The article argues that a piercing pillow is a cheaper, simpler alternative to specialised sleep earbuds for side-sleepers who want to use their existing earbuds in bed. Its ear cutouts keep pressure off the ears and earbuds, potentially avoiding the discomfort of lying on bulkier devices such as AirPods or Galaxy Buds, without batteries, Bluetooth problems or a high price.

The writer recommends Blissbury’s $55 Ear Pillow, which has two ear holes, washable covers and an adjustable 4–5 inch thickness via a removable foam insert. Measuring 26 inches by 15 inches, it is slightly narrower than a standard US pillow and can use a normal pillowcase, with spare foam supplied to fill the cutouts if needed. The author says dedicated sleepbuds may still be preferable for masking a partner’s snoring, citing the Soundcore Sleep A30’s effectiveness against light to moderate snoring.