Pillows

Pillows Related Information:

People spend nearly one third of their lives sleeping but still fail to understand the significance of using a good pillow. The perfect pillow for you will help to support your head, shoulders, and back to give you a good nights rest. The pillow is very versatile and can be placed not just under our heads but also behind the back, under the feet or to support the stomach. Just ask a pregnant woman to know how useful a pillow really is.

It is very important to choose the right pillow else people can get problems such as neck pain, shoulder pain, and even backaches by using the wrong pillow for them. Here is a guide to selecting a pillow:

Size: Choose the size depending on your bed size and also your personal preference. Pillows are generally available in standard and king sizes but you may get some in queen size. It may be better to buy 2 or 3 smaller pillows than a big one if you need it for purposes other than sleeping.

Individual Sleep Patterns: A pillow should fita person’s distinctive body contours and shape and also support an individual’s sleeping position.If you are a stomach sleeper then you need a soft pillow which will not create a lot of space between you and the bed. If you are a back sleeper then you need a firm and flat pillow which will help to keep your spine straight. Side sleepers require pillows which are higher and have more fill to provide a raised surface for better neck placement.

Firmness: The firmness of a pillow will depend on the density of its filling. Back sleepers need firm pillows as opposed to soft ones for stomach sleepers. However firm a pillow you buy, keep in mind that it will lose its firmness with use over the years.

Filling: Many types of filling are used for pillows. Go for a down filling if you want a soft pillow or latex filling if you need a firm pillow.

Types of pillows:

There are many different types of pillows depending on their filling. Some of these are:

Down pillows: These have a down filling and are the ultimate in softness. Hypodown is the better variety in down pillows. It lasts longer than regular down pillows but is also more expensive.

Cotton pillows: Cotton is a natural fiber which ‘breathes’. Cotton pillows are ideal for people who have allergies as they dry out easily and quickly and do not provide ideal conditions for dust mites. Cotton tends to settle and compress quickly, so cotton pillows are best for people who want flatter and soft pillows.

Latex pillows: Latex is a rigid material, so pillows made from latex are very firm and do not adjust automatically with movements. But they are perfect to support your back and neck. Latex pillows last for years and are good for people with allergies. These are definitely not meant for people who love to squish their pillows.

Primaloft pillows: Primaloft is a synthetic material. Primaloft pillows are soft pillows and are not very expensive. They can easily be scrunched and made into a ball. The only bad thing being that they do not last very long.

Wool pillows: Wool, being a natural material, is inhospitable to dust mites. Wool pillows are very firm pillows and practically last forever. It is not a fluffy pillow.

Alpaca pillows: These pillows are not very known. They are made of 70% alpaca and 30% wool. They have all the advantages of a wool pillow but are noticeably softer.

A good pillow is very essential for proper sleep and to support the body nicely. Do not hesitate to change your pillow if it has lost its shape and loft. It will certainly be worth the trouble and cost.