If You Keep Waking Up With a Stiff Neck, These Pillows Will Help

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That sharp pain in your neck when you finally lie down after a long day? It's the worst (aside from waking up with a stiff neck, that is). A more comfortable pillow could help alleviate it. There are so many pillows in diverse heights, fabrics, and filling levels for different sleeping styles that there has to be a solution, right? Actually, there are so many that purport to help that it's hard to know where to start. That's why we asked sleep experts to help us find the very best pillows for neck pain.

New York–based sleep psychologist Janet Kennedy, PhD, is a neck pain sufferer herself, and she has done a lot of the hands-on research and testing to determine the best pillows for neck pain. Like many important purchases for the home, it's a trial-and-error process. It's also extremely personal. "Pillows are even harder than great mattresses to find," Kennedy says. "There is not a one size fits all situation. I think because our neck is very delicate, it's very specific to each person."

The right thickness is key because it helps maintain the proper alignment. "As an osteopath, I pay close attention to the body's alignment and recommend holistic solutions to pain prevention and to treat pain and pillows do play a role in pain," says Carlos Cespedes, PhD, of Key West Med Spa. "When you spend a lot of time on your back while sleeping, you'll want a medium-height pillow; if you sleep on your side, you'll want a higher pillow; and if you sleep on your stomach, choose a thinner pillow."

Ultimately, you won't know how your neck really feels about a pillow until you sleep on it. Be sure to check the return policy before you click buy. Ready for a night free of neck pain? Here are the best pillows for neck pain that give you just the right level of support, from memory foam to latex.

Neck Pillow

For a restful and pain-free sleep, Tempur-Pedic has designed a pillow specifically for the neck, featuring its exclusive Tempur material, which is ergonomically contoured to provide proper alignment, support, and comfort. Depending on your body type and sleep preference, you can choose from three sizes and available in three sizes.

Avocado Molded Latex Pillow

Delivered from restful sleep heaven, the Avocado Molded Latex Pillow is a firm pillow designed to give back and side sleepers the neck support they need. The shape is maintained by a charcoal-infused latex core, which has the bonus of keeping you cool. It comes with a removable and washable cover so you can get more years out of your pillow.

The Original

The brand offers a “What Pillow is Best For You?” quiz where you input a series of specific needs, from the type of sleeper you are (side, back, stomach, combination) to any specific pain points, such as the neck, and whether you like a soft, medium, or firm pillow. The Coop Original Pillow is recommended for neck pain since you can adjust the fill of the pillow yourself to ensure so your neck never feels strained or sore in the morning. You can simply remove the memory foam and microfiber fill or put it back to make the pillow lower or higher to fit your needs.

Original Foam Pillow

When you need a pillow to come through for you when your neck has been aching, the Tuft & Needle Original Foam Pillow is made of moldable and supportive foam that gives with the curve of your neck. Also, to prevent overheating, this pillow comes with a sweat-wicking graphite layer that draws heat away from your body.

Organic Latex Molded Pillow

Since sleepers with neck pain need to keep their necks neutral to avoid discomfort, the Organic Molded Latex Pillow by Coyuchi offers medium-firm support thanks to its organic latex insert. Your head sinks comfortably into the pillow's natural spring interior. To create airflow and promote breathability at night, there are tiny holes inside the latex insert.

Foam Pillow

Designed specifically to create ergonomic support for head and neck alignment, the Casper Foam Pillow has supportive inner layers and plush outer layers. The pillow also features a breathable jersey knit layer that helps to keep air circulating for a cooling effect.

Adjustable Cervical Memory Foam Pillow

Cervical support pillows, which often have this butterfly shape, are one of the best kinds you can get for neck support. Kennedy says they're designed to allow the natural curve of the cervical vertebrae, while still supporting your head. (As a bonus, it can help with snoring!)

NekGenic™ Cervical Traction Neck Pillow

Although this isn't a pillow in the traditional sense, this neck traction device is a great accessory to help with neck pain. Kennedy suggests lying on it before you go to bed (or anytime during the day) to create space in the cervical vertebrae, which helps restore natural shape to that part of the spine. "It can't just be your pillow that fixes the problem because we're doing all kinds of stuff to our neck all day," Kennedy says. "Particularly looking at screens, whether we're looking down or just extending the head forward, all of that's creating strain." This affordable device can help ease it in a way that helps you rest.

ChillingQ™ Pillow

This cooling pillow comes with a gel cover that keeps you cool throughout the night, which is more important than you might realize. "The temperature of your head regulates your core body temperature, so if you're overheating on your head, then it can affect your whole sleep quality," says Kennedy. On top of that, the button at the center creates a divot to cradle your head for good alignment.

Long Body Pillow

Holding a body pillow while you sleep is a great way to maintain better alignment throughout the night. The position supports both your upper and lower body at same time. "When you hug a pillow, it keeps your shoulders aligned," Kennedy says. "You're not leaning forward and twisting your thoracic spine when you do that. It's also comforting and soothing to do that."

Firm/Extra-Firm Down Alternative Bed Pillow

This great value pillow has a luxurious feel thanks to a down-alternative polyester fill and 350-thread count cotton cover. Its firmness works best for side and back sleep positions, while the fill is great for those who have allergies.

Allswell Extra Firm Adjustable Memory Foam Standard Bed Pillow

Too high? Too low? The CertiPUR-US Certified memory foam fill in this Allswell pillow can be removed or added depending what your neck needs. The filling comes in a reusable storage bag, so you can test out the pillow over time until you’ve reached optimal comfort. Also, keeping the pillow clean over time is easy thanks to the removable and machine washable knit cover.

How Many Pillows Do I Need?

Don't feel the need to cover your bed in pillows. It's important not to overcomplicate your sleep environment. "If you need 15 pillows arranged in some kind of very specific way, then your sleep starts to feel really fragile and not very portable," Kennedy says. "You want to find something that's reasonably simple, but with your body's needs in mind."

What Pillow Type Is Best For Each Sleep Position?

Stomach Sleepers: This is a trickier position for spinal alignment as it puts pressure on different points in your spine. But we know some people just can't sleep any other way! "If you're a stomach sleeper, your pillow needs to be thinner because otherwise you're extending your neck in a way that hurts both your neck and your lower back—unless you put a support under your lower legs or even under your pelvis, which gets to be a little bit elaborate," Kennedy says.

Back Sleepers: This position calls for a pillow with good neck support to keep your airway open throughout the night. "It's really important to have proper neck support because sleeping on your back makes you more vulnerable to changes in the structure of the back of your throat," Kennedy says. "That can contribute to snoring or sleep apnea even."

Side Sleepers: Think about total body alignment when selecting pillows for this position since it’s easy to sleep in a crooked posture. "You have to think about neck support, whether your shoulder is sort of jammed into the mattress, and then also you have to think about your pelvic alignment," Kennedy says. "It's easy to sleep in kind of a twist, and that can put a lot of strain on your lower back in ways that might start to be bothersome over time."

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