Your pillow plays an important role in your daily sleep. A bad pillow can cause neck, back, and shoulder problems and make you restless when trying to find a comfortable sleeping position.
With so many different pillows out there, how do you know which pillow is best for you? In this article, we'll take a look at the purpose of a pillow, how to judge whether you need a new pillow or not, and how you can finally choose your perfect pillow.
Purpose of a pillow
A pillow serves two main purposes, namely:
A pillow serves two main purposes, namely:
Comfort - The more comfortable you are in bed, the easier it is to fall asleep.
Proper sleep posture - A good pillow supports the neck and head and puts them in the correct posture to prevent stiffness and muscle pain in the neck, back, head and shoulders.
So you want a pillow that you can sleep on comfortably, that properly aligns your head, neck, and spine, giving you lasting comfort to avoid future pain.
Do you need a new pillow?
Like everything, pillows wear out over time and lose their effectiveness. The average lifespan of a pillow is around 2 to 7 years, depending on the quality. Here's a quick test to see if your pillow is still suitable for the job:
Like everything, pillows wear out over time and lose their effectiveness. The average lifespan of a pillow is around 2 to 7 years, depending on the quality. Here's a quick test to see if your pillow is still suitable for the job:
Pillow TestFold your pillow in half
Place a shoe or other light weight on the pillow.
Let go of the pillow
The pillow should be brought back into shape and the shoe should be thrown off. If not, the pillow has lost its shape, strength, and support, so consider replacing it.
Place a shoe or other light weight on the pillow.
Let go of the pillow
The pillow should be brought back into shape and the shoe should be thrown off. If not, the pillow has lost its shape, strength, and support, so consider replacing it.
Choose the best pillow for you
Pillows come in many different varieties, so you can choose one that gives you just the right support and lasting comfort.
Pillows come in many different varieties, so you can choose one that gives you just the right support and lasting comfort.
Choosing the right pillow depends on three factors. First is your primary sleeping position. Next is the level of support that the pillow provides to your head and neck. And finally the type, the material with which the pillow was filled.
Sleeping position
The biggest factor in choosing the size and shape of your perfect pillow is your sleeping position.
The biggest factor in choosing the size and shape of your perfect pillow is your sleeping position.
Side sleepers work best with a large, thick pillow that bridges the gap between your mattress and keeps your neck and head in line with your spine. Side sleeper pillows should be firm to medium.
Back sleepers should opt for a medium-sized pillow that provides just enough support for the head and neck. The height should not be too great to lean the head too far forward, nor too little so that it extends the neck and leans the head upwards. Medium strength is ideal.
Gastric sleepers need very little support and should therefore choose a relatively soft, flat pillow. You need to lift your head off the floor just enough to align your neck and spine.
Head and neck support
Here's a quick test you can do in a bedroom to try a new pillow or against your own pillow to see if it supports and outlines your body properly:
Here's a quick test you can do in a bedroom to try a new pillow or against your own pillow to see if it supports and outlines your body properly:
Pillow support Stand next to a wall as if you were lying on your mattress. For example, if you are a sleeper, stand with your back against the wall, with your side against the wall for one side of the sleeper or with a view of the wall when you sleep on your stomach.
Now rest your head against the wall. Notice how your neck and head aren't exactly with your spine? Your pillow's job is to fill this gap.
Place the pillow between your head and the wall and note the alignment of your spine from the neck to the back. Is it straight or is it bent? Does it feel pleasant or uncomfortable? Would you like to spend 8 hours in this position?
If you were to use the perfect pillow, you would be looking straight ahead with a straight neck. This means that the head, neck and spine are correctly aligned and supported. If not, it is not the pillow for you.
Now rest your head against the wall. Notice how your neck and head aren't exactly with your spine? Your pillow's job is to fill this gap.
Place the pillow between your head and the wall and note the alignment of your spine from the neck to the back. Is it straight or is it bent? Does it feel pleasant or uncomfortable? Would you like to spend 8 hours in this position?
If you were to use the perfect pillow, you would be looking straight ahead with a straight neck. This means that the head, neck and spine are correctly aligned and supported. If not, it is not the pillow for you.
Types of pillows
Pillows are filled with a range of materials, each with its own characteristics:
Feathers - Creates a firm pillow and maintains a good, adjustable shape.
Down - Softer and often more expensive than normal springs, offers medium strength.
top rated cervical pillows - firm, but adapts to pressure points and shapes its shape around the head and neck.
Buckwheat - medium to firm to provide good support. Can be loud when moving at night.
Water - The strength can be easily adjusted by changing the water levels. Contours around the neck and head, but can be loud when moving the position.
Wool - medium to soft. A good thermal controller that keeps the temperature neither too hot nor too cold.
Cotton & polyester - less expensive than wool, often medium to soft in strength.
Summary
Pillows come in all shapes and sizes and vary in strength. The perfect pillow for you may not be the perfect pillow for someone else. The best thing you can do is go to a bed shop and try a few. Find a mattress with the same firmness as your own, lie down and see how it feels.
Pillows are filled with a range of materials, each with its own characteristics:
Feathers - Creates a firm pillow and maintains a good, adjustable shape.
Down - Softer and often more expensive than normal springs, offers medium strength.
top rated cervical pillows - firm, but adapts to pressure points and shapes its shape around the head and neck.
Buckwheat - medium to firm to provide good support. Can be loud when moving at night.
Water - The strength can be easily adjusted by changing the water levels. Contours around the neck and head, but can be loud when moving the position.
Wool - medium to soft. A good thermal controller that keeps the temperature neither too hot nor too cold.
Cotton & polyester - less expensive than wool, often medium to soft in strength.
Summary
Pillows come in all shapes and sizes and vary in strength. The perfect pillow for you may not be the perfect pillow for someone else. The best thing you can do is go to a bed shop and try a few. Find a mattress with the same firmness as your own, lie down and see how it feels.
Important questions when trying out a pillow are:
Does it feel pleasant, not too soft, not too firm?
Does it provide the right support for my head and neck to align my spine?
Would I like to spend eight hours in this position?
Is the temperature of the pillow good against my head?
If the answer is yes to all of these questions, congratulations, you've found your perfect pillow. 🙂
Does it provide the right support for my head and neck to align my spine?
Would I like to spend eight hours in this position?
Is the temperature of the pillow good against my head?
If the answer is yes to all of these questions, congratulations, you've found your perfect pillow. 🙂
Once you've tried a few pillows, you'll get an idea of your preferred heights, strengths, and types. You might find it useful to search popular online pillow shops like US beds where you can browse a wide range of pillows and often get a better price than traditional offline stores. Also take a look at my pillow reviews where you can find my top pick for each type of pillow along with its pros and cons to find the best pillow.