Back sleeper pillow | Mister Sandman

What advantages do back sleeper pillows have?

Is there an ideal head pillow for back sleepers?

Every person sleeps differently. Some people sleep on their stomachs, some on their backs. Others spend their night sleeping on their stomachs or change positions several times during sleep. And for each of these people, there is the right pillow or sleeping pillow:

Pillows as side sleeper pillows
Pillows as stomach sleeper pillows
Pillows as back sleeper pillows

Properties of pillows for side sleepers, stomach sleepers, back sleepers

Each of these pillows has specific pillow properties that are intended to make sleeping as comfortable as possible for a side sleeper, a stomach sleeper, and a back sleeper. Above all, pillows that are tailored to the sleeping position and the sleeper should prevent tension and pain in the shoulders, neck, and back, thus contributing to a restful sleep. About one-fifth of people in Germany sleep on their backs, making them back sleepers. Back sleepers adopt a sleeping position that is considered particularly relaxed for the body compared to the sleeping positions of stomach sleepers and side sleepers. Does a back sleeper even need a pillow or head pillow that is specifically tailored for back sleepers, a back sleeper pillow? What are the benefits of pillows and head pillows for back sleepers?

Optimal back sleeper pillows, side sleeper pillows, and stomach sleeper pillows

Every sleeping position we take at night does something to our body. To be able to sleep relaxed and wake up refreshed in the morning, it is important that certain body areas are supported (head, spine) and other body areas (shoulder, neck) are relaxed. This can be optimally achieved with the choice of the right pillows and head pillows in conjunction with the right mattress. The bedding market offers products such as mattresses, pillows, head pillows, and neck support pillows that are adapted to the sleeping habits of side sleepers, stomach sleepers, and back sleepers.

Mister Sandman mattresses for every sleeping position

Mister Sandman has three mattress models on offer. Serena, Anea and Liara are suitable for different sleeping positions. The Mister Sandman mattress finder individually recommends the right mattress model based on sleeping habits. Important when buying a mattress is also the trial lying down. Mister Sandman offers a 30-day trial sleep . If the mattress does not fit, it will be picked up for free. Shipping and return shipping are free.

The right pillow for side sleepers (side sleeper pillow)

Pillows, cushions, and mattresses for side sleepers must meet different requirements than pillows for stomach sleepers and back sleepers:

Pillows as side sleeper pillows should fill the shoulder-neck area
Pillows as side sleeper pillows should support the head well
Pillows as side sleeper pillows should ideally prevent overstretching of the spine
Pillows as side sleeper pillows should not be too soft

The right mattress for side sleepers

The mattress for side sleepers must meet different criteria than a mattress for back sleepers and stomach sleepers. Mister Sandman mattresses for side sleepers are not only suitable for restful sleep in a side position, but are also Öko-Tex certified and produced in Germany. In addition, Mister Sandman offers a 10-year warranty on its mattresses. Mattress models for side sleepers should meet the following criteria:

Mattress should allow for the shoulder to sink in
Mattress should allow for a straight alignment of the spine
Mattress should not be too hard

Requirements for pillows for stomach sleepers

The fewest people are stomach sleepers. Stomach sleepers usually lie completely flat on the mattress, so it is important for a stomach sleeper that the

Pillow or stomach sleeper pillow should not be too high
If the pillow is too high, the spine will be overstretched
The head pillow or stomach sleeper pillow should have a pillow core that can be individually adjusted in height

Optimal mattress for stomach sleepers

Mattresses for stomach sleepers must not be too hard
Mattresses for stomach sleepers should perfectly support the spine
Mattresses for stomach sleepers should be as zoned as possible

Back sleeper pillows: The optimal head pillow for back sleepers

A sleeping position on the back is one of the most relaxed sleeping positions for the spine and back. Since back sleepers usually move very little at night, the selection of pillows for back sleepers is particularly large. The only point that back sleepers must consider: The head must be positioned ergonomically correctly for a back sleeper.

What does ergonomically correct positioning mean?

An ergonomically correct positioning of the head means for a back sleeper that the head should not be positioned too high. This means that back sleepers should pay particular attention to the height of the pillows when buying a pillow or head pillow. Otherwise, almost any head pillow is suitable as a back sleeper pillow.

Pillows for back sleepers

Pillows for back sleepers can be made from many different materials. The height of the pillow is important for a back sleeper pillow. The pillow should not be too high. Back sleeper pillows can be made from the following materials:

Pillow as a back sleeper pillow made of cold foam
Pillow as a back sleeper pillow with gel foam
Pillow as a back sleeper pillow with visco
Pillow as a back sleeper pillow made of latex
Pillows as back sleeper pillows made of natural materials, e.g. spelt
Pillows as back sleeper pillows with water (water pillow)
Various neck pillows and neck support pillows
Pillows as back sleeper pillows with down
Pillows as back sleeper pillows with feathers

The optimal sleeping pillow as a back sleeper pillow

Back sleepers should ensure that the gap between the head and mattress when sleeping on the sleeping pillow is not too large. Therefore, the head pillow or sleeping pillow of a back sleeper should be relatively flat.

