Importance of the right pillow

You spent hours researching the best mattress. One that supports you, has good reviews, is affordable, and will last you for years to come. So now you just use the same pillow you’ve had for years that’s flat and has barely any life in it, right? Wrong! Your pillow’s job is to support you in your favorite go-to sleeping position. The right pillow should keep your head, neck, and spine all in neutral alignment and should support the natural curve of your spine. If you wake up with neck pain, sore shoulders, or feel a lot of pressure when you sleep then you probably need a new pillow. When you’re selecting your pillow you need to think about how you sleep. If you sleep on your stomach, you don’t want a pillow made for back sleepers since it won’t support you the same as a pillow made for stomach sleepers. So, how do you choose the right pillow? Let’s take a look at what type of pillow is best for your sleep type.

Back sleepers need a pillow with medium thickness (loft) to help relieve pressure in their neck and shoulders. You don’t want a pillow that’s too hard or too soft. You really are looking for the Goldielocks of pillows. Having a pillow with 3 to 5 inches of thickness will hold your head and neck in place instead of allowing the head to sink all the way down to the mattress.

Side sleepers will want a pillow with a high loft to keep their spine neutral and promote healthy posture as they sleep. Not only will the higher loft keep your head in neutral alignment with your spine, but it will also relieve pressure in the shoulder so it’s not supporting the majority of your body’s weight. If you feel like your shoulder is digging into your mattress, your pillow might not be lofty enough. You also want your pillow to be firm so you stay supported all night. However, you want your pillow to also be shapeable to allow one arm beneath the pillow. Using down, down-alternatives, or other fluffy and shapeable fillers that still have firm support is best.

Stomach sleepers want a low loft pillow of 2 inches or shorter. If you have a pillow with too high a loft it will cause your head to tilt upwards causing neck and back pain in the morning. Soft supportive pillows are best for people who sleep on their stomachs. If you have a pillow that’s filled with compressible fill, like feathers, you can have a higher loft since it will compress to below 2 inches of loft. These pillows are also extremely shapeable which makes it easy for stomach sleepers to hug the underside of their pillow rather than lie with their arms down to their side.

There are a few people out there who are combination sleepers. You might sleep on your side one night, but then your stomach the next night. What pillow should you choose? You want to find a pillow that can be fluffed into a high loft for the nights you sleep on your side but can also compress down on nights you sleep on your stomach. Using a pillow that has an adjustable fill makes it easy for you to customize the support you need. 

Having the right pillow can help you get a good night’s sleep and feel more rested in the mornings. If you’re looking for a new pillow based on how you sleep we can help you! Stop by one of our locations, or shop online today to give your head, shoulders, and spine the support they deserve for your best sleep ever.