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Pillows are one of the most critical aspects of your sleep environment. They provide comfort and stability and are designed to cater to different sleeping styles. If you’re going to invest the money to optimize your sleep you should start with buying a high quality pillow.
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What type of pillow should I buy?
There are a few different materials that pillows are made out of. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of the most common:
- Down – These are the fluffiest type of pillow, but also the most expensive. If you like fluffy pillows, this is great for you but if you’re on a budget you may want to look elsewhere.
- Synthetic fill – Some pillows are designed with a synthetic fill that is designed to mimic the feeling of an authentic down pillow. They provide a similar level of comfort but without the sticker shock. If you enjoy the feeling of sleeping on a down pillow but don’t want the shell out the cash, going synthetic is a great alternative.
- Memory foam – These pillows tend to be more firm and thicker than other types. They are designed to conform to the shape of your head. Memory foam pillows tend to be hit or miss. Some people love them and others hate them.
- Gel – Gel pillows feel very similar to memory foam. In fact, most manufacturers don’t make their pillows 100% out of gel but instead add it as a layer over a more common filling material (most commonly memory foam). Gel pillows provide cooling properties, which is extremely important since lowering your body temperature is one of the best ways to get high quality sleep.
Sleeping position matters
There are three different sleeping positions: side, back, and stomach. Did you know that the different positions require different pillows?
Side sleepers
Side sleepers should use a firm or extra-firm pillow to maintain proper alignment of the curve of your neck and head at the height that is most comfortable for side sleepers (approximately 4 inches off the mattress). We recommend that most side sleepers use a memory foam pillow since it doesn’t flatten as quickly as a down or polyester pillow.
Back sleepers
Back sleepers should use medium-firm pillows with a down, memory foam, or latex foam filling. The pillow should be medium-loft (loft is the height of the pillow).
Snoring is very common among back sleepers since gravity can cause your tongue to fall into the back of your mouth. If you’re a snoring back sleeper, you may want to stack two or three memory foam pillows on top of each other so that your head is propped up at an angle.
Stomach sleepers
Stomach sleepers should use a thin, low-loft pillow. Down, polyester, and thin foam are the materials that we recommend for stomach sleepers. Firm pillows with a high loft are going to give you a sore neck because they interfere with the proper alignment of your neck.
