We tested the best body pillows so that you can sleep like a baby
If you’re a snorer or expecting parent, these pillows might be the sleep upgrade you’ve been searching for.
Buffy Wiggle Pillow
$87.20
$109.00
While shopping for a body pillow, experts recommend thinking about the following factors, all of which I considered while putting together our list of favorites.
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To recommend the best body pillows, I rounded up options that align with expert guidance. All the body pillows on our list are expert or NBC Select staff picks.
Buffy’s Wiggle Pillow, which won an NBC Select Bed and Bath Award, is beloved by many staff members for sleeping and lounging. “It works for padding my lower back when I’m sitting on the couch and as a way to elevate my neck and legs when I’m in bed,” says NBC Select associate reporter Ashley Morris. “I also like using it as a cozy stand for my iPad when I’m watching movies in bed.” The pillow is tube-shaped and extra long at 82 inches, making it a great option for those who are tall. It’s also versatile since it’s flexible enough to twist in different positions or tie it in a knot. The pillow comes with a removable, machine-washable cover that gets softer with every wash, according to the brand. You can also buy additional linen and sherpa covers in various colors and patterns.
Shape: cylindrical | Size: 82 x 8 in. | Fill: recycled plastic | Cover material: lyocell fiber blend | Washability: machine-washable cover, dry clean pillow insert
“I’m a side sleeper, but I started noticing that I was pivoting more and more toward my stomach, which I know is not a good sleeping position, so I got this pillow to support me better,” says NBC Select reporter Harry Rabinowitz. “I love how wide it is, and it’s easy to rest my arms on or over it, depending on positioning.” Coop’s body pillow is filled with memory foam and microfiber, which you can remove to customize its loft (thickness). It comes encased in a soft, removable, machine-washable cover.
Shape: rectangular | Size: 54 x 20 in. | Fill: memory foam and microfiber | Cover material: rayon and polyester blend | Washability: machine-washable cover and inner lining
“I started using this body pillow when I was pregnant and I continued to use it long after my daughter was born,” says NBC Select contributing editor Bethany Heitman. “I also find it great for propping myself up while I watch TV in bed.” The pillow is shaped like an “L” so you can hug it, resting your head on the curve and placing the long side between your knees for support. The medium-firm pillow comes with a removable, machine-washable cover.
Shape: L-shaped | Size: 65 x 31 in. | Fill: polyester | Cover material: jersey knit | Washability: machine-washable cover
“I used this pillow throughout both of my pregnancies, and I still use it now because it feels like a warm hug,” says NBC commerce senior photo editor Becca Delman. “The soft material is so nice, and the pillow’s U-shape lets you adjust it around your body. It’s great to hold up your bump when you’re laying on your side.” The pillow has a removable, machine-washable cover, and it offers back, hip, leg, belly, head and neck support, according to the brand.
Shape: U-shaped | Size: 57 x 28 in. | Fill: polyester | Cover material: velvet | Washability: machine-washable cover
Using the Bearaby Cuddler was my first experience with a body pillow, and I was surprised by how much more comfortable I felt throughout the night when I snuggled up with it. I don’t always sleep in the same position, so I love being able to curve it into any shape I want, ensuring that it always supports my body from head to toe. The pillow is made from a squish-able foam that cushions my joints, and even after about two years of use, it’s maintained its overall feel. The Cuddler comes with a breathable, removable, machine-washable cotton cover. You can buy additional knit and linen covers separately.
Shape: cylindrical | Size: 75 x 8 in. | Fill: natural latex foam | Cover material: cotton | Washability: machine-washable cover
Wall says Pluto’s body pillow is a popular option. It’s about 9 inches thick, so it’s very plush, and it comes with a quilted, removable, machine-washable cover. The pillow is made from hypoallergenic materials, according to the brand. Pluto offers a 125-night trial with your purchase — if you don’t like it, you can return it for a refund.
Shape: rectangular | Size: 54 x 21 in. | Fill: synthetic fiber | Cover material: microfiber | Washability: machine-washable cover and pillow insert
While a standard pillow is designed to cradle your head and neck, a body pillow can support other areas, like your back, hips, arms and legs while sleeping on your side, says Dr. Valerie Cacho, an integrative sleep physician and women’s sleep expert. To align your spine, you can hug the upper part of the body pillow and put the lower part between your knees. Maintaining proper, neutral alignment while sleeping prevents joint closure, which can cause discomfort and pain, and helps keep your blood flowing, says Louw. “You must keep blood flowing while you’re asleep or your brain will want to keep waking you up to restore blood flow to joints and other tissues,” she says.
Body pillows are also beneficial for snorers or those who have difficulty breathing on their back, says Cacho. “They can help people stay on their side, reducing the effects gravity has on the tongue and upper airway, thus allowing more airflow during sleep,” she says.
Anyone who experiences neck, back, hip, knee or ankle pain while sleeping should consider using a body pillow, especially if discomfort causes you to wake up throughout the night, says Louw. They’re also useful during pregnancy to support the abdomen and alleviate related lower back pain.
There’s essentially no difference between a pregnancy pillow and a body pillow, and the names are often used interchangeably, says Louw. Because of this, anyone can use a body pillow as a pregnancy pillow, or vice versa.
That said, pillows labeled “pregnancy pillows” tend to be U-shaped with two long sides connected by a curve in the middle. People rest their head on the curve, draping one long side behind them and the other in front of them, so the pillow props up their back while supporting their growing bump. Sleeping with a U-shaped body pillow stabilizes those who are pregnant and prevents them from being able to move around much in their sleep, which keeps them in one comfortable spot, says Louw.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I’m a reporter for NBC Select who’s covered sleep products for five years, including sleep masks, sunrise alarm clocks, wedge pillows and anti-snoring devices. To write this article, I interviewed three experts about how to shop for body pillows and what their benefits are. I also rounded up a handful of experts’ and NBC Select staff members’ favorite body pillows.
Bethany Heitman, a contributing editor at NBC Select, contributed.
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