Pillows For Front Sleepers

What are the best pillows for front sleepers?

We’ve identified the following pillows as the best choice for stomach sleepers.

Soft to soft-medium pillows: 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 causing 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.

Feather pillows: 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.

Other things to consider

There are other things to think about when you’re choosing a pillow for front sleeping:

Allergies: If you suffer from any allergies, we recommend anti-allergy pillows. These pillows are designed to repel or resist certain types of allergens that can trigger symptoms of respiratory problems such as asthma or skin irritation such as eczema.

Overheating: If you’re prone to overheating or night sweats, we recommend choosing a pillow from our cooling pillows range. These will help keep you dry and fresh thanks to their open-fibre structure.

How should stomach sleepers sleep?

Generally speaking, only one pillow is required for a front sleeper. This is because having more than one can cause the head to lift too high, misaligning the neck and spine, and potentially causing discomfort and pain. Some stomach sleepers find that placing another pillow under their pelvis helps to relieve this pressure though.

Do stomach sleepers need a soft or firm mattress?

While a soft pillow is recommended for front sleepers, when it comes to a mattress, we advise a medium-firm to firm level of support. This is because your spine needs that extra firmness to help stop it from sinking in too low while you lay on your stomach. If your mattress is too soft, your body will sink and your spine will arch, potentially leading to niggling aches and pains. Equally, if you choose a mattress that is too firm, this won’t let your spine follow its natural curve, which could also cause you discomfort. For more information on mattress selection, take a look at our Personal Comfort Guide.

We’ve also got a handy Pillow Buying Guide for further advice. Happy browsing and sleep well.