Good quality sleep is essential for optimal mental and physical health. Nothing can overstate the importance of a comfortable pillow for a good night’s sleep. Pillows come in different materials, sizes, and comfort levels. If you aren’t using the right one now, it can interrupt your sleep cycles and prevent your body from getting adequate rest.
You will be doing your body a favour by buying the right pillow. With this guide, you will get all the facts to make an informed choice. Following are some buying considerations.
Material
When picking a pillow, the material is the primary consideration. However, the choice of material depends on one’s personal preferences and needs.
Memory foam: Whether you sleep on your back, side, or stomach, a memory foam pillow can be a comfortable choice as the material contours the body perfectly.
Polyester: Polyester pillows are low-quality and tend to lose shape quickly. So, you must be mindful of changing it at the right time.
Gel: A gel pillow combines gel and another material to create the right amount of firmness.
Cotton: Cotton is the most versatile material and works for almost everybody. The fabric is breathable and hypoallergenic but requires regular cleaning.
Feather: Feathers make for an extremely fluffy and soft pillow. The material is very supportive but requires regular maintenance to maintain its plushness.
Size
You can get pillows in a variety of sizes. A standard-size pillow works well for most sleepers. However, if you move a lot in your sleep, you can go up in size. Also, a standard pillow may not do justice to the aesthetics if you have a king-size bed. In that case, you can also increase the size.
Typically, a standard-size pillow is 20×26 inches, a king-size pillow is 20×36 inches, and a queen-size pillow is 20×30 inches.
Firmness
The firmness of a pillow depends on one’s sleeping position. If you’re a side sleeper, you need a fuller pillow that will make up for the gap between the bed and your shoulder blades and upper back. It will also keep your neck and spine aligned to prevent any strain. For back sleepers, a flatter pillow will be better as the gap is smaller because of the curve of shoulder blades and upper back. A thin pillows will do perfectly if you sleep on your stomach, which can maintain the natural curve of your neck.
Mattress type
While considering various factors when buying a pillows, don’t forget that you need to have the right mattress. A thin pillows can work well with a soft mattress allowing your body to sink within, creating less gap between the mattress and your head. On the other hand, firmer mattresses may prevent the body from sinking within, creating a large gap between it and the neck. In that case, you would need a fuller pillows.
Care label
Check the care label to make sure whether the pillows can be washed or not. While most are suitable for machine washes in a cold setting, some labels indicate that only the cover is washable. If you’re allergic to dust mites, you must wash the pillows in hot water once a month. Also, it is best to change your pillows once every two years.
A humble pillows is an essential everyday object, and you cannot make any wrong choices. In addition to buying, it is equally important to realise when it requires replacement. If you find your pillows saggy or lumpy, you know it’s time to get a new one.