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The 8 Best Body Pillows for Back Pain & Sciatica (2022)

Using a body pillow for back pain is one of the best ways to fall asleep and stay asleep while keeping your spine aligned and your back muscles relaxed.

To prevent back pain from pregnancy or back injuries, a full body pillow is one of the most effective natural pain relief tools to have at home.

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In this post, you’ll find the best U-shaped body pillows, pregnancy pillows, and memory foam body pillows for back pain relief, pregnancy discomfort, and sleep problems.

Is a Body Pillow Good for Back Pain?

Back alignment body pillows are oversized pillows designed to give you greater comfort and a better night’s sleep, by keeping your spine aligned and rested all night.

Body pillows mold themselves to your body and keep your back straight throughout the night while preventing you from sleeping on your stomach, which is the worst sleeping position for back pain.

1. Full body support while you sleep – the length of the pillow gives you full-body support and encourages you to sleep in the best position (side sleeping).

Placing it between your knees will align your spine and adjust the position of your arms and legs. This will relieve pain from sciatica and bulging/herniated discs.

2. Muscle Relaxation – When your spine is aligned and your arms and legs’ weight are divided equally, you can breathe better, your blood circulation improves and your muscles can fully relax all through the night.

RELATED: The 7 Best Pillows for Neck Pain

3. The only natural solution for pregnancy back pain  – If you’re pregnant, you can’t take medication (or do anything else for that matter) for your annoying lower back pain.

The body pillow can alleviate your back pain at night and help you sleep in a comfortable position, supporting your back and belly simultaneously.

Who can benefit from a full-body pillow?

People with back pain from sciatica, disc herniation, ruptured and bulging discs, spinal stenosis, spinal arthritis, muscle stiffness, muscle knots, and muscle spasms. And of course – pregnant women.

How to Choose a Body Pillow for Back Pain

When you choose your full body pillow, consider its shape, its size, and its materials.

Some body pillows (also known as maternity pillows) are shaped like an oversized U, others look like a giant candy cane and some are rectangle-shaped.

Some are softer and some are firmer, some are made from polyester, and others are made from organic wool and cotton.

The inner filling will determine the amount of support the pillow can offer. the denser the material, the less it will crumble under your weight and allow for proper back alignment.

The 8 Best Body Pillows for Back Pain Relief

Here are our top 8 choices for 2022, followed by the best runner-ups and full reviews (including pros and cons) for each one.

	Best for	Filling/Cover	Price
Comfort U	Best U-Shaped	Fusion Foss fill 100% cotton cover	Check Price on Amaon
Leachco Snoogle	🥇Best Value	Polyester 65%/Cotton 35%	Check Price on Amazon
Snuggle Pedic	Best Memory Foam	Shredded memory foam 43% Viscose of Bamboo/56.4% Polyester cover	Check Price on Amazon
Puffy Body Pillow	Ultra Soft Longest Trial	Shredded memory foam cooling gel 100% bamboo cover	$119 at Puffy Pillow (Free shipping)
Tempurpedic Memory Foam Body Pillow	Most Durable	TEMPUR® material filling Polyester Knit Cover	$199 at Tempurpedic or $179 at Overstock

Here are our reviews for the top-rated full-body support pillows of 2021:

1. Comfort U Body Support Pillow Best U-Shaped

• Materials – a premium fiber called Fusion Foss fill – a revolutionary synthetic known to scientists as an “extended polymer” that allows air to flow freely. The cover is 100% cotton.
• Weight – 10 pounds.
• Size – 20.9 x 16.9 x 12.7 inches
• Removable Cover – Yes

Comfort U body pillow is shaped like an oversized U that goes down to both sides of your body, also known as the wrap-around body pillow.

This shape is designed to prevent moving a huge pillow from side to side every time you roll over.

You can lie on your side and curl around it, you can switch positions and the pillow will always be there, aligning your spine.

But:

It is a LARGE pillow. In a king-size bed – no problem. In a queen bed (with a spouse in it) it may get a little crowded, but your partner can curl up against the outer side and enjoy it as well.

👉 For pregnant women, this sure helps to sleep comfortably on the side and enjoy a pain-free night. It can also be used after the baby is born to support breastfeeding.

✅ Price – Check price on Amazon

2. Leachco Snoogle Total Body Pillow Best Value

• Size – 36 x 22 x 13 inches
• Weight – 6.4 pounds
• Materials – Polyester 65%/Cotton 35%
• Removable Cover – yes

The Leachco Snoogle candy-cane-shaped body pillow cradles your body and is one of the best-selling body pillows for back pain.

This body pillow was designed by a nurse to meet the needs of expectant and new mothers but works great for anyone suffering from back pain.

We recommend it for chronic back and neck pain, respiratory difficulties, and digestive problems (for example, it can prevent reflux at night).

The head section is extra wide and long for versatile sleeping styles or for those who love to hug their pillow.

