Five Top Tips on Choosing the Right Pillow

Pillows might not figure high on your list of things to replace, purchase or otherwise invest much time, effort of money into, but perhaps they should. After all, aside from old, flat or poor quality preventing a restful night’s sleep, opting for the wrong pillow or pillows could even cause or worsen neck or back pain. Hence, and with people spending an estimated third of their lives in bed, it is prudent to plump for the ones, and here is how.

Know Your Stuff(ing)

Not all pillows are made the same, or even equal, so it makes sense to know your options. At the very least, the four options you should be aware of are down, feather, synthetic fill and microfibre.

Downs feather pillows are, of the four options, the plumpest and the fluffiest, shortly followed by feather pillows which are often somewhat more firm and almost always a less expensive option. Then, for the best in volume and price, opting for a pillow or pillows filled with a combination of down and feather is often best. Alternatively though, synthetic pillows are cheaper yet, but as such tend to need replacing more regularly and become flat far quicker. Lastly, microfibre pillows are the newest type out there and provide a supreme level of support and will mould themselves to accommodate your needs.

Sleep Position

The position in which a person most often sleeps should go in some way to determine the pillow(s) they choose to invest in. That is, different types of pillows are better suited to different types of sleepers. With that in mind, here’s how to get the right pillow(s) to accommodate each type of sleeper.

Side sleepers should look to for a pillow which is thick and firm to offer a good level of support for their head and avoid cricking their neck or sleeping with their head in an unnatural position. Those who sleep on their stomachs meanwhile require the opposite; whilst many advise stomach sleepers to do away with pillows altogether, a flattish pillow can be used to offer support and comfort. Lastly, those who sleep on their backs require a pillow which is neither too plump nor too flat in order to support the head and help align the spine.

Age

So often bedding and pillow guides speak about the age of your bedding. It is just as important though to take into account the age of the sleeper.

Babies and children under twelve months old, for example, should sleep without any pillow whatsoever. Above this age, a pillow can be introduced and may provide comfort and support, but should always be one chosen for its softness.

Children are not quite yet fully formed human beings; then, it is important to take this into consideration when providing pillows for them to use. Their necks, shoulders and bodies are smaller and as such a soft, easily yielding pillow should be implemented to provide support and comfort but which will not strain their small necks.

For more information and some handy tips on getting toddler and child bedding right, the Parent Guide website provides an invaluable source of information.

Allergies

If you are experiencing regular allergies or often wake with a stuffy nose, puffy face or the itches, investing in a new pillow, though surprising perhaps, might just prove the cure.

Firstly, avoid feather pillows and down pillows. For allergy sufferers, hollow fibre and micro fibre pillows are by far the best option. Because there are numerous pillows sold containing these synthetic stuffings, look specifically for a pillow which states it is of the ‘non-allergenic’ variety.

That said, if the idea of turning to synthetic pillows causes nightmares in itself, there is an alternative; consider investing in a silk blend pillow. Whilst a totally natural product, silk also happens to be a fantastic pillow stuffing as it is lightweight, hypo-allergenic and can be very easily freshened up by simply being aired outside or even put on a cool wash cycle.

Make a Change

Lastly, be aware that when things change in your life, it might be time to change your pillow(s) too.

That is, if you gain or lose weight, suffer an injury or illness which causes chronic or long-term pain or requires changing the way you posture yourself or sleep position, it is time to consider a new pillow. As such, it is equally important to re-evaluate the pillows you use as you age. After all, we all change how we dress, lives, eat, sleep and go about life as we get older, so why would we then not too update our bedding alongside our wardrobes?

Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post.