Across the United States, millions of people wake up with neck and back pain, often caused by poor posture while they sleep. While it's possible to correct posture during the day, it doesn't always help you during the night. Sometimes, you need a device like the Side Sleep Pro designed to help keep your body in perfect alignment. This product, however, is only beneficial if it actually works.
What Is the Side Sleeper Pro?
The Side Sleeper Pro is a specially designed pillow manufactured by the Allstar Marketing Group LLC. It has a hook shape, similar to a short candy cane. You situate it so the two sides are on each side of your body, and your head rests in the middle. The design of it is specifically for people who sleep on their sides.
This side sleeper pillow helps those who either chronic or acute conditions. Because it realigns the spine, it takes pressure off of the tissue and nerves surrounding the spine whether they have damage from an injury, degeneration, or a condition that affects the spine.
How to Side Sleeper Pro Works
The pillow positions your back, neck, and shoulders, so you have proper posture while you sleep. It's said to align your spine to reduce the strain on your muscles and joints while you sleep. In addition to promoting the ideal posture while you sleep, the manufacturer claims it helps you achieve a deeper REM sleep. Some people experience improved breathing from how the pillow aligns their body.
The pillow prevents you from rolling and twisting, which can contort your spine, putting additional stress on the joints and muscles in the spine. By encouraging you to stay in the same position, it reduces tossing and turning, which is associated with an restless night's sleep.
Those with poor posture are going against the way the body naturally rests, causing pain and discomfort in the neck, shoulders, and back, but the pillow forces them to have good posture even while they sleep.
What Makes the Side Sleeper Pro Unique?
Other products on the market with the same concept exist, but this one features an ear well to enhance its level of comfort. You place your ear in the hole in the pillow to prevent it from rubbing on the Side Sleeper Pro while you sleep. It helps determine where you should position yourself on the pillow for the optimal level of comfort.
The composition of the Side Sleeper Pro has a comfortable, yet supportive structure. The pillow maintains its shape, so you can use it for other activities, including watching TV and just relaxing. The inside of the Side Sleeper Pro consists of a down alternative.
Not all pillows tailored to correct your posture while you sleep have a pillow cover with a zipper on it like the Side Sleeper Pro. This particular feature allows you to remove the cover and wash only it. It's more convenient than throwing an entire pillow in the washer, especially if you have a small washer and dryer. Additionally, repetitively washing the whole pillow wears it out quickly, so the pillowcase preserves the life of the entire pillow.
The Side Sleeper Pro is one of the only pillows in its class that is hypoallergenic, meaning its safe to use for those who have an allergy. The soft material is a polyester and spandex blend. The interior of the pillow consists of 100 % polyester fiber. Because it's a down alternative, it's ideal for those who oppose the use of animals in their products.
Price of the Side Sleeper Pro
The price of the product depends on where you purchase it from, but you can expect to pay between $16 - $32. All of the Side Sleeper Pros are the same size and style, which means the only difference is the retailer offering the product. Retailers like Target offer the pillow at the same price. Bidding sites do have the product for slightly cheaper new, but there isn't any quality standards, so you have to weigh the factors.
It doesn't appear that there are any legitimate coupons online for the pillow. Since it comes with a risk-free trial, you're better off buying directly from the manufacturer.
What Are People Saying About the Side Sleeper Pro?
The reviews of the Side Sleeper Pro are mixed. Users claim the original Side Sleeper Pro reigns as a better product due to its sturdy composition. However, based on the reviews, this version does help promote a better night sleep for some who use it.
One man was absolutely thrilled after purchasing the pillow. The user was sick of the same type of pillow that didn't have any support and irritated his ear. He tried the Side Sleeper Pro and is absolutely impressed by the results. It appears he has become a regular user of the pillow.
One buyer who suffered from neck pain accidentally ordered this pillow but realized it was a good mistake. After trying the pillow, the buyer discovered it allowed her to get a better night sleep because of how it cradled her neck. She no longer had neck pain upon waking after using the pillow.
A review of the pillow was very positive and stood out from the rest. The user stated what a pleasant surprise the Side Sleeper was. She found the ear hole useless but emphasized how comfortable the pillow was for her. She described it as firm and supportive. Her disappointment didn't stem from the pillow itself, but the fact you can't purchase replacement pillowcases.
Upon taking the pillow out of the packaging, one women's displeasure turned to satisfaction after actually using it. She admits the product looks cheap but touts its ability to reduce pain while sleeping and enhance the overall quality of sleep.
A woman with neck and back pain caused by arthritis declared the pillow as the only thing that helped her achieve a better night sleep.