A back sleeper pillow should be relatively flat
Head pillows and sleeping pillows with removable layers are particularly suitable for back sleepers
A head pillow or sleeping pillow with the dimensions 40x80 is very suitable as a back sleeper pillow and is better than sleeping pillows and head pillows with the dimensions 80x80

Individual preferences for head pillows

All other properties of the sleeping pillows and head pillows are left to personal taste. Personal preferences also play a significant role with mattresses. The Mister Sandman mattress finder determines these and individually recommends the suitable mattress. For a back sleeper, other criteria in the choice of sleeping pillow or head pillow are more important than the sleeping position:

Pillow shape and pillow size of the sleeping pillows or back sleeper pillows
Pillow filling of the sleeping pillows (back sleeper pillows)
Health complaints (neck, spine, back, shoulder)

Pillow filling for back sleeper pillows

The pillow filling plays a significant role in sleep pillows. After all, the pillow filling determines the properties of the pillows and sleep pillows. Pillows and sleep pillows with a pillow filling made of foam can have entirely different pillow properties than pillow fillings made of natural materials.

The pillow filling determines the elasticity and firmness of the sleep pillows
The pillow filling determines the absorbency of the sleep pillows
The pillow filling determines the sleep climate of the sleep pillows
The pillow filling determines the maintenance effort of the sleep pillows
The pillow filling determines the allergy-friendliness of the sleep pillows

Back sleeper pillows with cold foam and visco-elastic material

Back sleeper pillows with cold foam and visco foam are very well suited as sleep pillows for back sleepers:

Sleep pillows as back sleeper pillows with visco are particularly elastic and adapt ideally to the head shape
Sleep pillows as back sleeper pillows with visco are shape-stable
Sleep pillows as back sleeper pillows with visco create a warm sleep climate

A sleep pillow made of cold foam with visco as a back sleeper pillow is ideal for back sleepers. However, if one tends to sweat heavily as a back sleeper, a different pillow material would be recommended.

Back sleeper pillows with water filling

Sleep pillows with a water core are excellent for back sleepers' pillows for back sleepers.

A sleeping pillow with a water core is equally suitable for side sleepers, stomach sleepers, and back sleepers
A sleeping pillow with water as a back sleeper pillow has an individually adjustable degree of hardness
Depending on the filling amount, the height of sleeping pillows with a water core can be varied and is therefore very suitable as a back sleeper pillow for back sleepers
A sleeping pillow with a water core adapts individually to every head shape
A water pillow as a back sleeper pillow creates a cool sleeping climate
Water pillows have ideal dimensions for back sleeper pillows 40x80

Disadvantages of back sleeper pillows with water core

Water pillows are generally suitable for back sleepers. However, the following aspects should be considered before purchasing a water pillow:

Depending on the filling amount, the water pillow can be very heavy as a back sleeper pillow
A sleeping pillow with water is not quiet.
Due to the water in the sleeping pillow, a strong cooling effect is often unavoidable. One should pay attention to the pillow cover here
With poorly processed sleeping pillows with water, there is a risk that water will leak from the sleeping pillow

Neck support pillows as back sleeper pillows

Many guides consider neck pillows and neck support pillows to be ideal sleeping pillows for back sleepers. This assessment by many guides arises mainly from the wave-shaped design of neck pillows and neck support pillows, which keeps the head of back sleepers in an optimal position. The head is optimally supported by neck pillows and neck support pillows, which in turn has a positive effect on the spine. Neck and back pain is prevented, and headaches are avoided. As with sleeping pillows, there is a very large selection of neck pillows and neck support pillows that are suitable as back sleeper pillows.

Neck pillow models

The neck pillow offer and neck support pillow offer includes various neck pillow models each with different fillings. In addition, there are neck pillows and neck support pillows in various designs:

Neck pillows and neck support pillows as support for head and neck while traveling
Neck pillows and neck support pillows as support for head and neck as sleeping pillows
Neck pillows as support for neck and head in various sizes
Neck pillows as support for neck and head with different pillow covers

Optimal neck support pillows for back sleepers

When choosing neck pillows and neck support pillows as back sleeper pillows, similar aspects should be considered as when choosing sleeping pillows for back sleepers:

The neck pillow or neck support pillow as a back sleeper pillow should not be too high.
When buying neck pillows and neck support pillows as back sleeper pillows, attention should be paid to the pillow filling.
Since neck pillows and neck support pillows often have different sizes and dimensions than conventional sleeping pillows, attention should be paid to the cover of the neck pillows and neck support pillows.

