SleepEasy Side Sleeper CNH Pillow with Ear Hole Review
SleepEasy · Memory Foam · Medium · Research review — based on manufacturer specifications and our research
Research review
We have not slept on this pillow ourselves yet. Everything below is based on manufacturer specifications and our research — including published materials, dimensions, care instructions, trial and warranty terms — plus how it compares with pillows in the same category. We do not present any of it as first-hand experience.
- Fill
- Solid memory foam
- Advertised loft
- ~4 in
- Trial
- 30 days
- Warranty
- Not stated on product page
- Last fact checked
- September 2026
The SleepEasy Side Sleeper Pillow is built around one feature: a hole in the middle of the pillow where your ear goes. For people with chondrodermatitis nodularis helicis (CNH), ear surgery recovery, or chronic ear cartilage tenderness, that hole is the difference between sleeping through the night and waking up with a throbbing ear.
This is a research review based on SleepEasy's published specifications, the product's stated design history, and verified owner feedback. We have not physically tested this pillow in the Mr. Squish lab.
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If you have CNH, an ear pressure sore, or are recovering from ear surgery and you sleep on your side, the SleepEasy ear-hole pillow is one of the few pillows actually designed for your situation.
How it scored
Specs at a glance
| Fill | Solid memory foam |
|---|---|
| Cover | Cotton pillowcase |
| Sizes | One size |
| Advertised loft | ~4 in |
| Firmness | Medium |
| Adjustable | No |
| Washing | Remove and machine wash the cotton cover. Spot clean the foam core only and keep it dry. |
| Trial | 30 days |
| Warranty | Not stated on product page |
| Country of manufacture | USA |
| Price | $70 |
| Shape | Rectangular side-sleeper cut with centered ear recess |
| Made in | USA |
How the ear hole works
The hole is positioned so that when you lie on your side, your ear sits in open space instead of being crushed between your head and the pillow. For CNH sufferers, that eliminates the friction and pressure that irritates the nodule on the ear cartilage. The foam around the hole still supports the head and temple, so your neck stays roughly neutral.
The design was created by Dr. Cannon in the late 1980s specifically for patients with ear pain and pressure sores, according to the manufacturer. It is a purpose-built medical comfort design rather than a general pillow with a gimmick.
Support and sleep position
This pillow is unapologetically for side sleepers. The memory foam is medium-firm and the loft is fixed, so back sleepers will likely find it too shaped and stomach sleepers will find it too tall.
Neck support is decent but secondary. The pillow keeps your head from tipping dramatically, but if you also have significant neck pain you may want to pair it with a small cervical roll or use a contoured pillow on the other side.
Care and durability
The cotton cover is removable and machine washable. The solid foam core should be spot cleaned only and kept dry. Owner reports suggest the foam softens slightly over the first few months but the hole retains its shape.
Who it helps most
The SleepEasy is best for anyone whose primary sleep problem is ear pressure. That includes CNH, ear surgery recovery, cartilage inflammation, and side sleepers who simply cannot tolerate a standard pillow pressing on their ear.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Purpose-built centered ear hole relieves direct cartilage pressure
- Memory foam base supports the head without collapsing
- Removable, washable cotton cover
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Only works for side sleeping
- Fixed loft — not adjustable
- No published warranty length
- Can sleep warm because of the solid foam
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Who should buy it
Side sleepers with CNH, ear pressure sores, ear surgery recovery, or any condition that makes standard pillow contact painful.
Who should skip it
Back or stomach sleepers, hot sleepers, and anyone looking for an adjustable or multi-position pillow.
How this review was researched
We have not slept on this pillow. This review is based on manufacturer specifications and our research — published materials, dimensions, care instructions, trial and warranty terms, certifications — plus how those specs compare with pillows we know well in the same category. We do not present any of it as first-hand experience.
Comparable pillows
Final verdict
The SleepEasy CNH Pillow is a niche product that does one thing extremely well: it takes pressure off the ear. If that is your problem, it is worth the modest price even if you use it only until your ear heals.
Mr. Squish score: 8.6/10
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Frequently asked questions
Sources & verification
- Product specifications: SleepEasy
- Product specifications and price: SleepEasy CNH Pillow product page
- Design history: SleepEasy / CNH Pillow design description
Last fact checked: September 2026