Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The Best Pillows Designed With Stomach Sleepers in Mind

Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’re a fellow stomach sleeper, you know the weird flak we get from scientists and doctors. Sure, stomach sleeping, or sleeping in the prone position, isn’t the best position to sleep in. Your neck is in a bad position, and you’re promoting wrinkles on your face, so you should sleep on your side. However, at the end of the day, the No. 1 goal for everyone is to just fall asleep and stay that way. Daily pressures at work and at home are immense, we don’t need to be pressured to change the position we’ve slept in our whole lives, too.

So maybe we’re being dramatic, but every stomach sleeper knows the struggle of finding a pillow that’s right for stomach sleepers. In fact, many physicians recommend stomach sleepers ditch the pillow altogether for optimal spine alignment. Side sleepers have always had their pick of luxurious pillows and back sleepers have an incredible array of pillow options, so why not stomach sleepers?

Luckily, this is changing. Retailers are finally realizing that stomach sleepers need high-quality pillows, too, and ones that decrease strain on our spine and neck. Even if we refuse to give in to pressures to switch from our stomach to our side while we sleep, we should still treat our bodies to pillows designed with us in mind. Think about it; while sleeping on your stomach, your face is turned to the side. If you have a pillow with too high a loft, your neck is both twisted and upturned, which can cause a lot of problems down the line. Plus, because you’re sleeping face-down, you’re more likely to sleep hot. You’re a sophisticated sleeper, and you shouldn’t have to settle for a pillow made for a side or back sleeper.

Bluewave Bedding Ultra Slim Gel Memory Foam Pillow
Bluewave Bedding Ultra Slim Gel-Infused Memory Foam Pillow
Jump to details
Sleep Restoration Gel Pillow - Queen Size
Sleep Restoration's Gel Pillow
Jump to details
Belly Sleep Belly Sleeper Pillow
Belly Sleep Belly Sleeper Pillow
Jump to details
Leesa Pillow - Standard Size
Leesa Memory Foam Pillow
Jump to details
Bluewave's Ultra Slim Gel-Infused Memory Foam Pillow over a white background.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Bluewave Bedding Ultra Slim Gel-Infused Memory Foam Pillow

One of the downfalls of memory foam pillows is that as your face sinks into one of them, it can become overly warm and even uncomfortable. Bluewave Bedding solves this problem with its Ultra Slim Gel-Infused Memory Foam Pillow. Gel particles are infused into the memory foam, keeping you cooler at night and stopping heat buildup. It also features a hole-punched design to encourage better air flow. Flip the pillow for a different experience, as one side is flat and the other is curved. You have a few options here; choose between a 2.5-, 3.25- or 4-inch loft. If you’re an unconventional stomach sleeper who likes a firmer pillow that keeps you from sinking in, this is a great choice for you.

Bluewave Bedding Ultra Slim Gel Memory Foam Pillow
Bluewave Bedding Ultra Slim Gel-Infused Memory Foam Pillow
Sleep Restoration gel pillow over a white background.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sleep Restoration's Gel Pillow

This pillow may look super lofty at first – and high loft typically means trouble for stomach sleepers – but Sleep Restoration has created a super soft gel pillow for stomach sleepers. When you think of hotel-soft pillows, you're typically thinking of down pillows, but this is a fabulous pillow if you're looking for that perfect cloud-like hotel pillow feel but you don't want to spend a ton of money. This is a great budget-priced pillow that feels like a luxury brand. Another good plus is that this pillow is dust mite, mold, and mildew resistant, which you sometimes don't get from down pillows.

Sleep Restoration Gel Pillow - Queen Size
Sleep Restoration's Gel Pillow
Belly sleep memory foam pillow beside box over a white background.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Belly Sleep Belly Sleeper Pillow

Notice anything weird about this pillow? No, your eyes aren't deceiving you; this pillow has super curved edges. If you're like us, you've had trouble with one side of the pillow popping up when you stomach sleep, and you feel like you're breathing directly into a pillow all night. This pillow is solid, thin and supportive, with just a 2.5-inch loft, so you don't have to worry about sleeping with your face on the very edge of the pillow to prevent it from covering your nose and mouth. Belly Sleep calls out its audience by name, so you know this pillow is great for most stomach sleepers. Plus, this pillow is filled with gel-infused memory foam and comes with a polyester and bamboo cover, which wicks away moisture and heat so you feel comfortable, cool, and dry all night.

