Side Snuggler, Pyramid or Banana pillow?
Written by Nadim Assaf, registered pharmacist, Connect Mobility in Picton
These three all get called body pillows, but they do quite different jobs. Let's look at what each one is for.
Start with the problem
People usually come to us for one of four reasons. They're pregnant. Their hip or lower back aches when they lie on their side. Their shoulder hurts at night. Or they keep rolling onto their back and snoring.
Where each one goes
Each one sits in a different spot. The Side Snuggler replaces your pillow. The Banana wraps along your front. The Pyramid goes behind your back, and the Leg Spacer sits between your knees.
Side Snuggler
The Side Snuggler replaces your normal pillow. It's a 60 x 60 cm pillow with a nook for your shoulder, and two cushioned arms. One sits in front of you to hug. The other sits behind you, so rolling onto your back feels awkward.
It has a memory foam section for support, plus polyfill you can top up or take out through a zip. It comes with a slip in a choice of colours, including satin.
It suits people who want to stay on their side all night. That includes snorers, people with a sore shoulder, and women in late pregnancy. It's the body pillow our customers order most, and some owners have used theirs for well over ten years.
Banana pillow
The Banana pillow is a long, curved pillow filled with polyfill. The medium size is 90 cm long. You lie with it curving along your front, with one end between your knees and the middle under your bump or top arm.
It's the classic pregnancy pillow. It also works for anyone who likes something to hug, and it doubles as a back support when you sit up in bed. Go for the medium unless you're tall, because the large is very big.
Pyramid pillow
Despite the name, the Pyramid isn't a pillow you hug. It's a triangular support, 70 cm wide and 66 cm tall, that props you up in bed. A firm bulge at the bottom supports the small of your back.
It's good for reading, watching TV or feeding a baby. TheraMed also suggests it for sleeping propped up with reflux or breathlessness. One reviewer found it pushed their head forward, so it suits sitting up more than sleeping.
If reflux is the main problem, a proper bed wedge gives a straighter slope.
Leg Spacer
The Leg Spacer is the small one. It's a contoured memory foam wedge that sits between your knees, held on with a strap so it doesn't wander off in the night.
TheraMed designed it for hip and lower back pain in side sleepers, and for recovery after hip procedures. Reviews are some of the best in the TheraMed range. One owner said the stiffness in their hip was gone.
Why the knees matter
When you lie on your side, your top knee tends to drop down onto the bottom one. That twists your hip and pulls on your lower back.
A pillow between the knees keeps the top leg level. NHS advice for pain on the outside of the hip is to sleep on your good side with a pillow between your knees. Mayo Clinic gives the same advice for back pain.
If you're pregnant
From 28 weeks, the advice in Australia is to go to sleep on your side. The Stillbirth Centre of Research Excellence says this can halve the risk of stillbirth. Either side is fine. If you wake up on your back, just roll over.
A pregnancy pillow makes side sleeping more comfortable. We'll be honest, though. The UK charity Tommy's says ordinary pillows behind your back work just as well. Buy one for comfort, not because you have to.
After a hip replacement
Many surgeons ask you to keep a pillow between your knees for the first weeks. The rules differ with the type of operation. Some people are told to sleep on their back for six weeks. Always follow your surgeon's instructions over anything you read here.
Looking after them
The Banana and Pyramid inserts can go in the washing machine on a gentle cycle, then a low tumble dry. Their cotton slips wash in cold water.
The Side Snuggler has a memory foam section, so wash only the slip. The Leg Spacer's green Steri-Plus cover wipes clean with mild detergent.
Side by side
| Side Snuggler | Banana | Pyramid | Leg Spacer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our price | $189 | from $89 | $115 | $89 |
| Goes | Under the head | Along the front, between the knees | Behind the back | Between the knees |
| Size | 60 x 60 x 19 cm | 90 x 52 x 16 cm (medium) | 70 x 66 x 20 cm | 28.5 x 22 x 10 cm |
| Fill | Memory foam and polyfill | Polyfill | Polyfill, foam lumbar bulge | Memory foam |
| Adjustable | Yes, by zip | No | Yes, by zip | No |
| Best for | Snoring, shoulders, rolling | Pregnancy | Reading, feeding | Hip and back pain |
Specs are from TheraMed. All four are made in Australia and carry TheraMed's 12-month warranty against faults.
Questions we get
Can I use the Leg Spacer with the Side Snuggler?
Yes. That's a good pairing if you have a sore shoulder and a sore hip. One keeps your head and shoulder right, the other your hips.
Which normal pillow suits side sleepers?
One with enough height to keep your neck straight. Our Complete Sleeprrr guide explains how to get the height right.
Do they fit a single bed?
The Side Snuggler, Pyramid and Leg Spacer fit easily. The medium Banana does too, but it takes up a fair bit of the bed.
Tell us what hurts
Call Nadim on 1300 216 888 and tell him where it aches at night. He'll tell you which pillow will help, and which won't.
Where our facts come from
- TheraMed product pages (sizes, fills, covers, care, warranty, uses, reviews)
- Stillbirth CRE, side sleeping in pregnancy (from 28 weeks, either side)
- Tommy's, sleep position in pregnancy (regular pillows work as well)
- Kingston and Richmond NHS, hip pain leaflet (pillow between the knees)
- Mayo Clinic, sleeping positions for back pain (pillow between the legs)
- Physiopedia, hip precautions (rules differ by operation)
- NHS shoulder pain leaflet (hug a pillow with the sore arm)
- Feefo and ProductReview.com.au owner reviews
Checked September 2026.