Relvay makes a pregnancy pillow. We also tell you below when you should not buy one.
The short answer
Change one thing per night: the cover, then the blanket, then the layout. Most heat comes from what sits on or around the pillow, so you can often fix it without replacing anything.
- Cover first: swap plush for thin cotton.
- Blanket second: keep it off the pillow.
- Layout third: remove the piece that touches most of you.
How do you fix a pregnancy pillow that feels too hot?
Run these steps in order, one per night, and keep everything else the same. If you change three things at once, you will not know which one worked.
- Night 1: change nothing, just notice. Where are you hot: back, bump, legs, or everywhere? When does it start: at bedtime or after an hour?
- Night 2: change the cover. If the cover is plush or velvety and comes off, take it off and wrap the pillow in a thin cotton pillowcase or an old cotton sheet. Check the care label before you put any insert near water.
- Night 3: change the blanket. Lay your blanket over you, not over the pillow, or switch to a light sheet. A blanket draped over a tall pillow traps warm air around you like a tent.
- Night 4: change the layout. Take away the part that touches the most of you. On a U, fold or tuck away the arm behind your back. On a long pillow, use it only under your bump and knees.
- Night 5: change the air. Point a fan low across your side of the bed, and try a cooler room. The Sleep Foundation suggests about 65°F, with most guidance between 65 and 68°F.
Keep every change that helped. Drop any that cost you support and woke you up sore.
What does a too-hot pillow feel like at night?
Usually cool enough at bedtime and damp where it touches you by the middle of the night.
1:20 a.m.
I was 32 weeks, and every night I woke with my back stuck to the pillow and my bump on a warm patch. I had decided the pillow was faulty and had the return page open.
Nate talked me into five nights of changing one thing at a time. The cover made a little difference. The blanket made a big one: I had been pulling our duvet right over the top of the pillow. By night four I had my answer, and it was not the one I expected.
“the velor cover gets a bit warm in the warmer weather”Amazon review of a pregnancy pillow
How do you read what the steps tell you?
Match what you noticed to the line below. It tells you whether to keep the pillow, change its setup, or look elsewhere.
| What happened | What it points to | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Night 2 helped most | The cover was holding heat | Keep a thin cotton cover on it, or look for a replacement cover in a lighter fabric |
| Night 3 helped most | The bedding was tenting heat over the pillow | Keep the blanket off the pillow, or use separate blankets |
| Night 4 helped most | Too much pillow touching you | Keep the smaller layout, or consider a smaller pillow |
| Only night 5 helped | The room, not the pillow | Keep the fan and cooler room |
| Nothing helped, even without the pillow | Not a pillow question | Mention it to your midwife or OB-GYN |
Feeling warmer than usual is common in pregnancy. Tommy's, the UK pregnancy charity, says most people feel warmer because of hormone changes and increased blood supply to the skin. If you feel feverish or unwell, call your midwife or doctor instead of adjusting bedding.
What if it still feels too hot?
If night 4 helped most, the size of the pillow is the problem, not the fabric alone. A smaller setup that holds only your bump and back will usually sleep cooler than a fabric upgrade on a big pillow.
Before you buy a replacement, read how to evaluate cooling claims so the next pillow does not repeat the same problem with a nicer label.
Bailey kept the U for the couch. In bed she switched to two small wedges and a cotton pillow between her knees, with the duvet folded at her waist. Nate said the bed finally felt like theirs again, not the pillow's.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my pregnancy pillow so hot?
Warmth builds where fabric and filling touch you and air cannot move. Plush covers, a blanket draped over the pillow, and a large pillow wrapped around your front and back all add to it. Change one at a time to find which one it is.
Can I put a cotton sheet over my pregnancy pillow?
Yes, a thin cotton pillowcase or sheet over the pillow is an easy test. If the original cover comes off, try it without the cover first and check the care label for the insert.
Should I return a pregnancy pillow that is too hot?
Run the five-night check first. If a cover or blanket change fixes it, you can keep it. If only a smaller layout helped, a smaller pillow may suit you better. Check the seller's return window before it runs out.
Is it normal to feel hot at night when pregnant?
Feeling warmer than usual is common in pregnancy. If you feel feverish or unwell, or the heat comes with other symptoms, talk to your midwife or doctor.
If the smaller layout was the fix
If night 4 was your answer, a pillow that holds only your bump and back is the next thing to try. The Relvay 3-Piece is that kind of set, the one Bailey moved to. It is not a cooling pillow: its top is a soft ribbed fabric. It simply touches less of you than a full-body pillow.
Two wedges for bump and back, joined by a flat strap, about as wide as your torso. Keep a regular pillow between your knees. $79.99, 90-day returns.
Probably not for you if
- A cover or blanket change already fixed it.
- You want a cooling or cool-touch fabric.
- You are hot even with no pillow at all.
Made for you if
- Folding away part of your big pillow helped most.
- You still need bump and back support.
- You share a full or queen bed.
Bailey's story is a composite based on real reviews and public posts from pregnant side sleepers. Names and details are changed.
