4 Tips On How To Choose The Right Pillow

Sleeping on the wrong pillow can have a negative effect on your sleep as well as your neck, shoulders and back. You will wake up feeling lousy, both mentally and physically. The wrong pillow can intensify headaches, neck and back pain, shoulder and arm numbness, discomfort, sneezing, and wheezing. That’s quite a list. For this reason, it’s extremely important to choose the right pillow for your situation. The question is, however, how exactly do you know which pillow is right for you? This depends on various factors, such as sleeping position, your movement in the night, the preferred filling, price range and quality. Can you no longer see the wood for the trees? No worries, we’ve got you covered. In this blog, we will give you four tips on how to choose the best pillow.

Know How You Sleep

The most important factor when choosing a new pillow is your sleeping position. That is why it’s important to know how you sleep. We all turn around in our sleep, but your primary sleeping position is most important as this will be how you lay for most of the night. Choosing the right pillow is about achieving a good sleep posture. It’s important that your pillow supports your head in a way that it will stay in natural alignment with your spine. If you have a larger frame or broad shoulders, you will need a firmer pillow than someone petite or with narrow shoulders, as it’s the pillow’s job to fill the gap between the mattress and your head. 

Back sleepers are recommended to use a pillow that supports your neck and head, without propping your head up in an uncomfortable position. You're aiming for your spine and neck to stay aligned during the night. That’s why a medium to soft pillow is best for back sleepers. 

Do you sleep on your side? For this position, it’s important as well to keep your spine and neck naturally aligned. That will create the most natural sleeping position. A medium to firm pillow is recommended so it can lift some pressure off your shoulder, where most weight is placed when you’re a side sleeper.

For those who are sleeping on their stomachs, you’ve officially chosen the worst sleeping position for your body. Sleep experts advise against sleeping on your stomach, as this position is the most stressful on your neck and back. Changing your sleeping habits is difficult so if sleeping on your stomach is inevitable, we highly recommend using a soft, less full pillow. 

Choose the Ideal Filling

In combination with your sleeping position and personal preference, you can choose the filling for your pillow. At The Fine Bedding Company, you can choose between a fibre-filled, specialist or natural filling. A fibre-filled pillow is ideal when you suffer from allergies, as this filling is non-allergenic. It’s also best for people who want to keep their bedding clean. Make sure you buy good quality fibre, as cheaper pillows and duvets will clump after a wash. Are you struggling with neck or back issues? Then we recommend specialist filling that can offer more structured support. If you prefer the softness of natural filling, a pillow with feathers as the filling is your best fit. Natural pillows such as the Goose Down Surround Pillow tend to offer less support, so these are great for stomach or back sleepers. 

Use Quality Material That Will Last

Every 24 hours, you spend at least six to eight hours with your head on a pillow. On average, we spend 32 years of our entire life sleeping. If there’s one thing you shouldn’t be saving your money on, it’s a pillow. When you find that perfect pillow you will want it to last, but unfortunately cheaper pillows will lose their support quickly especially after washing. Better quality materials such as cotton and siliconized fibres such as Smartfil© will be resistant to regular use and washing meaning that perfect pillow will continue helping you sleep well for years to come.

Change Your Pillow in Time

How long have you had your current pillow? Let me guess, that might be a couple of years? The general rule of thumb is that a pillow should be replaced every one to two years. Or sooner, when you notice that your pillow is no longer offering you the support you need. Repeated washing and sweat from the body will cause a pillow to lose its support. The cheaper the filling, the quicker this will happen. By choosing quality pillows, you will be able to extend their lifespan. You can expand your pillow’s lifespan by using a pillow protector to keep the pillow clean, hygienic and fresh.