Belly Sleep Belly Sleeper Pillow
Belly Sleep Belly Sleeper Pillow
Leesa memory foam pillow over a white background.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Leesa Memory Foam Pillow

If you follow our sleep content here on The Manual, you're likely already familiar with Leesa. Known mostly for its mattresses, Leesa also offers some great accessories, including this premium memory foam pillow. This pillow is a little lofty, so we recommend this loaf memory foam pillow for larger sleepers who won't strain their neck on a thicker pillow. Still, this pillow was designed to be a good pillow for all sleepers, so if you're a sleeper who changes position throughout the night, the Leesa pillow is probably right for you. And if you sleep hot, you don't have to worry about overheating at night; Leesa has designed this pillow with hundreds of ventilation channels, so you'll get great airflow as you sleep.

Leesa Pillow - Standard Size
Leesa Memory Foam Pillow

Still want better quality sleep after snagging a new pillow for your stomach-sleeping habit? We've found the best mattresses, and sleep masks to help you sleep deeper , along with some mattress toppers.

Selena Rodriguez

Selena is a Colorado-based writer and content creator. She is constantly on the hunt for the next adventure whether it's traveling to a new city or exploring a new trail. Her work has been featured in Colorado Yoga + Life as well as across a variety of smaller online blogs. Some of her favorite subjects include wellness and health but she's fascinated by a vast range of topics from style to food. When she's not writing, she's spending time with her loved ones and her Australian Shepard, Luka.

Send all editorial inquiries HERE.

The 6 Best King-Size Mattress Toppers for Extra Comfort
A couple having breakfast in bed.

Do you have a hard time sleeping at night? Is your mattress too firm, or is your partner keeping you awake? While it might be tempting to buy a new bed, if your current king-size mattress is less than 10 years old, a king-sized mattress topper may be a better and more affordable solution.

Couples generally prefer a king-size mattress because it gives them extra room to spread out and be more comfortable. But while you have more space, this still doesn't mean the mattress itself is ideal. Everyone has different sleep positions and needs different options for a mattress. A mattress topper is an excellent option for relieving pressure points when a mattress is too soft or firm. It's an additional removable layer of comfort and support, like adding an extra cushion to the mattress. It's called a topper because it's laid on top of the mattress. Toppers are a great option for changing the feel and comfort of a mattress without buying a new one. They also absorb a lot of the mattress's surface wear and tear and extend the life expectancy.

Read more
The Best Planners to Organize Yourself in 2022
person writing in their planner.

While 2021 may have presented many unexpected obstacles, 2022 is now here and ready for you to make it the best year yet. A new year usually comes with new and updated goals, whether they be personal or professional. You may have an endless list of things you want to achieve this year, but it is hard to actually accomplish them if you don't have a plan and a timeline. That's where a planner comes in!

Planners come in different sizes and designs to complement your personality. Prioritizing aesthetics is okay, but the primary use of a planner should be to help you stay organized and focused. Most of all, they should not be too costly because you will get another one the following year. To get you started, we’ve researched and selected some of the most stylish and cost-effective planners for every type of person to jumpstart 2022.

Read more
Here are 7 of the Best Pillows for Neck Pain
A Tuft & Needle pillow against a cream background.

There’s nothing worse than lying down for what you hope to be a restful night of sleep only to be sabotaged by that uncomfortable, ever-present ache in your neck. Chalk it up to sedentary office culture or a bad habit of looking down at our devices – neck pain is an extremely common issue in our modern day. In fact, roughly 70-75% of the population will experience neck pain some time in their lives.

With neck pain affecting so many, it’s vital to have a solution close at hand to maintain healthy, rejuvenating sleep. Luckily, there are plenty of tools to help achieve this goal. It’s important to take a look at what you’re sleeping on every night when it concerns neck pain. Obviously, the thing you lay your head down on every night will affect your level of neck pain.

Read more