How to choose a pillow - The sleep doctor (2023)

FAQs

How do I choose the right pillow to sleep on? ›

Pillow Size Matters: Find the Right Size for You

These factors include: Your sleeping position – How you sleep can affect which pillow size is best for you. Side sleepers may prefer a thicker soft pillow, while back and stomach sleepers might be more comfortable with thinner pillows that reduce neck strain.

Oz Good Life Stay The Night Premium Fill Pillow, Standard (Pack of 1), White.

Chiropractors often recommend pillows made from memory foam or latex. These materials mold to your body and provide gentle support. You may also want to consider a pillow with a built-in neck roll. This can help keep your spine aligned while you sleep.

The notch above the sternum is called the suprasternal notch. These two areas should be level when lying on your side. If the philtrum is lying higher than the suprasternal notch then your pillow is too high. If the philtrum is lying lower than the suprasternal notch then your pillow is too low.

If you sleep on your back a majority of the time, you're better off buying a pillow with a low profile. This ensures your neck doesn't get bent at a bad angle. However, if you sleep mostly on your side, you'll require a medium or even large profile pillow.

Chosen for Oprah's Favorite Things List, the Jetsetter Mini is always ready for takeoff! The compact, neck-hugging design provides luxury and comfort without taking up your whole carry on bag.

Memory foam conforms to your body, providing support and pressure relief. Orthopaedic mattresses are firm and provide support for your spine. An orthopaedic mattress may be a better choice if you suffer from joint pain. However, memory foam may be a better option if you want a softer mattress and relief back pain.

If you're a side sleeper or back sleeper who needs extra neck support and shoulder pressure relief, a curved pillow like this one by Scrumptious can help you achieve pain-free alignment.

Silk pillows are loved by celebrities like Kim Kardashian-West, Chrissy Teigen, Khloe, Kourtney, Jessica Alba and lots more, it'll take just one night for you to fall in love with our silk pillow slips. We know you'll fall in love with the way silk makes you feel.

Memory foam can be considered the best pillow filling available. Memory foam pillows are a moderate price while offering high-quality comfort and support. Memory foam pillows often come in one block of material, shaped to accommodate the head and the neck.

What are Housewife pillows? ›

Ever wondered what the difference is between Oxford and Housewife pillowcases? There's only one small difference between the two types of pillowcases - Housewife pillowcases have a sewn edge, which fits neatly around the pillow, whilst Oxford pillowcases have a fabric border around the edge. It's as simple as that!

Your head and neck should lie comfortably on the pillow to ensure that the spine is elongated. Like the back sleep position, your shoulders should fall just beneath the pillow and rest comfortably on the surface of the bed.

You have probably slept in a hotel thinking what makes these pillows so fluffy. In most cases in luxury hotels, hotel pillows are filled with down or a mix of down and feathers.

Body size and preference are likely to influence pillow size, but usually the pillow should maintain a height of 4 to 6 inches to support the head and neck (and shoulders when lying on the back).

The best sleeping positions for the neck are on your back or your side. The back in particular is recommended; just make sure to use a pillow that supports the curvature of your neck and a flatter pillow to cushion your head.

Side Sleepers – If you sleep on your side, you can expect sweet dreams when using a medium-density pillow between five and seven inches in height. These are considered mid or high loft pillows. Side sleepers require the highest pillows to maintain a neutral spine.

If the height of the pillow is too high when sleeping sideways or on the back, the neck is bent abnormally forward or to the side, causing muscle strain on the back of the neck and shoulders.

Disney's pillows are made by Sobel Westex, so that's where we would suggest you start! Many of the Disney hotels use the Dolce Notte II model, but you can browse through the different options they offer to select the size, materials, and firmness you prefer.

Down is generally seen as the luxurious filling choice for pillows, which is why luxury hotels will tend to supply down hotel pillows. The most common type is goose down pillows, although duck down pillows are also a potentially cheaper alternative.

Do chiropractors recommend memory foam? ›

It has more to do with the material and firmness than specific brands. For example, several chiropractors agree that memory foam mattresses can be a desirable choice for people with back pain due to their ability to contour with your body, relieving unnecessary pressure.

High-quality memory foam mattresses 10 to 14-inch thick are good enough to provide body-conforming support. They are durable and can last around 10 to 15 years. Memory foam mattresses thinner than this may not be supportive or durable enough, developing soft spots and sags within three to four years.

Memory foam molds to your body and provides pressure relief, alleviating joint and back pain. It aligns with the natural curvature of your spine offering better support. Spring mattresses are not able to uniformly support the body, causing damage to pressure-points.

Try a memory foam or hybrid pillow – These are usually the best for your neck. They allow your cervical spine to maintain a neutral position, and they last longer than a standard pillow.

Best neck-support pillow for side sleepers

Water pillows are “perfect for any type of sleep position and many are chiropractor-approved, as the firmness provides the support for head, neck, and spine alignment that will help individuals with chronic pain,” explains McGinn.

For the 70 percent of us who sleep on our sides, firm pillows work best to ensure proper neck and head alignment. The pillow should be no more than 4 inches from the mattress and have foam or latex filling to keep its shape.

All guestrooms and suites showcase custom-made Italian bedding by Bellino along with each guest's preference from the signature Trump Pillow Menu.

