Pillows Made in the USA
When lying on one’s side, a pillow should support the head and neck so the spine maintains a straight and natural horizontal line. A thicker pillow is needed for sleeping on the side than sleeping on the back.
Best Pillows for Different Sleeping Positions
By: John Schubbe, DC, Chiropractor
Sleep position is a key factor in choosing the best pillow for both body alignment and comfort. Fortunately for consumers, many pillows are labeled for specific sleep positions.
Using a Pillow While Sleeping on the Back
When lying on the back, a pillow should support the natural curvature, or lordosis, of the cervical spine, with adequate support under the head, neck, and shoulders. Pillow height should be lower than for side sleepers.
Placing another pillow or two beneath the knees further alleviates any back strain. The pillows tend to flatten the lumbar curve, easing the pressure on the facet joints in the back of the spinal column.
This position is the best overall to help the back rest comfortably, and many people find this is the only way they can sleep during a severe bout of back pain or while recovering from spine surgery.
Using a Pillow While Sleeping on the Side
When lying on one’s side, a pillow should support the head and neck so the spine maintains a straight and natural horizontal line. A thicker pillow is needed for sleeping on the side than sleeping on the back.
Bending the knees and placing another pillow between the knees keeps the spine in the neutral position. When there is no support between the legs, the upper leg rotates downward, pulling the pelvis and distorting the natural line of the spine. A firm pillow between the knees usually prevents this downward rotation better than a softer pillow.
Adding support between the knees can prevent back pain and allow the back to heal and rest better while sleeping.
There is limited research on pillows for side sleepers. One small study found the latex pillow the most helpful of five types considered (foam contour-shaped, regular foam, polyester, feather, and standard latex. Study participants reported the most cervical stiffness upon waking after using feather pillows, with the symptoms continuing well into the day. 1 Cai D, Chen HL. Ergonomic approach for pillow concept design. Appl Ergon. 2016 Jan;52:142-50. Epub 2015 Jul 28.
In This Article:
- Pillow Support and Comfort
- Best Pillows for Different Sleeping Positions
- Different Types of Pillows
- Best Pillows for Neck Pain or Back Pain Video
Using a Pillow While Sleeping on the Stomach
Sleeping on the stomach is the most stressful position for the back and neck. Patients may be advised by their doctors to avoid sleeping on the stomach if they have certain spine conditions, or following spine surgery.
If sleeping or resting on the stomach is preferred, the pillow should be relatively flat, or the head should rest directly on the mattress, so the head and neck aren’t strained. In this position, it is often best to place another relatively flat pillow under the abdomen or pelvis to help the lower back keep its natural alignment.
Pillows for Combination Sleepers
Individuals with varying sleep positions should look for a pillow that has higher areas for side sleeping and lower areas for back sleeping. A pillow with a mix of different fillers or a buckwheat hull pillow might be helpful as well. Using a single all-purpose pillow is likely to result in a pillow that is too high for sleeping on the back and too low for sleeping on the side. 1 Cai D, Chen HL. Ergonomic approach for pillow concept design. Appl Ergon. 2016 Jan;52:142-50. Epub 2015 Jul 28.
- 1 Cai D, Chen HL. Ergonomic approach for pillow concept design. Appl Ergon. 2016 Jan;52:142-50. Epub 2015 Jul 28.
Dr. John Schubbe is a chiropractor with more than 31 years of experience treating and managing spine pain. He practices at Schubbe-Resch Chiropractic and Physical Therapy Centers in Appleton, WI.
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Pillows Made in the USA
One of the most important considerations for the quality of your sleep is the type of pillow that you’re using. A good pillow keeps your neck and spine aligned properly and can help you sleep more soundly, and feel better when you wake up in the morning. If you wake up with a sore or stiff neck, it’s likely that you aren’t sleeping with the best pillow for your specific needs. To address this problem, we looked at all the pillows made in the USA that are made using quality American-sourced materials. Below are our findings.
Full List of Pillow Brands Made in the USA
Brand name: Authenticity50
Headquarters: Camas, WA
States manufacturing in: WA
Authenticity50 manufactures custom comfort pillows, which are “Seed-to-Stitch” 100% made in the USA. They are designed to be super comfortable and it’s easy to take out filling if you like a flatter pillow versus a full one. These pillows are also big – the standard set of 2 easily will easily fill up a queen-size bed. These pillows ensure your head sinks in nicely, and they provide good support for folks who have neck pain issues when they sleep. They ship the pillows in air-tight plastic, ideal for rainy-day deliveries. We did an exclusive interview with Authenticity50 as well, so be sure to check that out too.
Brand name: American Blossom Linens
Headquarters: Thomaston, GA
States manufacturing in: GA , NC , SC , TX ,
American Blossom Linens has a great selection of organic cotton pillows that are filled with wool. They are very comfortable and super breathable. Pair them with their awesome sheet sets and comforters, and you’ll have a great bedroom setup.
Brand name: Hullo
Headquarters: Duluth, MN
States manufacturing in: MN
Hullo offers a pillow that’s highly moldable yet remains cool during use. This unique product is formed from a 100% organic cotton sleeve filled with buckwheat hull filler. You can adjust the thickness and even the shape of the pillow by adjusting the filler that it has. This product is animal-free and is designed to compress minimally, ensuring that you have a nice plush surface to rest your head on at night. The pillow is filled with buckwheat hulls that maintain space, ensuring optimal airflow while you’re sleeping, and is designed to give a long-lasting performance.
Brand name: MyPillow
Headquarters: Chaska, MN
States manufacturing in: MN
MyPillow was started relatively recently in 2009 by Mike Lindell and makes all of its pillows in Chaska, Minnesota. What’s really unique about this pillow is the adjustable fill inside the pillow. It’s made of shredded foam, so you can adjust it to get just the right height depending on how you sleep. For stomach or back sleepers, you likely want a flatter pillow. But for side sleepers, you need taller pillows to give you good neck support. MyPillow has been created to be super comfortable and supportive, although some folks have said to find it lumpy. It’s designed to be well-suited for hot sleepers, and keep you cool at night. It’s also machine washable and available in a few different sizes.
Brand name: Lifekind
Headquarters: Chaska, MN
States manufacturing in: MN
Lifekind is an American brand that’s known for producing organic high-quality products. Their personal sleeping pillows are no different and have a variety of filler materials available. You can choose from natural rubber, cotton, wool, buckwheat hull, or goose down as your pillow filler. Lifekind pillows offer different lengths, thicknesses, and fluff levels. There are more than a dozen different style options to choose from, making it easy to get a perfect pillow for your specific needs as everyone’s sleep needs are different.