Best Pregnancy Pillows of 2024 [CNET]
Belly Bandit S.O.S. Side Sleeper Pregnancy Wedge Pillow
Best adjustable pregnancy pillow
For most, being pregnant is a joyous journey, but no journey is without its challenges. Being pregnant comes with many sleep hurdles like heartburn, insomnia, an active fetus and even joint and ligament pain. During my own pregnancy, I learned that a pregnancy pillow can be extremely helpful during this stage of life. After testing various pregnancy pillows for the majority of my second and third trimesters, I can see why pregnant people would opt to reach for a pregnancy pillow for relief at bedtime or when just lying around on the couch.
The best pregnancy pillow will offer belly support, relieve pressure and bring a bit of neck support too. The right pregnancy pillow for you will depend on your specific needs and sleeping positions, and no, a standard body pillow just won’t cut it. Although I’m dealing with sleep issues of a different kind now thanks to my infant’s sleep regressions, I continue to rely on my pregnancy pillow for a good night’s sleep. Having tested these pillows thoroughly, I narrowed down some of my favorites.
During testing, I took into account that everyone’s needs and preferences are different, but overall comfort is key. These pillows will hopefully help you get through those tough nights of sleep when insomnia hits in those early morning hours. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself continuing to use these pillows during the postpartum stage like I did for extra comfort.
What’s the best overall pregnancy pillow?
Since the best pregnancy pillow will vary by individual, I chose the one that I found to be the most versatile and comfortable for everyday use as my top pick: the Frida Mom Adjustable Keep-Cool Pregnancy Pillow. I liked how easy it is to maneuver throughout the night depending on your sleep position without struggling with the weight or size of the pillow. That’s something that you can’t do as easily with a full-sized pregnancy pillow that is usually larger and heavier. However, the pillow that works best for you may change as your pregnancy progresses. For example, in the very beginning, as I adjusted to my belly growing, I preferred a wedge pillow that supported both my back and stomach. Even if the Frida Mom Adjustable Keep-Cool Pregnancy Pillow isn’t your top choice, there are plenty of other selections that might fit your pregnancy needs.
Best pregnancy pillows of 2024
Of all the pregnancy pillows I tested, I found myself reaching for the Frida Mom Adjustable Keep-Cool Pregnancy Pillow the most. This lightweight cylinder-shaped pillow is filled with microbeads to allow for proper airflow and keep you cool. It’s also fully adjustable and can be molded into a U, C, L or I-shape. Because it’s moldable, it also gets less in the way if you share a bed compared to a traditional full-body pregnancy pillow.
I will admit, this isn’t the firmest pillow on the list, so if you’re not into a softer option, this may not be the right fit for you. If you’re heavily pregnant and want ultimate support all around, you’ll also find this pillow lacking. In that case, you may be better off with a full-body pillow. I found this pillow was the best fit for me and my needs throughout the majority of my pregnancy, but it may be more suitable during the second trimester as your belly grows and needs some support when you sleep on your side.
This pillow isn’t too big and I could easily maneuver it as I switched sleeping positions throughout the night. You can also wrap your legs around it if you need extra hip support, which is common during pregnancy. I also appreciated how the pillow didn’t overheat and remained comfortably cool throughout the night. I even caught my husband napping with it one time, so if you’re generally a side sleeper you can enjoy this pillow. Another plus is that the cover is machine washable, so you don’t have to worry about ruining the shape of the pillow.
This pillow is part of our Editor’s Choice 2024 roundup.
Pros:
- Easily adjustable
- Cooling
- Takes up little space
Cons:
- Doesn’t offer full-body support
- May be too soft for some people
Rating
- Firmness: Soft (1 to 2)
- Support: Medium soft (3 to 4)
If you’re looking for a side sleeper pillow that offers some back and belly support that you can adjust throughout your pregnancy, you’ll love the Belly Bandit S.O.S. Side Sleeper Pregnancy Wedge Pillow. The side sleeper pillow is best for those looking for a pillow that specifically supports their belly and back when they sleep on their side. It consists of a round, flat pillow wedge to support the belly and a triangle wedge for the lower back. There’s a Velcro belt across the middle of the two pillows, which you can adjust according to the space your body needs. This was one of my favorite features on this pillow since you can use it throughout all the trimesters as your belly grows. It’s also travel-friendly thanks to its compact size.
This is a smaller pillow compared to some of the others, so if you’re looking for something that offers more head or hip support, you’re better off with a full-body pillow. I’d recommend the Belly Bandit S.O.S. Side Sleeper Pregnancy Wedge Pillow for most people during the second trimester as your belly grows, but some might not find it supportive enough during the third trimester when most people experience extra discomfort that comes with the final weeks of pregnancy.
One aspect I found a little uncomfortable was having to adjust the pillow throughout the night every time I shifted sleeping positions. If I started off sleeping on my right side and changed to the left, I’d have to make sure I grabbed both pillows right side up otherwise the Velcro strap would flip one side upside down. But it takes up little space in your bed, so if you share the space with a partner, it won’t be intrusive to them. It also won’t cause you to overheat the way some of the full-body pillows do.
Pros:
- Adjustable belt
- Compact
- Offers belly and back support
Cons:
- Limited support
- Expensive
Rating
- Firmness: Medium (5 to 6)
- Support: Medium soft (3 to 4)
Speaking of full-body pillows, they can feel a bit over the top if you’ve never slept with one before. The Momcozy Maternity Body Pillow was one of the better ones I tested because it has a cooling pillowcase cover and it’s breathable so you don’t overheat. This was important to me, since being heavily pregnant in the middle of summer meant I was constantly trying to stay cool. It is massive and has some weight to it — initially I thought was too big considering I’m petite. However, it really helped during the third trimester when I needed more support and cushioning around me. I already sleep with the air conditioner on full blast, but between the AC and this cooling body pillow, I didn’t feel overheated throughout the night. The cover is also machine-washable so you can remove it easily during laundry day.
This pillow is plush enough that you don’t need a regular pillow for your head — unless you like your head more elevated while you sleep. The other good thing about this pillow is that the memory foam holds its shape no matter your sleeping position. I slept on both of my sides and laid on my back, and it never felt like it was sinking or losing plushness. I should point out that I have a queen-sized bed and it took up enough space on my side of the bed that it didn’t interfere with my husband’s sleep. But if you have a full-sized bed, it may leave little to no room if you share it with a partner.
Pros:
- Cooling
- Plush all around
- Good for full-body support
Cons:
- May not fit all bed sizes
- Heavy
Rating
- Firmness: Medium soft (7 to 8)
- Support: Medium (5 to 6)