Sweat. We all sweat at night, and over time sweat can seep through your pillowcase and onto your pillow. Eventually, this will cause your pillow to yellow. Sweat stains are the most common reason for pillow yellowing.

Mulberry Park Silks: Recognized by O, The Oprah Magazine

Mulberry Park Silks' 19 momme pillowcase was recognized by O, The Oprah Magazine, in an article titled "The Best Silk Pillowcases for Healthier Hair and Skin."

Solid Memory Foam: Solid memory foam is one of the best fill materials for side sleepers because it provides substantial support and structure. A memory foam pillow will maintain its shape well, so your neck and spine will remain in alignment even under the weight of your head.

What is the safest pillow filling? ›

Wool or Cotton Fillers

Wool and cotton pillows are hypoallergenic and resist dust mites, mold and bacteria, so you don't have to worry about unwanted reactions, such as rashes, itchiness or breathing troubles.

A latex pillow feels immediately softer to the touch than the best memory foam pillow. Thus it is considered the best pillow for neck pain. It is a superb choice for people who like how memory foam feels, but not its initial firmness.

Often referred to interchangeably as a sham, pillow sham, or bed sham, these pillow covers turn traditional-sized pillows into decorations for your bed. While similar to a normal pillowcase, they often have a more decorative front and an opening in the back rather than the end.

Luna is home to the world's first silver ionised Mulberry Silk beauty pillow. Perfectly Shaped. Memory Foam Support. Luna's carefully chosen adaptive memory foam base. and orthopedically designed shape offer support regardless of how you prefer to sleep.

At 80 centimeters square (31 by 31 inches), the traditional German pillow—often filled with feathers or down—is about half Ms. Grady's 5-foot-1-inch height. A standard-size U.S. pillow is 20 by 26 inches. Linda O'Grady on an organized tour of Berlin in a bed on wheels—with traditional pillows—in 2015.

Holding your neck in an awkward position for long periods of time can lead to muscle spasms and strains in the neck and shoulder. Some of the most common postures that can provoke neck and shoulder pain include: Sleeping on a pillow that is too high or too flat. Grinding or clenching your teeth through the night.

In most cases, a sore neck in the morning results from your sleeping position, the type of pillow you use, or other sleep issues. It could also be related to an underlying condition like an injury or osteoarthritis. Waking up with a sore neck is not how you want to start your day.

Organic wool and down are produced with improved animal welfare compared to traditional means. Whether they're made of buckwheat, latex, wool, cotton, or other organic materials, organic pillows represent a choice that's better for you and the planet.

MEDIUM density: This is the most common level for most people. It usually is the best starting point for most. If you are a back or side sleeper this is going to be most ideal for you. Some stomach sleepers might find this is also okay for them as well.

Why flat pillows are better? ›

The flatter the pillow, the less angled your head and neck. Put a pillow under your pelvis. This will help keep your back in a more neutral position and take pressure off your spine.

You may feel better and sleep better with a neck pillow. It's sometimes called a cervical pillow because the upper part of your backbone (where your neck is) is called the cervical spine. Research suggests that a pillow with good cervical support can help relieve neck pain and improve rest.

Back Sleepers – If you get your shuteye on your back, consider a pillow between four and five inches in height. These mid-loft pillows can help you keep your head in the clouds and in line with your spine all night long.

The rule of thumb for a proper pillow is that it should keep your neck parallel to the mattress, rather than bent down or up.

The best sleeping position for is on your side with a pillow or blanket between the knees. Side sleeping can also relieve symptoms for those with neck or back pain. Choose a pillow with a loft, or thickness, that matches the distance between your neck and your shoulder.

A 2019 study published in Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, showed among 165 participants (45 with diagnosed neurodegenerative disease, 120 controls) a supine sleep position (on back, head at body level) for more than 2 hours per night increased the risk of dementia by almost four times (3.7 times greater).

The worst sleep position: On your stomach

“This position puts the most pressure on your spine's muscles and joints because it flattens the natural curve of your spine,” he says. “Sleeping on your stomach also forces you to turn your neck, which can cause neck and upper back pain.”

The best sleeping positions for the neck are on your back or your side. The back in particular is recommended; just make sure to use a pillow that supports the curvature of your neck and a flatter pillow to cushion your head.

A 2020 study discovered that latex and memory foam are the best pillow materials for neck pain. This is because these materials provide neck support, which can improve sleep quality.

Research suggests that sleeping naked may potentially positively impact reproductive health, connection with a partner, and self-esteem. Currently, there isn't much scientific research studying the effects of sleeping nude, or reliable data on what percentage of people in the U.S. sleep naked.

What type of pillow is best for back pain? ›

Lumbar Support

There's evidence that many types of back pain come from an unhealthy curve in the spine. Pillows that offer "lumbar" support" -- meaning those that you place only against the lower part of your back -- may help maintain the right shape to your spine. This can help some people treat their pain.

To stay comfortably aligned, most side-sleepers should look for a pillow that has 4 to 6 inches of loft, or height, and provides the right combination of softness (to cradle the neck) and firmness (to hold it in place).

Your neck should remain at a 90 degree angle from the line of your shoulder (as depicted above).

Causes of a stiff neck

Causes include sleeping in an awkward position (yes, this includes stomach sleeping) or tossing and turning throughout the night. Pillows are common culprits, whether you use too many or one that offers little to no support. Sometimes, though, your neck was tightening up before you hit the hay.