Apart from the height of the neck pillows and neck support pillows, back sleepers simply have to choose their neck support pillow or neck pillow according to personal preferences. The situation is different if one is already struggling with tension in the neck and back.

Back sleeper pillows in the test

Neck pillows and neck support pillows are suitable as back sleeper pillows for back sleepers, but there are hardly any studies that prove the effectiveness of neck pillows and neck support pillows for existing health problems. An exception is neck support pillows in the form of water pillows. An American university conducted a test with water pillows to investigate the effectiveness of these pillows for neck pain compared to other pillows, neck support pillows, and neck pillows. The pillows in the test were tested on 41 people. The goal was to answer the following test questions:

How long do the test subjects take to fall asleep using the pillow or the water pillow?
How well do the test subjects sleep through during the test phase on the pillow?
How do the test subjects rate their sleep during the test phase?
How is the overall sleep quality rated after the 30 days trial sleep with the pillow?

Water pillows as neck pillows and orthopedic neck support pillows

The test subjects initially slept for several weeks on a pillow that they usually use as a sleeping pillow. Most of the time, these were pillows with down or a foam filling. In the test, the test subjects were to sleep on a neck pillow, specifically a neck roll, and then on a water pillow of a specific pillow brand . The test subjects were to keep diary entries about pain and their general well-being throughout the entire test period. In the last third of the water pillow test or the test phase, the test subjects were finally to indicate their satisfaction with the pillows used in the test (regular pillow, neck pillow, water pillow). The test subjects in the water pillow test were individuals suffering from the so-called cervical syndrome, meaning test subjects with general discomfort in the cervical spine area, some also with accompanying headaches.

Water pillow is very well suited as an orthopedic neck support pillow

The neck pillow test or water pillow test conducted by Johns Hopkins University showed clear test results. In all test categories, the water pillow used in the test was ahead, especially before the neck pillow, and the water pillow ultimately emerged as the test winner.

The test showed that the water pillow used, unlike the other pillow models, significantly reduced morning neck pain in the test subjects.
The test showed that using the water pillow as a sleeping pillow or head pillow significantly improved the sleep quality of the test subjects.
The test showed that the use of a neck roll significantly worsened both the neck pain and the sleep quality of the test subjects compared to the use of a water pillow.

Water pillows good for neck pain

Unlike test results that only refer to specific pillow features, this test shows that water pillows can be effectively used against neck pain and accompanying back and head pain. Other pillows seem to be less suitable here, according to the test results. Which pillow can be recommended as a back sleeper pillow? There is a wide range of pillows that can be recommended as back sleeper pillows. These can be various pillow models with different pillow fillings. Neck support pillows and neck pillows are very suitable as back sleeper pillows. Since many types of pillows are suitable for back sleepers, it is very difficult to give a general recommendation regarding an optimal back sleeper pillow.

Choice of pillow

Since the choice of a pillow is a very individual matter, back sleepers should test different pillow models before committing to one. Otherwise, the following applies to back sleeper pillows that are to be used as sleeping pillows:

The back sleeper pillow should match the mattress, otherwise back problems may arise.
The back sleeper pillow should not be too high, otherwise back pain may occur.
As back sleeper pillows, neck pillows and orthopedic neck support pillows are particularly well suited.
Water pillows are well suited for back sleepers.
Back sleepers with pain in the neck and back or problems with the spine should use a pillow with a water core as a back sleeper pillow.

What should be considered when switching to a back sleeper pillow?

A back sleeper pillow can be a conventional pillow with the dimensions 80x80 and a down filling. If a back sleeper decides to optimize their pillow and switches to a pillow model that fits their sleep habits even better, they should give themselves some time to get used to the new back sleeper pillow and the new lying sensation. This is especially true in cases of:

a switch from pillow size 80x80 to 40x80
a switch from a conventional pillow to a neck pillow (orthopedic neck support pillow)
a switch to an unfamiliar pillow filling

Bedding should be the right size

If switching from a larger back sleeper pillow to a smaller one, one should consider that they may need new bedding or at least a new pillow cover. While a larger pillow cover can also be used for the new pillow, there is a possibility of being disturbed by the excess fabric while sleeping. When it comes to bedding and pillow covers, one should ensure that

Bedding and pillow covers are made from high-quality materials
Bedding and back sleeper pillow covers are tested for harmful substances
Bedding and pillow covers contribute to well-being

Back sleeper pillows and mattresses

The new back sleeper pillow should definitely match the mattresses. If the shoulders sink very deep into the mattresses, the back sleeper pillow should be particularly flat. The head should not bend while sleeping to avoid jeopardizing a favorable position of the spine. In general, back sleepers should pay attention to some criteria when buying a mattress to ensure they purchase the right one:

Mattresses for back sleepers should allow sinking in the shoulder area
Mattresses for back sleepers should allow sinking in the hip area
Mattresses for back sleepers should be designed to support the natural S-shape of the spine