There are so many pillow options available now, and it feels like they are all claiming that they will be “the best pillow for you!” So how can you choose your perfect pillow? At Mattress Nation, we are here to help!
First things first, what is your sleeping position?
Do you sleep on your back, your side, or your stomach? Each different sleeping position has different needs.
If you are not sure of your sleeping position, studies have shown that the position you are in when you wake up is most likely the position you slept in for most of the night. Once we know your sleeping position, we can help give some suggestions for what pillows will feel best for you.
Pillows come in all different materials, shapes, and sizes. All aspects that are intended to help you find a better night's sleep.
Pillow materials:
There are many different fill materials in a pillow. Possibly the most common are what's called polyfill, which is bits of fluffy stuffing that mean that a pillow is generally very pliable. Our salesperson Laura calls this a "punchable pillow" that you can punch into whatever shape you like, cramming all the stuffing to one side or the middle to make it taller, or squishing a hole for your head to make it shorter. Not sure what we meant? For example, this kind of material is also common for decorative throw pillows.
Memory foam or Tempur-Pedic foam pillows hold their shape, but will sink in when you put your head on it. These types of pillows can have various levels of firmness, resulting in the pillow having more give, so your head sinks in more, or more resistance, so your head doesn't sink in as much.
Latex pillows are becoming more popular. If a pillow is all latex, it will not have much give. This can be really helpful for someone who is a side sleeper and needs something that will hold their head up, so they don't get a crick in their neck during the night.
Loft and shape:
The loft is the height of the pillow. Having a higher loft can be very helpful for a side sleeper with broad shoulders. It means that the pillow will fill the space between their shoulder and their neck, keeping their head supported throughout the night. For that same side sleeper, if they choose a pillow with a loft that is too low, they might wake up with a stiff neck because their head is not supported, and significantly lower than their shoulders during the night. Inversely, if a side sleeper with narrow shoulders uses a pillow with a high loft, this might be uncomfortable because it will push their head too high during the night, also resulting in a stiff neck.
A lower lower loft might also be helpful for back sleepers and belly sleepers. Pushing their head up too high during the night may result in some neck pain in the morning! The important thing is to try out the pillows and find the one that feels best for you.
You may also find some pillows have unique shapes. There are neck pillows that have a swoosh shape that is supposed to fill in the space between your neck and your head. Often these will have two different heights on the same pillow, one intended for sleeping on your side and one intent for sleeping on your back. Another shape that has gained popularity is the shoulder pillow. This pillow has a cut out in the pillow for your shoulder to sit in when you're sleeping on your side to relieve pressure on your shoulder during the night. It is great for side sleepers, and some back sleepers like it too!
So, what does this all mean for you?
Folks who sleep on their side may need something with a bit more resistance, while people who sleep on their back or belly will probably want something with a bit more give. This can help you choose your material that will work best for you.
When it comes to the loft, ask yourself: how broad are my shoulders? If you're not sure what pillow might fill the gap properly, try a few! Always make sure to try the pillow in your regular sleeping position. And if possible, try out the pillow on the mattress you're going to buy! Or one that is very similar. This will give you the best idea of how the pillow really feels on your bed.
Keep those different shapes in mind! For example, some side sleepers, like our Salesperson Laura, have shoulder issues. For her, a pillow with a shoulder cutout really helps! You can tell she loves her pillow, because she raves about it on our social media! Check out our Instagram or Facebook
There are so many different pillow options! We hope these guidelines help you choose the right one that will help you get a better night's sleep.
Come in to any of our four locations today! In Monterey, Sand City, Santa Cruz or San Jose. Because at Mattress Nation, we sleep better knowing you sleep better.