Are All Pillows The Same? How To Choose The Best One?

Pillows, beds, duvet’s, bedsheets. Don’t they all rhyme in with a good night’s sleep? There’s nothing like a comfortable mattress with a warm duvet, soft breathable bedsheets and a plush pillow to rest your head on, after a long day. Apart from the aesthetic beauty of a bed and its components, each item has a functional use that’s critical to good night sleep. While everybody knows the importance of a good mattress, very less is said about the importance of a pillow. In fact, it is common for some mattress brands to package a ‘buy one get one free’ offer wherein you buy a mattress and get to take the pillow home for free. 

But is this advisable? Does one size really fit all?

 

Pillows: An Essential

The first historical account of a pillow was as early as 7000 BC. They were considered as a status symbol indicating affluence. However, in today’s world, it’s become an absolute necessity for its aesthetic and functional aspect. The latter being more important, a pillow offers support to the entire body. It serves as a supporting prop to the head, neck, shoulders, hips and spine, thereby maintaining our body’s natural ‘S’ curve shape. Keeping the upper body aligned reduces pain from pressure points, allowing seamless blood flow through to the lower spine. This means you get to enjoy sleep minus tosses and turns!

Are all Pillows the Same?

Pillow preferences are unique to individual needs too. For example, picking the best pillows for side sleepers doesn’t have the same purpose as those who like to sleep face down. Each position requires a pillow that will support the sleeper in his/her natural position.  Another key parameter is the height and weight of the person along with the purpose of the pillow. Keeping these in mind, there are many pillows available in the market. The common ones available are:

• Feather pillows: These are comfortable, soft, fluffy and as the name suggests, use feathers that are small and curled. Feathers are known to be natures natural ‘spring’ with the strength of carbon fibre. These have an average performance when it comes to relieving neck pains. A major disadvantage is that the feather quills may poke out the pillow cover causing discomfort.
• Down pillows: Similar to feather pillows, these are pillows stuffed with goose down making it the softest, fluffy and light option. Down comes from a bird’s undercoat and so is slightly a better option than feather pillows in terms of no quills poking! 
• Memory foam pillows: Probably one of the best options available in the pillow section. Memory foam as a stuffing takes the shape of the sleeper’s position. This makes it the best support for the neck, shoulders and head to rest on. Popular sleep brands like Wakefit specialize and swear by Memory foam for its cloud-like feel while offering adequate support and spinal alignment, no matter what kind of sleeper you are. 

• Neck pillows: Apt during travel, the travel neck pillows offer the perfect shoulder to sleep on while seated upright! These come in different fillings including microbeads, moulded memory foam etc. 
• Body pillows: These are often known to be the best friend of every pregnant woman! Body pillows are long, approximately 54 inches, that can place between legs for lower back support- especially the hips. 
• Back Support pillows: Probably the most underrated pillow of the lot. Back support pillows are a lifesaver for anyone who spends long hours on a seat working or driving.  These come in memory foam to offer ergonomic support.

 

Choose the Best Pillow

Here are some of the factors to consider when picking a pillow:

 

• Softness levels and size: Synthetic or plant-based, stuffing really matters. Overstuffing can make the pillow hard while soft can make it lack in support. The ideal pillow should be medium-hard to provide optimal comfort and support while fitting your head.
• Specific to needs: Whether you suffer from allergies or sleep apnea, it is important to pick a pillow that doesn’t trigger your worst enemies! A wise choice would be to choose hypoallergenic memory foam pillows online that do not hide allergens. 
• Sleep position: Your sleep position matters the most when picking the right pillow. Different sleep positions require different levels of support for the head to be aligned with the rest of the body. For example, if you are a face down sleeper, a flat pillow is best recommended to support this position. Side sleepers, on the other hand, should go for a loftier pillow to bridge the gap between the neck and head.
• Temperature control: Are you someone who feels rushes of hot and cold in bed? Pick a memory foam or polyester filling pillow to keep your head at a comfortable temperature. 

Pillows are a great companion, choose them wisely and say goodbye to a restless nightcap.