I’m not exactly sure when I developed this habit, but I can only sleep on my side if I’m hugging something. Usually it’s my weighted dinosaur plush; a spare pillow or body pillow can also work if I’m away from home. But now there is a new pillow shape on my radar, designed for this exact purpose: a boomerang pillow.
As a sleep writer who has tested dozens of pillows, I find it rare to uncover one that’s truly different from others I’ve tried. Most of the side-sleeper-specific pillows I’ve seen are either crescent-shaped or have cutouts, which make space for your shoulder while providing direct support to your neck. But the boomerang shape was a brand-new concept to me — it has more of a right-angle L-shape, so you can rest your head on one “arm” of the pillow and hug the other arm in front of you while lying on your side.
I learned about the shape when a Texas-based brand called the Pillow Bar sent me one of its best sellers, the Dr. Mary Side Sleeper pillow, so named for a Dallas-based professional sports chiropractor, Dr. Mary Collings, who created it in partnership with the brand. So I decided to temporarily ditch my weighted dino to snuggle with the boomerang pillow instead. The first night I slept on it, I was impressed by how well designed it was for hugging; the L-shape creates a nook you can really nestle into, and the pillow is stuffed just enough to feel substantial, but not so voluminous that it’s uncomfortable to wrap your arms around. Because it’s all one piece, there’s no shuffling or adjusting to keep multiple pillows positioned correctly.
I also appreciated that the arms of the boomerang pillow are relatively short — just a bit shorter than a standard bed pillow — so that the one I’m hugging doesn’t extend past my torso like a body pillow would. That’s my main issue with body pillows: If I try to hug one while sleeping on my side, it gets in the way of my legs and I often end up twisting into a half-side, half-stomach sleeping position that strains my back.
The main drawback of the boomerang pillow (other than the fact that it won’t fit well in a standard pillowcase) is that you have to be pretty committed to sleeping on your side — and really only on one side, unless you want to flip the pillow to your other side when you roll over during the night. I also sleep on my back and often switch between my back and my side, which ended up being my only issue. While the boomerang pillow is still large enough that I can lie flat on my back, with my head resting on one arm of the pillow and the other to the side, that position makes the pillow feel very narrow compared to a regular bed pillow. So a boomerang pillow is not ideal for combination sleepers. But for any side sleepers out there who need something to hug at night, the shape is worth a try.
New! You can now save this product for later.
The Dr. Mary Side Sleeper pillow I tested comes in two fill options: down and down-alternative. I have the down-alternative, and it’s pleasantly cushy but supportive. It’s finished with a cotton cover, but you can purchase an additional pillowcase made from cotton, satin, or silk. Color choices include beige, flint, navy, and white; the Pillow Bar also offers complimentary monogramming for the pillowcases. Additionally, the Pillow Bar makes all of its pillows custom and to order; you’ll be asked for some information on your height, age, and whether you have any specific injuries or pain concerns, so the fill density and firmness can be adjusted accordingly. For example, Pillow Bar president Connie Babikian told me that the company would make a Dr. Mary Side Sleeper pillow firmer for someone over six feet tall than for someone who’s five-foot-two, to account for typical differences in shoulder size.
Other boomerang-shaped pillows
While the Pillow Bar introduced me to the boomerang pillow, the Dr. Mary Side Sleeper pillow isn’t the only option out there. Here are a few more boomerang-shaped pillows I found.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Sleep Number’s affordable L-shaped pillow is filled with a down-alternative and covered with organic cotton.
New! You can now save this product for later.
The I AM Boomerang pillow is also filled with a down-alternative and has a cotton cover but comes in your choice of two sizes: standard and king.
New! You can now save this product for later.
This one from Contour products is filled with a polyester down-alternative and covered in microfiber.
New! You can now save this product for later.
For a memory-foam option, this gel-infused foam pillow from Malouf looks promising. It comes with a washable Tencel cover.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Or for an all-natural option, this boomerang pillow from earthSake is filled with kapok, a natural fiber that’s similar in texture to cotton. It’s also adjustable — you can unzip the case to add or remove filling (additional filling is available for purchase).
New! You can now save this product for later.
If you want the benefits of a boomerang pillow combined with the full-body support of a body pillow, this extralong design from Cheer Collection delivers on both.
More From The Strategist
- The Strategist Summer 100
- I Asked Dozens of Tasteful People About Their Favorite Sandals
- Everything We’ve Written About That’s on Sale at Nordstrom Right Now
- I’ve Told Everyone About This Perfect One-Piece (a Chic Mom Told Me About)
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