Like the Comfort U body pillow, it saves you from moving around 4 different pillows to support your spine and relieve pressure. It is quite lighter than the Comfort U, but the size is larger.

Its stuffing is pleasant yet firm and supportive.

Again, it’s a big pillow but most buyers say that it still fits in an average size bed without their partner complaining.

✅ Price –  The Leachco pillow is the most budget-friendly body pillow on this list. Check today’s price on Amazon.

Get Your Free PDF 🎁

The Complete Guide to Low Back Pain Relief – at Home!

3. Tempurpedic Body Pillow (Memory Foam) Best for Sciatica

• Size – 48 x 14 x 7 inches
• Weight – 8.5 pounds
• Materials – TEMPUR® material filling/Polyester Knit Cover
• Removable Cover – yes

The Tempurpedic body pillow is the highest loft and most durable body pillow on this list and is recommended for side sleepers, and sciatica sufferers.

Why?

Because it’s especially important for sciatica sufferers to keep the spine aligned at night so it can heal. If the pillow is too soft the knee will sink in and this can aggravate pinched nerves and bulging discs – causing sciatica symptoms.

It is filled with medium-firm shapeable micro-cushions, that return to their original shape in the morning.

Users confirm that this pillow doesn’t lose its shape over the years and is heavier than most full-body pillows on the market.

It comes with a machine washable knit cover you can easily remove and a 5-year full warranty.

It doesn’t get too hot or too cold, is firm but feels soft, and molds to whatever shape you’d like. The disadvantage is its weight, which makes it a bit uncomfortable to toss and turn with.

✅ Price – $199 at Tempurpedic or $179 at Overstock

4. Snuggle Pedic Best Memory Foam Body Pillow

• Size – 50 x 24  inches
• Weight – 7 pounds (a but heavy to turn around during the night)
• Materials – Polyester 56%/Viscose 43%/Lycra 0.6%
• Removable cover – no (You can get a pillowcase for it HERE.)

The Snuggle-Pedic is our top choice in the memory foam body pillows category, because of its effective spine support (it seldom goes flat) and good comfort level.

This denser pillow supports the hips, knees, and abdomen well. The shredded memory foam filling molds to the body to support all the important areas.

This body pillow is filled with CertiPUR-US certified foam and low VOC hypoallergenic memory foam which is shredded, allowing more breathability and a cool feeling.

The cover is made with polyester, viscose of bamboo, and a little lycra, and the pillow conforms to your body perfectly.

Not happy with it? the company offers a 120 money-back guarantee and a 20-year warranty, with excellent customer service.

✅ Price – We found the best price on Amazon.

5. Puffy Body Pillow  Best Cooling

• Size – 54″ x 20″
• Weight – 6 pounds
• Materials – cooling memory foam / 100% bamboo cover
• Removable Cover – yes, washable

The puffy body pillow is the best fit for side sleepers who love to cuddle up with a softer body pillow that still supports their spine and stays cool throughout the night. 

The memory foam is approved to be without harmful chemicals (CertiPUR-US certified).

The fill contains 50% cooling gel to draw away heat from the cover, and the cover is made from breathable rayon (derived from bamboo) that is removable and machine washable.

Other unique benefits of the Puffy Body Pillow are the extra-long trial period (120 nights!) with free returns, a lifetime warranty, and free shipping via FedEx.

✅ Price – $119 with free shipping at Puffy Pillow

6. Coop Home Goods Body Pillow  Best Adjustable Fill

• Size – 54 x 20 x 7
• Weight – 9 pounds
• Materials – Gel-infused memory foam & Microfiber and polyester and bamboo-derived viscose-rayon cover
• Removable cover – no

The Coop Home Goods memory foam body pillow (USA-made) is best for pregnant women, back pain sufferers, side sleepers, and snuggle bugs 😉.

Made with advanced shredded memory (hypoallergenic mix of cross-cut memory foam and microfiber), it helps support natural alignment and allows you to adjust the pillow to your liking – while bouncing back to its original shape afterward.

The fabric (polyester and bamboo-derived viscose rayon) is soft and stretchable, you never want to stop cuddling with it.

✅ Price – When you order from Amazon, you get a 100-night sleep trial and a 5-year warranty!

7. Zoma Body Pillow Made in the USA

• Size – 52″ x 17″ x 8″
• Weight – 8 lbs.
• Materials – gel memory foam and down alternative filling / 97% polyester cover
• Removable Cover – yes

The Zoma body pillow (100% made in the USA) is the only body pillow on this list that is filled with a blend of down alternative clusters, which will not bother allergic people and adapt to the body for comfortable support.

It’s somewhat firmer than the Coop pillow and the 6-inch loft is great for side sleepers. Consumers say that they have felt a positive impact on their posture and spinal alignment.

This filling does not tend to get hot, especially compared to traditional memory foam or real down filling. Plus, there are no ozone depleters and flame retardants inside.

