What Is A Body Pillow? Benefits, Sizes, & How to Use One
The body pillow is often called a pregnancy pillow. They are not just for pregnant women. They’re not just for pregnant women. Anyone looking to improve their sleep can benefit from body pillows.
Body pillows can be used to cuddle or snuggle your entire body.
Each shape and filling option has its unique benefits. This article will look at the benefits of body pillows and the different options available.
What is a Body Pillow?
Body pillows are extra-large pillows that provide additional support and comfort to your neck, head, back, hips and knees. These pillows are usually large, narrow or hourglass-shaped, and they’re perfect for cuddling up to.
Body pillows can be used to align the spine in a neutral position. They may also relieve joint pain and improve blood circulation, as well as improve sleep quality.
Who Should Use a Body Pillow
Side sleepers, back sleepers, pregnant women and people with neck or back pain will benefit the most from body pillows. Stomach sleeping should use a thin pillow or avoid using one. For stomach sleepers, a lofty body pillow may cause poor spinal alignment.
A body pillow placed between the knees/thighs will promote natural spine alignment, and reduce the strain on hips and shoulders.
A body pillow can provide support for a pregnant woman throughout their pregnancy. It also helps to relieve lower back pain. A body pillow placed under the belly may also alleviate discomfort.
Benefits of Body Pillows
There are many advantages to using a body cushion, whether you’re pregnant or not. Here are a few of them:
- Improves sleep quality A body pillow can have both physical and psychological benefits. It feels like being hugged or hugged. This leads to a deeper, more restful night’s sleep.
- Supports and aligns. By supporting the head and neck, as well as the back, hips and thighs, a body pillow can alleviate pressure. The pillow also promotes good posture and improves spinal alignment.
- Reducing tossing: Body pillows can be a great help to restless sleepers, as they reduce movement and therefore less tossing. This may also result in fewer nighttime awakenings.
- Body pillows can help with pregnancy-related discomforts. A body pillow can help relieve some of the discomfort that comes with pregnancy.
- Helps with neck, back or joint pain. People experience body pain when sleeping because of improper spinal alignment. Body pillows are good at supporting the spine and stabilizing the head. They also align the body and reduce pressure on joints and muscles.
- Ideal for side sleepers While side sleeping may be the healthiest position to sleep in, side sleepers are prone to hip and shoulder pain. A body pillow would be a great addition to side sleepers. It provides extra comfort and support.
- Perfect to cuddle: A body pillow will be a great companion if you like to curl up in bed with a book or watch television. These pillows provide the perfect amount of comfort and support without being bulky or annoying.
Sizes and Dimensions of Body Pillows
The standard body pillow size is 140 by 51 cm (20 by 50 inches). They are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, as well as different fill materials. Body pillows are usually twice as big as standard pillows.
Body Pillows Types
The most common body pillows are rectangular and cylindrical. If you search for more specific needs, you may find other shapes such as L-shaped or C-shaped.
- The most popular body pillows are rectangular pillows. They are perfect for side sleepers. The rectangular shape supports your neck, head and back.
- Bolsters or cylindrical pillows are narrow pillows with a high loft. They come in a variety of lengths. These are great if you have a shared bed and do not want to take up a lot of space.
- L-shaped Body Pillows are similar to rectangular pillows, but they have an additional arm. They are particularly useful because they eliminate the need for you to use a separate pillow for your head.
- U-shaped body pillow is the most common and oversized for pregnant women. These full-body cushions, with their U-shaped design, provide support and comfort for the entire body. This includes the belly. They’re also designed to fit between your legs.
- C-Shaped: C-shaped body pillows are C-shaped and curled to fit the natural contours of the body. These pillows are smaller than U-shaped ones and provide support for the spine and abdominal area. This shape can also be beneficial to anyone who turns and tosses a lot while in bed.
- J-Shaped body pillow is a curvy alternative to L-shaped body pillows. It still offers great support for the entire body. One end can be placed behind your knees, while the other supports your head and shoulder.
Filling:
Different fillings are available for body pillows, from down and feathers as natural fibres to memory foam.
- Microfiber This is a synthetic fibre that is soft and breathable. It is also cheap but not very durable.
- Memory Foam: If you are looking for support, nothing comes close to memory foam. This popular filling conforms to your body for customised support. This filling tends to heat up, so it may not be ideal if you get very hot at night.
- Feathers and down: These natural materials provide excellent support and are breathable. They can be expensive and not as durable.
How long will body pillows last?
The life span of a good body pillow is between 9 months and 2 years.
The life expectancy of your pillow depends on its type, the quality of the filling and how it’s cared for. Memory foam body pillows tend to last longer than fibre-filled pillows.
How do you use & sleep with a body pillow?
The most common method of using a body pillow to sleep is to put it between your legs lengthwise and sleep on your back. Your hands can be placed on the pillow, or you can let them hang over the side. Your legs should remain parallel. It is the best position to sleep in if you have hip or lower back pain, as it relieves the pressure on these areas.
A less common way to sleep is by placing the pillow behind your back. It can reduce snoring by keeping the airways open. This can provide additional support for your back.
- The body pillow can be placed lengthwise between the legs of side sleepers with their arms wrapped around it. Imagine hugging the pillow.
- Body pillows are often used by back sleepers to relieve pressure on their lower backs while they sleep. This keeps your neck in a good position, which allows you to breathe more easily and reduces snoring.
Pregnant women prefer C- and U-shaped pillows. These shapes allow you to place the pillow beneath your stomach while sleeping on your side. This pillow supports the back muscles as well as the weight of the stomach.
Wrapping up
You may need a body pillow to sleep well. A body pillow is a great way to improve your sleep, whether you are pregnant, suffering from back pain or simply want to be more comfortable. Choose the right size and type of body pillow for you.
This article should have provided you with all the necessary information to make an informed decision. Sweet dreams!
