How pillows provide a good night’s sleep

A comfortable, supportive pillow can make all the difference for a good night’s sleep. The wrong pillow – too hard, too soft, too thick, too thin – can cause a restless, wakeful night and a grumpy next morning.

When it comes to nights of sleeplessness, it can be faster and more effective for you to change the things you can control; how hot/cold your bedroom is, how much light enters your bedroom, and even the quality of your bed itself. In this instance, your pillow could be the difference between a good night’s sleep and a bad night’s sleep.

So what’s important in a pillow and how do you find one that’s best for a good night’s sleep?

Sleeping position

Pillows help to keep your spine properly aligned while you sleep. Misalignment caused by inadequate head and neck support can lead to headaches and tension in the shoulders, back and neck. Your pillow should provide good support in your preferred sleeping position.

The right pillow for you

When choosing the right pillow for you requires a few questions to be answered: Are you most comfortable on your back, your front or your side? Which position makes it easiest for you to fall asleep? How are you usually lying when you wake up?

Front sleeper: Choose a fairly flat, soft pillow.

Back sleeper: Choose a medium pillow – it shouldn’t be so high that it pushes your head forward.

Side sleeper: Choose a thicker, firmer pillow that supports your neck.

Fillings

Down, wool, cotton, latex, memory foam… there are lots of pillow-filling options nowadays.

Down: Soft, breathable and long-lasting. Synthetic down is available for people who prefer not to use animal products, but it tends to be less durable and somewhat less comfortable.

Wool and cotton: Resistant to mould and dust mites. This makes wool and cotton a good choice for people with asthma and allergies. They provide firm support and help the body to maintain a stable temperature.

Latex: Hypoallergenic and is also resistant to mould and mites. It’s the firmest option for a pillow, making it ideal for people who need good neck and shoulder support. Latex is very responsive to pressure but it bounces back to its original shape almost instantly.

Memory foam: Long-lasting, supportive and responsive to pressure. However, it takes a little while to adjust, making it less suitable for people who move around a lot when they sleep.

Specialty pillows

Sometimes, a standard pillow isn’t enough when it comes to sleep apnea sufferers. That’s especially true for people who use a CPAP machine to manage their sleep disorder. It can be hard to sleep and maintain an effective seal when your mask is rubbing against your pillow.

There are tips for a good night’s sleep with a CPAP machine, but sometimes you may just need the right pillow.

Sleep apnea pillows exist to provide comfortable position for those who wear a CPAP mask to bed. The feature elements like adjustable height settings and two sleeping surfaces and is specially shaped to accommodate a CPAP mask and tubing.

We sell a such a pillow [pictured above]. Check out the CPAP Pillow for Side Sleepers.

Invest in your sleep

High-quality materials, advanced design and manufacturing processes mean that good pillows can be expensive.

When you wake up refreshed and relaxed, you’ll be glad you invested in choosing the right pillow for you.