The lightweight, ultra-soft AirCloth shell keeps the air flowing and maintains a cool temperature. This USA-made body pillow has a 10-year warranty and 100-day trial to make it a safe purchase.

✅ Price – $120 with free shipping at Zoma 

8. Queen Rose Pregnancy Pillow  Best for Pregnancy

• Size – 31 x 21 x 11.5 inches
• Weight – 8.3 pounds
• Materials – Polyester filling & soft velvet cover
• Removable cover – yes

The Queen Rose pregnancy pillow is popular on Amazon right now, so we had to see why.

Through our research, it may be the best 3rd-trimester pain reliever for pregnant women and helps people with Fibromylagia, Sciatica, reflux, and back muscle pain.

The head support is great and the U-shape helps you turn to your other side without having to re-arrange multiple pillows.

The ultra-soft cover is made with 100% soft velvet, and the resilient and durable filling is polyester (machine washable).

✅ Price –  You can try it risk-free for 30 days when you purchase from Amazon.

9. Holy Lamb Organics Wool and Cotton Body Pillow Best Organic

• Size – 17″ x 53″
• Materials – eco-grown wool filling & Organic cotton Sateen cover (we love this!)
• Weight – 3.8 pounds
• Removable cover – yes.

If avoiding toxins in your bed is important to you, a natural and organic body pillow is the perfect body pillow for you.

Most body pillows are made from polyester, but the Holy Lamb body pillow is filled with pure eco-grown wool and covered with organic cotton Sateen cover.

Personally, I’d opt for natural materials.  in bed and conventional bedding and pillows are sometimes full of breathable toxins.

This body pillow is rectangle-shaped, so it can’t prevent you from tossing and turning, but it will relieve your back pain in a toxin-free environment. However, it is quite expensive!

✅ Price – Check price on Amazon

📢 A lower-cost alternative for a natural body pillow is this one.

How to Use a Body Pillow for Lower Back Pain

The full body pillow helps you keep the best sleeping position to reduce back pain – all night.

The best sleep position with a body pillow is sleeping on your side, drawing your legs up slightly toward your chest, and resting your upper leg on the body pillow.

Your upper hand will naturally rest on the body pillow as well.

Full Body Pillow Covers

Body pillows can absorb sweat, dust mites, and skin particles over time, so it’s smart to keep them covered with pillowcases that are made for long or u-shaped body pillows.

We recommend purchasing a replacement body pillowcase, made from 100% cotton.

Leachco Pregnancy Pillow Cover

The Leachco Covers are just like the zippered removable cover that came with your body pillow. They are machine washable, zippered, and easy to put on and take off.

Here’s one in stylish denim:

And here’s one in relaxing sage color:

For the Comfort U body pillows, you can find ones that fit HERE.

For the Holy Lamb Pillow, you can find a pillow cover HERE.

Conclusion

Through our extensive research, we’ve decided that the BEST body pillow for back pain is the less-expensive Leachco Snoogle Total Body Pillow.

Designed and developed by a registered nurse and mom, the Leachco body pillow is one of the highest-rated body pillows on Amazon and has a relatively budget-friendly price.

Note: If you are looking for a 100% cotton cover – this Snoogle model comes with a 100% natural and organic cotton cover.

👉 The best memory foam body pillow in 2021 is the Snuggle Pedic Ultra-Luxury Bamboo Shredded Memory Foam body pillow, and the pillow that will last the most years is the Tempurpedic body pillow.

We hope this guide has helped you make a wiser decision about the best body pillow for back pain.

Body pillows may seem pricey, but once you’ll experience the back pain relief they can provide you, you’ll realize that they are worth every cent.

I’m in love with my body pillow and I’m not ashamed to say it…

Body Pillow for Back Pain FAQ

How Much Does a Body Pillow Cost?

Body pillows can cost under $20 to over $200, but the price depends on the body pillow type (U-shaped/rectangle), filling and cover materials, brand reputation, and size.

Most body pillows for back pain relief fall in the $60 to $100 price range.

How Does a Body Pillow Help During Pregnancy?

A body pillow help sleeping on the side with the arms and legs bent comfortably, which prevents backaches, digestive issues, and breathing difficulties – caused by a growing tummy.

How Long is a Body Pillow?

Body pillows come in different shapes and sizes for specific needs, but the most popular length is 54 inches. For taller people, an extra-long body pillow (72″) is recommended.

How Long Do Body Pillows Last?

A body pillows’ life span varies depending mainly on its constitution and material, but on average, most last for 1-2 years.

Memory foam body pillows are less likely to flatten and become lumpy than down pillows.

To lengthen their life span wash the pillow (on low heat) every 3-6 months, wash the cover frequently to prevent dust and sweat build-up, and shake the pillow every two weeks.

To your health and happiness,

The Back Pain Relief Products Team

References

Maintaining Good Posture, American Chiropractic Association

Body Pillows, WebMD