Tom's Guide Verdict
The SquishPillow by Original Squishmallows is a comfy and supportive headrest, which comes in two firmness levels and two sizes. Our tester who tried the firm SquishPillow found it to be best suited for side-sleeping, thanks to its high loft and responsive support. It sleeps at a neutral temperature, but has no cooling abilities— which means hot sleepers might need something more breathable. At $29.99, we found think it's a plush pillow giving major Squishmallow-feels for both adults and kids alike.
Pros
- +
Side and combi sleepers
- +
Plush comfy comfort
- +
Reliable support
Cons
- -
No sleep trial or warranty
- -
No cooling credentials
- -
May be too tall for some sleepers
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SquishPillow by Original Squishmallows: Review in brief
The SquishPillow is the latest offering from Jazwares— the brand behind the viral Original Squishmallows plush toys. According to the brand, this is the result of high customer demand for bed pillows which feel exactly like Squishmallows.
Type: Polyester
Best for: Side and back sleepers
Sizes: Standard and king
Trial: N/A
Warranty: N/A
Price: from $29.99 at Target
Our tester who reviewed the firm Squishpillow recommended for side sleepers found it to deliver excellent comfort and consistent support for this position specifically.
While it cannot exactly be termed as a 'firm' pillow (due to its plush fill and overall feel), it certainly proved to be of a high-loft — which could be too tall for some sleeping styles and body types, but worked well for filling the gap between the head and the shoulders when sleeping on your side.
The SquishPillow sleeps at a neutral temperature, but does not include any cooling elements apart from an organic cotton cover. However, at $29.99 for a standard size, it offers decent support and cozy comfort, especially considering it's not a specialist bedding brand behind some of the best pillows we've tested this year.
Overall, we have rated it 4 out of 5 stars for its performance during our review period. Scroll down to know more...
SquishPillow by Original Squishmallows: Price & deals
The SquishPillow by Original SquishMallows is exclusively available to buy on Target starting from $29.99 for a standard size, while a king is priced at $39.99. Compared to more specialist bedding brands like Coop Sleep Goods and Purple, where one pillow can be sold for as much as $149, this is an affordable price point.
For your reference, the Coop Original Adjustable pillow, which we rate as the best pillow you can buy this year, is priced at $85 for a standard size. For affordability, the Beckham Hotel Collection Down-Alternative pillow offers close-competition, since it is typically sold at $59.99 for a pack of two standard pillows — which roughly comes up to $30 for one.
The SquishPillow is also currently on sale with up to 20% off in Target's holiday bedding sales. This has reduced the MSRP of a standard firm pillow from $29.99 to $23.99, while a king is now $31.99.
However, similar to Beckham Hotel Collection, SquishPillows unfortunately do not come with any sleep benefits like a trial period or warranty. Although you can make use of Target's 90-day return policy, in case you're not satisfied with your purchase.
SquishPillow by Original Squishmallows: Design & materials
The OEKO-certified SquishPillow has a simple construction — crafted using a 100% polyester down alternative fiber fill, topped by a 250 thread count organic cotton cover and a final removable micro-plush case mimicking the softness and feel of the iconic Squishmallows toy.
It currently comes in two firmness levels: medium-firm and firm. The brand recommends the former for back and combination sleepers, while the firm pillow is ideally suited for side sleepers.
The cotton cover will improve breathability, but SquishPillow doesn't include any other cooling features. You also can't remove or add extra fill, meaning it won't suit all sleeping positions.
SquishPillow by Original Squishmallows: Performance
That's all the basics covered. Let's now take a closer look at how the SquishPillow performed against the various core parameters we consider in our pillow testing methodology:
Set-up
The SquishPillow arrived in an easy-to-open zip-up bag. It came as a ready-to-sleep full-size pillow, which means there was no expansion-time required (as it hadn't been vacuum packed).
I was most impressed by the small tag attached to the bag, with a piece of the micro-plush fabric, giving you a feeler of what to expect inside. As advertised by the brand, the fabric felt incredibly soft and it did remind me of my favorite plush toy as a kid.
I was also impressed by the lack of any off-gassing. This refers to the release of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that can come from materials like memory foam.
While it's not dangerous, it's an unpleasant smell and can sometimes irritate the airways and exacerbate asthma. But since the SquishPillow doesn't incorporate foam, it didn't have any kind of smell and I could rest my head on it straight away.
Score: 5 out of 5
Comfort and support
I tried a firm SquishPillow meant for side sleepers, as that is my dominant sleeping position. However, the level of firmness is not to be confused with super-firm options like the Tempur-Pedic Tempur Neck which currently is the best pillow for side sleepers with neck pain available in the market. I'd say the 'firm' SquishPillow feels more like a medium firm pillow.
