In recent memory, I’ve written posts about some of my favorite makeup products, my favorite food storage containers, and the best sheets I’ve ever slept on. And speaking of sleeping, today I want to tell you about another product that has helped improve my quality of sleep significantly: a knee pillow.
I never would have guessed it before trying it for myself, but this one little addition to my sleep setup has totally changed the way I sleep. But before we get to the specifics, I want to rewind a bit to the sleep issues I was dealing with that led me to this point, because I think many of you will be able to relate!
Sleeping On Your Side Can Be A Pain… Literally
Sleep surveys consistently rank “side sleeping” as one of the most common sleep positions. One survey by the U.K. Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service found that 41% of responders reported primarily sleeping on their side. But even though many of us sleep that way, it isn’t without its drawbacks.
Sleeping on your side can pull your hips and spine out of alignment and cause hip and back aches. It’s not uncommon for side sleepers to report experiencing back pain, which is exactly what I was struggling with at the beginning of this saga.
It was extremely frustrating, not least because my mattress is relatively new and offers plenty of support! But not even the best mattress can ensure that your spine is in alignment when you sleep on your side, so I started doing some research to find a solution.
Related: This Is Every Bedding Item I Absolutely Swear By
What DIDN’T Fix My Back Pain
I suspected that my hips being out of alignment was contributing to my back pain, so I figured that putting something between my legs might help to stabilize my hips. I tried a regular pillow first, but it wasn’t supportive enough to make much of a difference.
So I tried a bigger pillow next (a body pillow to be specific), but that didn’t work either. It took up too much space in my bed and made me really hot, too. But the third time was the charm, and I finally found the solution I had been searching for!
This Is The Knee Pillow That Every Side Sleeper Needs
After two failed attempts, I finally decided to search for a dedicated knee pillow for side sleepers. I found this knee pillow from Everlasting Comfort on Amazon and decided to give it a try. (It was only $40 after all!) It turned out to be worth every penny, and I’ve been kicking myself for not trying something like this sooner!
This 100% memory foam knee pillow provides the perfect amount of support and has an ergonomic design that fits snugly between my legs. (I also like that it has a removable strap I can use to help keep it in place!) This is the only pillow I have tried that has provided enough support to truly keep my hips and legs aligned while I sleep.
After several months of using this knee pillow, I can confidently say that it has been one of the best investments I could have made for my sleep. Waking up with back pain is rare now, instead of being an everyday occurrence.
My husband eventually decided he needed one too, and now he feels the same way I do about it! The knee pillow itself has also kept its shape well, so I know that it’s going to last for a long time to come!
If you sleep on your side and have been waking up with hip or back pain, I highly recommend giving this knee pillow (or one like it) a try. It’s a relatively inexpensive solution, but it makes such a big difference to wake up pain-free!
Do you have any “sleep accessories” that have helped you sleep better?
More Ideas You'll Love
Hi, dear!
I pulled this up on Amazon and it seems I ordered it back in 2021, but there was something that I didn’t like about it. I will give it another try!
Love all the advice you give! I’ve saved so many of your articles.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I hope you like it better this time, Felicia. I can’t sleep without mine.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have tried this type of pillow, but have better luck with the small bamboo brand pillow. It is just a mini pillow and stays firm to keep me comfortable. The hourglass type is too thin in the middle to make a difference for me.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Another tip for side sleepers is the “arm hole pillow”. AKA side sleeper pillow with arm hole, cuddle pillow, wife pillow, side sleeper body pillow, shoulder relief pillow. There is a version made for acid reflux sufferers called the “reflux relief system”. These are a larger ramp/wedge type pillow that supports the upper body and neck/head with space below for shoulder and arm.
A poor-man’s version can be had by using a soft thin pillow under the ribcage below the armpit. This raises the upper body slightly, taking pressure off the upper arm and shoulder. (Due to body being raised, neck and head need to be raised as well to stay in alignment.)
If you wake with discomfort in your upper arm or shoulder, either method brings amazing relief the very first night.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m a side sleeper, but I cannot keep a knee pillow between my legs. I even tried one that strapped to your thigh when I had knee surgery and still kicked it off. I had twisted in bed and it was on top of my thigh when I woke up. The orthopedic surgeon just told me to go without it because I’d probably hurt myself in my sleep. I do sleep in a side laying fencing position. And sometimes in a fetal position. I’ve tried to fix it, but I cannot. The aches and pains are just mine. 🤷♀️
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Three more sidesleeper hints–2 for the neck, 1 for the legs:
- Use a pillow that is the right height to keep your neck in alignment with your spine so you don’t wake up with a stiff neck.
