I feel like I used to have a satisfactory layout for years but haven’t since found a consistently comfortable arrangement. I like to have a fairly thick pillow or two under my head to accommodate my bad shoulder, a pillow between my thighs to avoid chafed skin, and a pillow for hugging - also mostly for my shoulder.

The head ones tend to get distorted really quickly and it’s really difficult to find a good hugging pillow.

  • TechnoCat@lemmy.ml
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    1 month ago

    pillow under my head, pillow between my arms/elbows, and a pillow between my knees. 3 pillows total

  • communism@lemmy.ml
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    1 month ago

    One hard pillow as I sleep on my side and need the neck support. And then one bean bag tube type thing to rest my wrist on so that my arm doesn’t have to be entirely horizontal—more comfortable that way.

    I just use the duvet to go between my thighs/knees.

  • Xaphanos@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    I use a bath towel folded twice the short way. Nice and flat for back sleeping. I can make it thicker for side sleeping by folding the end under as needed when I roll over. But I use a CPAP so I don’t roll much at all.

    • toynbee@lemmy.worldOP
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      1 month ago

      Interesting, I don’t think I’ve encountered someone using a towel long term.

      I use a CPAP, too, but toss and turn so much that I think the arm flick to adjust the air hose during the turn has become reflexive.

  • MrScottyTay@sh.itjust.works
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    1 month ago

    Three pillows. One thicker one leaned up against the headboard at a very slight angle, almost vertical. Then two thinner pillows, first one at what would be a 45 degree angle overlapping the thick pillow, then the final one overlapping that one.

    Only way I have been able to find comfort in pillows in the last 5 years or so

  • everett@lemmy.ml
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    1 month ago

    Two thin pillows stacked and oriented vertically. Thinness is key because they’re easy to fold or roll to “make” pillows of various shapes and thicknesses, to support whatever position I feel like lying in.

    • toynbee@lemmy.worldOP
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      1 month ago

      I’ve heard that before and tried it myself, but I’ve always found that whatever custom shape I make unravels itself as I sleep, waking me up.

      • everett@lemmy.ml
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        1 month ago

        It’s not perfect, but having thin pillows that are a bit worn/broken-in can make then less likely to spring back into their flat shape. The way you place them can also help… for example, rolling downward toward the mattress instead of up, rolling the bottom one and placing the top one across it to hold the roll in place, or placing two half-rolled pillows in a, uh, “69” orientation so the pillows keep each other’s roll in place with friction. Depending on how you sleep you also might be able to train yourself to shift position/roll over without lifting your head, but that’s more of a challenge.

        • Analog@lemmy.ml
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          1 month ago

          Shredded latex is the answer, 100%. But only if you are able to remove (or add) the latex as needed. I found I needed about half of what the pillow came with. Maybe a third?

          The result is a pillow that can do it all: prop up your head for reading in bed, become mostly neck support for back sleeping (with a bit of shaping; takes seconds but isn’t automatic,) and ditto for side sleeping but at a slightly higher height.

          Once you get used to a pillow that holds its shape and provides excellent support, all other pillows feel archaic.

        • toynbee@lemmy.worldOP
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          1 month ago

          Well, you definitely seem like an authority on the subject!

          I don’t think I’ve stuck with this approach for more than a consecutive week or two, so perhaps I need to give them more time before they get comfortable.

  • Jesus_666@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    A good foam pillow under my head, a bit of my blanket between my knees. Sometimes I think about getting one of those knee pillows but so far I haven’t bothered.

    I won’t go back to a down-filled pillow. Those will inevitably stop supporting my head during the night.

  • Oberyn@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    1️⃣ long one of memory foam pellets . Very particular about pillow stuffing material , must hold it’s shape so can comfortably rest head on it without sinking . Gone thru some bad long pillows before

  • Hexadecimalkink@lemmy.ml
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    1 month ago

    3 pillows, one in the middle that’s lower and 2 on the sides to keep my giant head from shifting too much to one side so my neck isn’t put under pressure.

  • floopus@lemmy.ml
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    1 month ago

    2 pillows stacked on each other most nights. Sometimes I just have the one. Very rarely I will have none because for some reason that is whats needed to sleep

  • Anna@lemmy.ml
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    1 month ago

    I tried several pillows made of different materials different brands and everything else. But after all that I concluded the most comfortable I was when I used no pillows.

    The big pillow is lying to you. You don’t need a pillow for comfortable sleep \s

  • serenissi@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    mostly no setup. 1-2 pillows scattered on bed if not on floor, I use them according to hugging needs at that point.

  • Monster@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    I feel so boring now. One normal pillow and one memory foam beside each other for sleeping on my side or stomach

    • toynbee@lemmy.worldOP
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      1 month ago

      It may debatably be boring, but at least you know you can find comfort reliably, unlike those of us with more bespoke needs.

  • monovergent@lemmy.ml
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    1 month ago

    Just an ordinary rectangular pillow. Contrast with European square pillows, which are way too big. It’s served me well for the past 20+ years (yes, the same pillow) as a side sleeper.

    • toynbee@lemmy.worldOP
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      1 month ago

      My oldest pillow is about fifteen years old and was one of my first purchases in my own home - it’s the one I now use to avoid skin chafing. Back then it was for my head.

      I didn’t know European pillows were different, though I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.

      edit: s/about/avoid/