During the first week of trying the SquishPillow, I was surprised by how a toy brand had been so successful in crafting a comfy yet supportive headrest.
The high-loft pillow effectively bridged the gap between my ear and shoulders, while lying on my side. This meant my neck wasn't straining without enough support and it wasn't sharply angled from a pillow that's too high.
It also didn't need any fluffing up, rearranging or shifting throughout the night, proving that its fill is consistently supportive. This isn't a pillow that will flatten beneath you as you sleep.
While I found it to be great for side-sleeping and alternating positions during the night, it proved to be too tall for back-sleeping at times. After sleeping on my back while using the firm SquishPillow for a few nights in a row, I could feel a slight strain in my neck.
My combination-sleeping teammate who has a more petite build, tried the medium-firm SquishPillow and surprisingly gave the same feedback — so do expect a pillow that feels very full, rather than one that flattens down under your weight.
To check comfort and support objectively, I placed a 10 lb kettlebell (roughly the average weight of an adult's head) on the center of the pillow for 5 minutes. On removing the weight, it instantly sprang back up, but on closer inspection the inner fill still seemed to be recovering from the compression. This level of responsiveness should be more than enough for most sleepers, even those who toss and turn.
Score: 3.5 out of 5
Temperature control
It is handy to note that I tested the SquishPillow during the colder months in the UK and so never woke up with any stuffiness or discomfort (and I'm not a hot sleeper by nature).
However, as mentioned above, it does lack any specific cooling elements apart from the cotton cover (some pillows use specialist materials like cooling gel memory foam or even Glaciotex).
I would, therefore, recommend hot sleepers consider more breathable or specialist cooling pillows like the alternatives we have listed below. Our top cooling option in our guide to the best pillows is the Casper Hybrid Pillow with Snow Technology — a specialist pillow that features HeatDelete bands and Airscape foam to help temperature regulation. But this does come at an extra cost — starting at $149 at Casper.
Score: 3.5 out of 5
SquishPillow by Original Squishmallows: Durability & care
Washing a pillow might not be at the top of our list of priorities, but easy maintenance always earns extra points. Here's how our tester found the durability of the SquishPillow:
Build quality
Assessing the build quality of pillow within a span of two or three weeks is tricky since it requires regular use for a longer period of time. However, based on my observations during the testing period, I found the SquishPillow by Original Squishmallows to feature excellent build quality.
It consistently held its shape and support throughout, without easily flattening or sagging in the middle (where the head is typically placed). It also rarely required re-fluffing or adjustments. This is impressive for a pillow that comes at this price-point.
Score: 5 out of 5
Care and maintenance
Unlike rare options such as the Beckham Hotel Collection Down-Alternative, most pillows are not fully washable. The SquishPillow joins the group, with a spot-clean only surface.
However, the outer micro-plush cover is removable and can be washed in a cold (30 degrees or below) cycle and tumble-dried on a low heat setting. This makes keeping it fresh and clean super easy.
Score: 5 out of 5
SquishPillow by Original Squishmallows: Should you buy?
Looking for an affordable yet supportive pillow for side-sleepers? The SquishPillow definitely fits the bill. The outer velvety micro-plush cover lends a Squishmallow-like feel and dreamy comfort to the bed pillow.
Based on our tester's experience, the medium-firm pillow is an ideal choice for most combination and back sleepers, while the firm version is best suited for dedicated side-sleepers. It proved to be comfy and consistently supportive, rarely requiring any re-fluffing or adjustments.
Our biggest gripe is the rather high-loft, which can pose as an issue after the first few nights, especially for those with narrow shoulders and a lightweight build. This is also why stomach sleepers should steer clear or wait for the soft version to be released.
While our tester slept comfortably without any overheating or discomfort, the SquishPillow does not come with any cooling abilities. This can be insufficient for those prone to sleep hot. But overall at $29.99 for a standard size, it packs a punch for what you pay, making it great value for money.
Buy the SquishPillow by Original Squishmallows if...
✅You're a side sleeper: The loft and plush comfort proved to be ideal for side-sleeping.
✅You need consistent support: Our tester was impressed by the reliable support of the SquishPillow, which didn't flatten or sag at all during the review period.
✅You have a smaller budget: At $29.99, it's indeed a great value purchase for side-sleeping, compared to the luxe options in the market.
Don't buy the SquishPillow by Original Squishmallows if...
❌You're a stomach sleeper: The SquishPillow is definitely not suitable for stomach sleepers who require a low-loft and medium-firm or soft build.
❌You prefer a low-loft pillow: It's ideal to await their soft model or go for an adjustable pillow instead if you prefer a flatter pillow.
❌You want to try before you commit: The SquishPillow unfortunately does not include a sleep trial.
SquishPillow by Original Squishmallows: Alternatives
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