- Align your head and neck with your spine. Many of us sleep in a curled, fetal position. For 8 hours straight you are hunched over–no wonder we are hunched over in our 70’s and 80’s…training.
- Be sure to position your feet in a flexed position (90 degrees). Pointing your feet for 8 hours a night will shorten your calf muscles–practically promoting cramping. Since I’ve been doing this, I rarely get leg cramps which had been happening 3 or 4 times a week.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hello Jillee. I just think you are SO ABSOLUTELY CUTE – you remind me a lot of me. Anyway, I am a back sleeper simply because it’s the only way I can sleep with my major back problem owing to a work injury. It is now affecting my neck in a very distinct way. Therefore, I can’t really use a knee pillow, but I do use the “U pillow”, as described by Deb, and it positively saves my life. Plus, mine is large enough that if I pull both ends, my neck is entirely wrapped in wonderful warmth, and the ends, if pulled, also hold down the covers so I don’t get blasts of cold air from anywhere.
Shari
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My right knee started to ache so I ordered a sleeve so I can continue to do light hiking. Just ordered this knee pillow for support. We shall see… can’t wait to get it!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I would love to have a pillow like this. However, I switch sides often due to pain in my left side (not due to the way I sleep) and also hip bursitis. I would have to change the pillow when I turn over, and it would wake me up.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I don’t think you would, Barbara. It is exactly the same dimensions on both sides and with the strap around your leg it would just roll right over with you, pillow staying in place. It would be great for your hip!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I not only sleep on my side, but also have my arm up under my head, which contributed to a painful neck but was the only way I could sleep. A coworker suggested using a Boppy style nursing pillow and it was wonderful for several years. Then I started feeling too warm at night with that much pillow in front of me, until I discovered the NuAngel Trinity II nursing pillow, and it is perfect! Perfect support for my neck without having a large pillow under the top of my head.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Kaylene, How did you find that? Is it at a website of the name you stated? It sounds wonderful! It’s funny…I am 65 and when I had my babies, I don’t remember any fancy pillows to help us nurse, and now we are starting to use them for other things! Haven’t had a baby to nurse for 40+ years! :>)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I didn’t know what a nursing pillow was, either, but apparently young mothers now are familiar!
You can do a search for nursing pillows, or use the name Boppy, which is a brand name. A Boppy is horseshoe shaped, like the travel neck pillows you see, but bigger. The NuAngel Trinity II is similar, but shaped like a comma, with one side much narrower, so the amount of pillow in front of you is smaller.
I guess I may already have something similar! I have a pillow in a “J’ shape with the long side along your back and the short in front of you. Sounds very much the same.
Thanks so much for answering me! :-)
About duvet covers,I use clips on the corners to keep everything in place.Some covers have ties sewn in also.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Sorry, I forgot something…Jillee, I absolutely LOVE all your help and tips and have used so very much of what you post! Thank you so much. Question Have you had much on air fryers and if not, would you consider talking and teaching us about them??
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have bad arthritis in my shoulders, neck and my spine. I am probably the queen of pillows for my bed and sleep time!! Two pillows that I have found that are extremely helpful with my pain is a body pillow and more importantly is a “U” shaped pillow. The “U” pillow cradles my neck and the body pillow for basically the same issues as the leg pillow that you talked about, Jillee. However the body pillow also helps to keep my shoulders in better alignment by hugging it. Also, the hugging the body pillow keeps me from missing anyone sharing my bed! ;)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi Jillie,
Thank you for sharing this. I HAVE to try this knee pillow after a bad experience using regular pillows for knee support. Oddly enough, a regular pillow would give me hip pain in the middle of the night. Out of curiosity, did you experience hip pain when using regular pillows?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you so much for talking about this pillow. I am sleeping so much better and it moves easily with me from side to side. I’ve looked at others of this type but this memory foam is the best.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I am so glad!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I just got the knee pillow does it fit just at your knees as I was having trouble adjusting it? Thanks
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Whatever feels more comfortable! If you can’t get comfy with it between your knees, you can slide it up between your lower thighs a bit. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.and here I thought I was unusual! I’ve enjoyed using a pillow between my knees for some time now and wonder why I didn’t think of it years ago!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Good idea!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.A silk pillowcase should help – and be sure to use face cream at night :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You might need a sturdier/fluffier pillow for your head :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi Jillie!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I am a side sleeper, too. A few tips from my experience…
Always sleep on your left side. It takes off the pressure from the vital organs.