Another consumer said it worked ideal for his girlfriend who suffered from a pinched nerve in her back. She tried other pillows to give her the support she needed to sleep soundly, but other pillows didn't compare to how this one worked for her. After starting the pillow, she no longer got up through the night in pain.
One buyer stated it helped her husband with mild sleep apnea – a condition that affects your breathing while you sleep. He woke up rested and refreshed after starting to use the pillow every night. She indicated the shape of the pillow helped open his airways.
After purchasing this pillow, a person with connective tissue disease saw a miraculous change in sleep habits. The user went from waking up from frequently having to reposition throughout the night to sleeping through the night.
One user claimed the Side Sleeper pro only worked for 30 days before it wore out and started causing the initial pain once again.
One woman who bought the pillow to ease neck pain had no symptom relief from the pillow and did not get a better night sleep after starting to use the pillow.
One reviewer of the pillow said the Side Sleeper Pro's design isn't conclusive of a good night sleep for those who have nerve damage in the neck or spinal column. In fact, it causes more pain for those with nerve damage because it doesn't actually support the neck like it states it does.
Another user said the pillow wasn't comfortable at all. It didn't have any give, so it made it difficult to get comfortable. Even after adjusting the pillow, it still didn't change its comfort level.
Apparently, the Side Sleeper Pro isn't a one-size-fits-all pillow since one user claims that it's not ideal for short people or those with short necks because it causes them to have to stretch to fit in the pillow comfortably.
A gentleman who purchased the pillow expressed a great deal of displeasure due to how hard and uncomfortable the pillow was. He stressed how torturous the pillow was to actually sleep on. He said even though the concept was sound, it didn't live up to its claims.
One person who reviewed the pillow had an absolutely terrible experience with it, stating it caused more discomfort while she slept than she had before she started using the pillow. Her opinion of the pillow was that it was lumpy and bumpy. The size of it was small, especially when compared to a standard rectangular-shaped pillow. She said the pillow was awkward and lumpy.
How It Compares to Other Similar Products
Other similar products are on the market, and their consumer reviews are similar in nature, meaning they have a mix of good and bad. It appears the comfort level of this type of pillow slacks because its design is for support. Consumers had the same complaints regarding other similar products.
Based on the reviews, the material inside of the Side Sleeper Pro isn't as comfortable and breathable as they claim. Some users complained of the pillow getting too overheated. Many people claimed the first Side Sleeper was a better product and that the Side Sleeper Air is much more comfortable.
Some people found similar products with more comfortable pillowcases. The Side Sleeper Pro's pillowcase isn't highly revered by most users because it's scratchy and made of a low-quality material.
Other products on the market with the same type of design fall in the same price range. Those looking for a cheaper or more high-end version may have difficulty finding one.
On the other hand, each pillow compared to the Side Sleeper Pro had numerous claims the pillow helped with neck and pain associated with arthritis, pinched nerves, and poor posture. Consumers of other similar products stated the one they picked helped with shoulder pain as well, which buyers claimed about the Side Sleeper Pro, too.
You might find another product that offers more comfort while still maintaining the same level of support. Foam options exist that give you support while having a bit of give. If you search for other versions, you might be able to find one that has a warranty, so you don't have to worry about replacing it after using it for a few months.
Our Personal Review of the Product
The product does what it claims to for some people but not all. It's not designed for people of all sizes and who prefer a softer pillow. Some people might not feel the same level of support for these reasons. Smaller people tend to not fit into the pillow.
It does provide the support it states. It keeps the neck and spine in alignment with one another if you sleep on your side. It's especially beneficial for those who are told they must sleep on their side and never were side sleepers in the past. It makes the fear of switching for a stomach sleeper to a side sleeper not as difficult of a transition.
The pillow does work to relieve back and neck pain, for some people. Bottom line is you have to try it and see if it's a product for you because not everyone has the same experience with it. If you do purchase it, you should definitely keep the receipt because you might not like it.
Correcting the Negatives
You can correct the negatives of the pillow using a few tips. To avoid the pillow falling apart prematurely like a few of the consumers said it did, always take the pillowcase off and wash it on gentle. It definitely prolongs the life of this product. We find that if you're not the ideal size for this product that it helps to add a standard pillow behind your back for additional support.
Are There Coupons or Discounts Available?
There aren't really any discounts or coupons available, but you may find it on clearance or as a buy-one-get-one-free special as an “As Seen On TV” product. If you don't want to wait for the product to go on sale, your best bet is to use the Internet to search for the product. You can find the original and latest version of the Side Sleeper Pro available at different prices from different stores.
Both new and used versions are available, but due to a pillow being used under a person's head, buying used is risky. You want to keep in mind a pillow changes over time and wears out, so there isn't any guarantee with a used one. It's best to spend the additional money and purchase new.