Sleeping while hugging a pillow is not so much about lacking a significant other, but it's about feeling comforted and secure. Whether we do it subconsciously, or realize we need to hug something in order to fall asleep, cuddling a pillow is completely normal and may not need any reading into.
Yes, sleeping with a body pillow can relieve your pressure points and reduce the chances of back and neck pain by providing more arm and leg support beyond what you get from your mattress. Sleeping with a body pillow can also help you get used to the side-sleeping position, which is the healthiest way to sleep.
A body pillow is a long, narrow pillow, meant to be cradled between your legs when you sleep on your side. These pillows improve spinal alignment and provide pressure point relief. Body pillows are also used to prevent sleepers from rolling onto their back when they are training themselves to sleep on their side.
Sleeping without a pillow can keep your head flat. This may reduce some stress on your neck and promote better alignment. If you sleep on your back or side, sleeping without a pillow may do more harm than good. It's best to use a pillow to keep your spine neutral.
If you sleep on your side, a firm pillow between your knees will prevent your upper leg from pulling your spine out of alignment and reduce stress on your hips and lower back. A rolled towel or small pillow under your waist may also help support your spine. Insert pillows into gaps between your body and the mattress.
Body pillow users tell us that it is key to find a pillow that can support the head and neck and allow for comfort while sleeping on your side. To support side sleeping, it is important to have a pillow between your knees and ankles. And if you are on your side, you need support both in front and behind you.
A body pillow is a long, body-length pillow designed to provide proper support for your arms, shoulders, and hips. Body pillows not only provide stable support that can help to eliminate aches and pains, but also keep you in a comfortable position all night long.
The Best Pillows for Side Sleepers
- Best Overall – Layla Pillow.
- Best Value – Brooklinen Down Pillow.
- Best Neck Support – Eli & Elm Side-sleeper Pillow.
- Most Comfortable – Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Neck Pillow.
- Best Memory Foam – Coop Home Goods Eden.
- Best Luxury – Parachute Down Side Sleeper Pillow.
- Best Cooling – Bear Pillow.
For some people, sleeping on their back may be the best position to relieve back pain:
- Lay flat on your back.
- Place a pillow underneath your knees and keep your spine neutral.
- You may also place a small, rolled up towel under the small of your back for added support.
Here are the best body pillows:
- Best overall: Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Full Body Pillow.
- Best for pregnancy: Leachco Snoogle Total Body Pillow.
- Best for customizable firmness: Coop Home Goods - Memory Foam Body Pillow.
- Best U-shaped: Moonlight Slumber Comfort-U Total Body Support Pillow.
The Best Pillows for Back Pain
- Best Overall – Layla Kapok Pillow.
- Best Value – Brooklinen Down Alternative Pillow.
- Most Comfortable – TEMPUR-Neck Pillow.
- Best for Side Sleepers – Eli & Elm Cotton Side-Sleeper Pillow.
- Best for Back Sleepers – SpineAlign Pillow.
- Best Adjustable – Ecosa Pillow.
- Best sleep positions. Let's face it.
- Fetal position. There's a reason why this is the most popular sleep position.
- Sleeping on your side. As it turns out, sleeping on your side is actually pretty good for you — especially if you're sleeping on your left side.
- Lying on your stomach.
- Flat on your back.
- The takeaway.
Yes, having a body pillow is okay, because it helps enhance your sleep experience and get you into a much-needed healthy routine. The key to making the most of your body pillow is knowing how to use it properly.
Should Everyone Use a Weighted Blanket? Adults and older children can use weighted blankets as bed covers or for relaxing during the day. They are safe to use for sleeping throughout the night.
As Winnie Yu, a writer for WebMD noted in her article “Scared to Sleep,” sleep anxiety is a form of performance anxiety. Many people may stress about not getting enough sleep to function, but the stress alone of trying to sleep can cause people to sit awake for hours.
Because the hugs you could give it are priceless. Stain resistant material is expensive! Limited runs for a niche market, and printing such a large detailed image on fabric is pretty pricey in itself.
The pressure of weighted blankets puts your autonomic nervous system into “rest” mode, reducing some of the symptoms of anxiety, such as a quickened heart rate or breathing. This can provide an overall sense of calm.
