Pillows are sleep’s best friend. You cannot think of sleeping without thinking of that soft comforting pillow to rest your head-on. Not too long ago before the era of countless variety, it was easy to choose a pillow. Now there have too many types of pillows vying for your attention. In this world of new-age marketing and endless variety, you will find a type of pillow for your every need. Here’s the complete guide to help you catch up to all the variety available in the market and choosing the right one for yourself from them.

How do Pillows Affect Your Sleep?

Your pillow has the potential to decide on your sleep quality. The perfect pillow will enhance your sleep but a wrong one will ensure you spend a sleepless restless night. And yet people seldom think about their pillows when thinking of their sleep gear. Good pillows ensure good sleeping posture which in turn ensures good quality sleep. A good posture is where the body is aligned from knees to head and neck. Pillows help by propping the neck to support this alignment. If your neck is not optimally supported, it will cause discomfort and strain to your shoulders and back as well causing sleeplessness. Keep in mind that different types of pillows offer different kinds of support.

The Shapes, Sizes, and Types of Pillows Out There

The retail market is flooded with a wide variety of pillows. You will find a pillow for every intention and circumstance. You want a pillow to warm you while you sleep? You got it. Want a pillow to help you sleep on the side? No problem. You say the word and the market has it all ready for you. And then add the options offered by the pillow materials and fillings and you have your “zzz’s” covered. To get you started on your pillow education here is a list of the most common types of pillows present in the market:

• Feather Pillow: The feathers used are small and curled. They act as a natural spring offering cushioned comfort, support, and conformability. It flattens easily and is not recommended if you have allergies.
• Down Pillow: They are the softest kind of pillows. Made from the down feathers they are fluffy, soft, and cozy but do not give any support. You can sink your head on these. Again not recommended for those prone to allergies according to Asthma and Allergy Foundation.
• Memory Foam Pillow: The most popular with the health fraternity. They are made of memory foam that remembers you all night long. It will conform to your shape and size and adjust with each changing position to offer the optimal support to the head, neck, and shoulders. Not very comfortable for stomach sleepers.
• Buckwheat Pillow: These are the hard pillows and are made from husks of the buckwheat seeds. They offer firm support and are hypoallergenic. They are noisy and heavier than other options.
• Sleep Apnea Pillows: They are made of polyester fiberfill or foam and support the tubes and cords of the CPAP machine for those diagnosed with sleep apnea.
• Microbead Pillow: They are made of polystyrene beads and are supportive and malleable. They sustain airflow and breathability. Most travel pillows are microbead pillows.
• Wedge Pillow: They support various parts of the body and are triangular. Made of foam and polyester fiber, they help ease acid reflux, provide relief from varicose veins and are a great help in pregnancy.

Apart from these, there are body part specific pillows also that focus on providing support to that particular area like:

• Lumbar pillow
• Neck pillow
• Body pillow

Then we have the shapes and sizes like:

• King
• Queen
• Standard
• European
• Body

Does your Sleep Position Affect the Kind of Pillow You Need?

Without any doubt “Yes”. The position in which you sleep matters to the types of pillows you should use. There are general guidelines that can help you with this:

• Back Sleeper: You would benefit the most with a thin pillow rather than a fluffy one. What you should be looking for is firm support to the head to keep the neck and shoulders aligned. Memory foam would be most suitable. Another trick would be wedging a pillow under your knees to alleviate the pressure on the lower back.
• Side Sleeper: You should go for a firm pillow to bridge the gap between shoulders, neck, and ear. Also, you should consider wedging a pillow between your knees for optimal comfort.
• Stomach Sleeper: You need to use the thinnest possible pillow. Stomach sleeping is the worst posture since it puts immense pressure on the lower back. An alternative is to sleep on the side leaning on a body pillow.

Also by adjusting pillows properly, you can achieve the best alignment for your head, neck, and shoulders.

When Should You Replace Your Pillow?

You need to replace and clean your pillow for improved sleep and hygiene. As a rule, you should replace your pillows every 18 months. You can also use the “fold your pillow” test to see if it needs to be replaced. To test the pillow fold, it and if it springs back then your pillow still has some weeks on it and if it doesn’t then it’s time to go pillow shopping.

Best Pillow Guide – How to Choose the Best Type For Yourself?

When it comes to choosing a pillow it’s easier said than done. Pillows matter to your health making it imperative to choose the best pillow. With all the types of pillows available you can easily get confused. Some helpful factors you should keep in mind for that optimal pillow are:

• The sort of fill and fiber used
• The fill weight, quality, and size
• Shape and design
• Fabric used
• If it’s antimicrobial and hypoallergenic

Question Answer Round

Some basic questions that would pop into your head at this point would be:

• What Is The Finest Kind Of Pillow: There is no finest kind. It depends on your preference.
• The Best Material for A Pillow: Again there is no one-word answer for this. The answer is dependent on your preference. But by far people prefer memory foam and recycled memory foam. Next on the list is organic cotton and recycled cotton.
• What Is in A Pillow?: After reading on the importance of pillows you will wonder what exactly is in the pillow. To answer pillows are made up of a lot of different types of materials like down, feather, buckwheat, memory foam, polyester filling, and microbeads.
• What Are Long Pillows?: Long pillows are “bolsters”. They are narrow, long cushions and generally made up of cotton, down or fiber. They are not the usual pillows and will have a zip or hook clasp.

Given the sheer number of different types of pillows available to you don’t rush into buying the perfect pillow. Take the time to understand your wants and needs. You want to buy a pillow that is specific to your needs and not the perfect one in the market.