Tuck the lower part of your head pillow properly into the crook of your neck. It gives better support to the neck and reduces or eliminates neck and/or shoulder pain.
Hi Jillee, I just ordered one! I’ll let you know how it goes. I’d much prefer sleeping on my back, but have intermittent sleep apnea, which gets much worse if I’m on my back. I hope this also helps to keep me from rolling over onto my back.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It should definitely help! I hope you love it, Julie!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.By the way, a special pillow like you showed in this piece, really is better than a firm pillow. The shape of it just causes it to stay in the right place. I have tried no pillow, a firm pillow, a round pillow (like a roll), and a knee one, and the best results are always with the one that is shaped like the one you showed.
Good for you.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I believe so! I stay put while I sleep, but the curve of the pillow should keep it in one place :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It doesn’t squish very much – I absolutely love it!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I am also a side sleeper. I’ve been using a knee pillow (or something) between my knees due excruciating pain in my lower back in the morning. I had 2/3 of my spine fused when I was 15, so it doesn’t rotate for comfort. If I was only able to have only one pillow, it would be between my knees!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes! I have been using one of those knee pillows for years! They are GREAT! I got mine such a long time ago and it’s held up but I’m so glad you found a new source for the product. I have NO idea where I bought it back then. Thanks!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.YES! I’m a side sleeper and I’ve been looking for something like this. Thanks for the recommendation.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yay! I hope you love it as much as I do! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.How timely! I’m a side sleeper, also got a new mattress recently for my sleep type, AND I’ve been using a body pillow between my legs. But I just spent $65 at the massage therapist’s office to have her work on the horrible hip pain I’ve been having in recent weeks. I’m going to try the knee pillow idea immediately!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This is such FATE that I’m reading your post today!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve always been a side sleeper (I’ve tried to train myself to sleep on my back to delay wrinkles, numerous times with no success). Prior to last week I’d never had back issues, but the pillow I used between my legs was too big/firm so I woke up & couldn’t move for 2 days!
Thank you SO much for sharing your trick! I’ll let you know how it works for me!
I’m so glad Shannon!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I am a side sleeper and over the past few years have developed aches and pain in hips. So went online to Amazon Canada and found this knee pillow and ordered it. Thanks for your recommendation. Sure hope it will solve my problem.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve had one of those pillows for years. I don’t always use it but if my legs are bothering me I pull it out of the bottom drawer of my night stand and settle down to sleep. I tried a regular pillow but it did not give my legs the support they needed. I love reading your hints and have saved many of them.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I learned the trick about putting a pillow between your legs when I was pregnant 30+ yrs ago to relieve the pressure on your back from the extra weight from the baby. I will check out the pillow because I believe it would be more support than a regular pillow. Thanks love your work.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.OMG! I don’t normally write comments but this post blew me away! I have been having back issues and hip problems and my doctor never said sleeping on my side would cause problems! Wow! Thank you Jillee for saving the day. I have ordered this pillow and can’t wait to see how it helps my back and hips! Love you!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m so so glad!! Thanks Sharon!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have been using a body pillow for years and it is hard to move around my bed; I do have back problems and knee now from age. will give this a try.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I recently read that side sleeping allows optimum drainage for cleansing CSF for brain health and maybe reducing Alzheimer’s, where bad proteins tangle the brain. Left side sleeping aids digestion.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve always slept on my side. My mom has had hip issues lately and been getting injections for it. She also sleeps on her side. I’ll have to show this to her.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.In your recipe for foot salve, is the beeswax pastilles the same as beeswax pearls?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I worked in a doctor’s office. The knee pillow is not the best solution for side sleepers. Any pillow between the thighs can be dangerous as it can interferes with blood and lymph circulation and can lead to blood clots and awelling. A far better solution is to use and overstuffed (or 2 pillows wrapped in a bed sheet so that they move as one). I use king sjze because my kefs are long. Put the top of the pillow beside you one the level of your navel. Then roll onro your side and swing yohr top leg onto the pillow. Your want to be sure that your knee AND foot are both supported at the same hight. Your spine will be perfectly aligned, and your circulation is uncompromised. Then swing your upper arm over another smaller pillow, teddy bear or spouse to keep your chest open, support your shoulder and make breathing easier.
Thanks so much for sharing this great information, Kerry. I’m sure many people will find this very helpful. :-)