillows envelop your head and ensure your body maintains a neutral posture and alignment as you sleep. The perfect pillow firmness depends on various factors, including the weight of your head, pillow height, your preferred sleeping position, and mattress firmness.
The fill of your pillow also influences its firmness. Materials such as memory foam, latex, and wool tend to yield a firmer sleeping surface. In contrast, down, feather-fill, polyfill, kapok, and cotton provide a softer, more plush feel.
Understanding Loft
The loft, or height, of your pillow is critical. The neck should not be higher than the spine. Consequently, those battling neck pain should avoid excessively lofty pillows (typically over five inches high) to prevent angling the head uncomfortably. A medium-loft pillow with a height between three and five inches is a good starting point. Keep in mind your body type as well. The perfect loft for alleviating neck pain is one that aligns your neck with your spine, so consider the width of your shoulders and the size of your head.
Selecting the Shape
Neck-supportive pillows come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. From standard rectangular options to more specialized designs aimed at mitigating neck pain, there’s a pillow for every need. Cervical pillows have bolsters or cylindrical sections that fit snugly into the natural cervical curve of your neck, providing extra support. Orthopedic pillows, featuring detailed shapes with multiple contours and cavities, support your cervical curve and align your spine, neck, and head. Both orthopedic and cervical pillows can address specific pain points and alignment issues. Meanwhile, standard pillow shapes can provide more uniform head support during sleep.
Best Neck-Support Pillow for Side Sleepers
Sleep Gonggam Milk Pillows are the best neck pillows for side sleepers, with fluffy comfort, support and cushioning. They are filled with 0.5 million latex flakes. These latex flake chips move depending on each person. It makes sleep comfortable by absorbing any movement caused by tossing and turning while sleeping. This pillow provides superior support to the neck while maintaining a soft feel. This neck pillow is ideal for people suffering from stiff necks after a night of restless sleep. Unlike other pillows, it has good elasticity and is supportive.Â
How is it different from other pillows?
Material
Many other pillows are produced through injection molding, utilizing materials like latex or memory foam. These materials and manufacturing processes cannot support each body part at different heights. Cotton and goose pillows are too soft and easy to move. They cannot support C-spine.
Design and Shape
Most other pillows designed to align your neck, support your thoracic spine, relieve jaw pain, and comfort your head are uncomfortable to use. They restrict movement, and people have to fit in the artificial shape of the pillow. Conventional rectangular pillows do not offer adequate support to the neck and result in stiff shoulders.
Milk Pillow from Sleep Gonggam
The Milk Pillow from Sleep Gonggam is designed after extensive research. Korea’s number 1 bedding brand brings this pillow after studying around 1,000 people over two years. Every little detail of the pillow design, including product structure, materials, breathability, elasticity, density, etc, was developed after scientific consulting on the results. It even has certifications from sleep research and sleep medicine societies such as WASM, ESRS, and RPSGT. The company also consults with Dr. Jiho Choi, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, and Sleep Disorders Center Leadership to make the specialized pillows.
Sleep Gonggam concentrates on five key design parameters for each pillow:
- Free tossing and turning
- C-spine support
- body pressure distribution
- anti-bacterial effect
- material
Benefits of Using Milk Pillow
The Sleep Gonggam Milk Pillow guarantees deeper sleep with its unique queen size, accommodating free tossing and turning. Made from latex flakes, it offers perfect C-spine support by matching the C-curve of the neck. Whether you sleep on your back or your side, the Milk Pillow supports your shoulders and head without tilting your head in an uncomfortable position. Its uniquely designed ergonomic five-partition structure balances the body pressure. The pillow maintains an ideal angle of inclination so that you can smoothly breathe, making it the best pillow to alleviate snoring and minimize muscle stress.
The Milk Pillow is made from natural antibacterial material, latex, and passes harmful materials detection tests such as Radon Eye Test. The inner cover of the Sleep Gonggam pillow has a triple layer protection made from high-density 100% cotton, quilted cotton, and felt, which encase the latex flakes. The best part, you can use both sides of the pillow depending on your sleeping habits and body shape. There are two different types of neck pillows – Standard Fit and Easy Fit.Â
Wrapping up
Side sleepers are most comfortable on pillows that fully support the head and neck. The Sleep Gonggam Milk Pillow is our recommendation, as it offers the best support, cushioning, and comfort for sleeping without any neck pain.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pillow for Side Sleepers
What characteristics should I look for in a pillow if I’m a side sleeper?
If you’re a side sleeper, you should look for a pillow that keeps your neck aligned with your spine. Look for a firmer pillow with a high loft that fills the space between your shoulder and head when you lie down.
How does the type of pillow I use affect my sleep quality as a side sleeper?
The type of pillow you use can greatly impact your sleep quality by either supporting or straining your neck, shoulders, and spine. A properly supportive pillow can help reduce tossing and turning, improve breathing, and ultimately enhance sleep quality.
What is the ideal pillow loft for side sleepers?
The ideal loft varies depending on individual factors like the width of your shoulders and the size of your head. However, generally, side sleepers should opt for medium to high loft pillows to ensure proper support.
How often should side sleepers replace their pillows?
On average, you should replace your pillows every 1-2 years. However, this can depend on the quality of the pillow and the material it’s made from. Memory foam and latex pillows tend to last longer than other types.
Are there specific pillows recommended for pregnant women who sleep on their side?
Pregnant women can benefit from body pillows or pregnancy pillows, which provide additional support to the belly, back, and knees, along with aligning the neck and head.
How should side sleepers position their pillows for the best sleep?
The pillow should be positioned so that it fills the gap between the shoulder and the head when you’re lying on your side. This helps keep the neck straight and aligned with the rest of the spine.
