Types of Bed Pillows to Help You Achieve Quality Sleep
For a good night’s rest, the focus is often placed on the mattress and bedroom environment. Yet, your pillow is also an important consideration. Regardless of your sleep position (back, side, or stomach), the type, size, support and cushioning of a sleeping pillow contributes to your overall sleep experience.
Choosing the right pillow is a highly personal decision. The key is to determine which pillow type facilitates a good night's rest for you. Perhaps you've slept on quality, feathered hotel pillows with excellent support. Or, you prefer the feel of specific pillow material.
The following overview of different pillow options will help you choose the best pillow to help you sleep soundly and wake refreshed.
TYPES OF BED PILLOWS
Memory Foam Pillows
These are made from polyurethane and other chemical. With their increased density and viscosity, memory foam pillows enable a sleeper’s head and neck to contour to the pillow shape. At the same time, heat and pressure produced by the body cause the memory foam to change its shape.
Advantages
Disadvantages
For more information on memory foam, click here: Learn About Memory Foam for Bedding.
Other Synthetic Foam Pillows
These are made from different types of foam material, which are in chuck form or in pieces.
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Disadvantages
Latex Pillows
These are made from latex rubber that has been harvested from tropical rubber trees. Latex is a material known for its natural, medicinal qualities.
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Disadvantages
Down Pillows
These are cushiony pillows made from the down feathers of water fowl. Popular with stomach sleepers, down pillows are soft and keep the head and neck from turning.
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Disadvantages
Down/Feather Mix Pillows
These are similar to down pillows, though they offer drawbacks not found in down-filled styles.
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Disadvantages
Buckwheat Pillows
These are made from buckwheat hulls. Before the hulls are placed in pillowcases, they must be properly processed. To remove dust that may have accumulated from the growing fields, the hulls are carefully roasted. Once contained in the pillow, hulls help sleepers by contouring to their weight and shape.
Advantages
Disadvantages
SPECIALTY PILLOWS
According to the different desires and needs of sleepers, bedding manufacturers produce a variety of specialty-type bed pillows, as well. These pillows provide support for various sleep positions. Here are three popular styles.
PILLOW SELECTION AND REPLACEMENT TIPS
To find the right pillow, consider these three factors.
Therefore, you may want to try out different types of bed pillows, until you find the one that best suits you.
In addition, recognize the signs when it is time to replace an existing bed pillow. No matter how much you enjoy your current pillow, replace it when it begins to lose its fundamental shape or support. A test for this is to fold the pillow in half. If it does not spring back into shape after being folded, it's time for a new one.
SLEEPING PILLOW SIZES
Although price is always a consideration, keep in mind the importance of selecting a pillow that will make you comfortable and sleep well. The alignment of your neck and spine should be straight during sleep, so pillow selection is also a matter of health. For a good night’s sleep, make your pillow selection carefully. Your body will thank you.
How to Care for Bed Pillows
Goose Down Pillows
Bamboo Pillows
Buckwheat Pillows
Snore Pillows
Sleep Apnea Pillows
Memory Foam Pillows
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