Pillows – from Anti Snore to Orthopedic

Along with your mattress, pillows are probably the most important things that will assist in giving you a good nights sleep. So if you’re looking for a pillow to make you comfortable in your pregnancy, or a gel pillow to keep your head cool, or maybe even a massage pillow. We’d like to think that we’d be able to help.

The Best Pillow for Side Sleepers

Doctors agree that sleeping on your side is the healthiest position for your spine. However, that’s only the case if your body is properly supported by the right pillows in the right places.

If you try to picture how your body looks when you lie down on a bed, you’ll see that the slope of your neck, between your shoulders and head, creates a significant hollow space if you’re lying flat. That hollow space equals strain and pain for your neck muscles, since they’re not being supported from underneath.

The solution, obviously, is a pillow, but it’s important to choose the right pillow. Ideally, side sleepers should aim for a pillow that is dense, firm, and correctly sized and firm enough to support the neck so that it lies in a straight line with the rest of the body. A soft down pillow or something similar that doesn’t hold its shape won’t eliminate the hollow space problem, and a pillow that’s firm but not the correct size may cause the opposite problem by pushing your neck up so that it’s higher than your shoulders and head.

Many doctors also say that keeping a smaller, firm pillow between your knees is an excellent idea for side sleepers.

The good news is that side sleeping is the most common position, and so there are plenty of pillow options available.

To learn more about what’s available and how to choose the right pillows for your needs, click here for the full article and buyers’ guide.

Memory Foam Pillows

The best pillow for every sleeper is one that’s firm enough to provide good support, yet still flexible enough to mold specifically to each individual’s body. With that in mind, the popularity of memory foam pillows makes a lot of sense.

Memory foam is the name given to a specific type of polyurethane first created by NASA, most commonly known by consumers in the form of both pillows and mattresses. While it’s firm and dense, what makes it unique is the fact that it responds to the warmth of body heat by becoming softer. This allows it to mold to your body, creating what amounts to a custom fit. The foam also regains its original shape after weight and heat are removed, meaning the pillow adjusts to various sleepers–and sleeping positions–night after night.

Memory foam pillows are favorites among doctors and chiropractors for plenty of reasons. Along with the individualized support they provide, they also help the body by redistributing weight evenly, reducing pressure on specific points. What’s more, since pain points of the body tend to run warmer due to increased blood flow, the pillows become even more mold-able and responsive on areas that need it most.

Choosing a memory foam pillow is a great investment in your future sleep. For more information, click here for the full article and our buyers’ guide.

The Best Pillows for Neck Pain

Finding the best pillow for neck pain can be a challenge. There are a lot of options available, each designed to meet specific needs. Understanding how a pillow can help ease neck discomfort is key to finding the right one for your needs.

Whether you sleep on your back, your side, or your stomach, your neck and head combine to create an angle that isn’t in line with the rest of your upper body and your shoulders. Thus, pillows meant to help with neck pain are all designed with the same concept in mind: they provide extra support where your neck angles up away from the bed, and they typically have a deep depressed area where your head angles back down again.

Within the broad category of this type of orthopedic pillow, of course, there are lots of options meant to help with neck pain caused by unhealthy sleeping positions. From mold-able memory foam or roll-shaped cervical pillows, to water-filled pillows that shift with your movement to give extra support, there’s sure to be a pillow that’ll ease your particular neck problems.

Choosing the Right Anti Snore Pillows

The first thing you should do is check what sleeping position the pillow recommends. The majority of these pillows suggest sleeping on the sides, although pillows for back sleepers are also available. Before you buy, check the pillow design and make sure the pillow is designed in such a way that your neck and head are cradled, allowing your shoulders to align. A good anti snore pillow also lifts your chin up from your chest, opening up your airways.

Anti snore pillows come in standard and extra large sizes, and the weight ranges from 3 to 4 lbs. The covers should be removable for easy cleaning, and most importantly the pillows should allow you to sleep in a natural position, as research shows this is the best way to minimize snoring.

Some of these pillows have removable multi-level support pads, ideal if you like your head to rest at a particular height. Furthermore, the pillow should be memory foam because it is comfortable and durable at the same time. Although different variants are available, it’s best to go with a standard pillow case so it’s easier to maintain.

It should be stressed however, that memory foam pillow densities vary, with some firmer than others. As far as density goes it’s a matter of personal preference, but one thing most will agree is that the anti snore pillow has to be hypoallergenic.

Picking the Best Pillows for Back Sleepers

The ideal head pillows for back sleepers (we specify head here as many back sleepers use a leg pillow) are the medium density types as they provide just the right amount of comfort and support as you sleep during the night. In addition, medium density pillows keep your body weight aligned and balanced. If you have any other concerns regarding back alignment, place a pillow below your knees when you go to sleep.

A medium density pillow isn’t enough however, as the pillow must not be too thick because it will draw your head up and give you a stiff neck in the morning. As far as material goes, memory foam is the most popular choice nowadays because it doesn’t absorb particles and dust the way other materials do. Second, memory foam has ventilation that keeps the pillow cooler while providing better circulation.

As pointed out above, memory foam can be quite firm and not suitable for everyone. However, softer foam is now available, and you can always go for polyester and other materials. Goose down and other natural fills are the most comfortable and durable, but they’re also expensive.

Regardless which material you prefer, get a pillow encasement so the pillow will last longer. If you’ve never bought an anti snore pillow before, you should spend some time researching on the Internet to get an idea of what to buy. All anti snore pillows will claim they’re the best, so read product reviews first.

Reading in Bed? What’s the Best Reading Pillow to Choose?

The primary consideration is support especially if you’re going to spend some time sitting on the bed with a pillow behind your back. The reading pillow needs to be durable so it can withstand the pressure of your back as you recline. Of course it’s nice to have a comfortable pillow cushioning your back, but it shouldn’t be too soft that you sink into it.

When it comes to thickness and softness, it always comes down to personal choices, although if you suffer from back problems you should get a medium firm pillow so your spine receives adequate support. It is here that balance will be crucial because it will spell the difference between a sore back and comfortable reading.

Since you’ll be using the same pillow when you go to sleep, make sure that it holds your head in the right height over the mattress, with the height determined by how you sleep. Pillows do this by combining firmness and loft (how fluffy, flat, thick or thin the pillow is), and this determines how much the pillow compresses when you put your head on it.

In other words, some pillows might be very firm but not too lofty, while others might be vice versa. Generally speaking though, a quality pillow has variable firmness to accommodate various sleeping styles and a medium loft so it is comfortable and soft.

Getting the Best Pillow to Support Your Back

There are a lot of different pillows that provide back support and relief from pain, and one of the best is the curved pillow. They’re comfortable enough to be used for sleeping and they’re most suited for side sleepers as the curved part provides neck and head support. Because the pillow keeps your head and neck in a neutral position, there’s immediate relief from pain.

Ergonomic pillows are recommended for those with back pain, and one of the better options is a lumbar wedge pillow. Due to its design you can put a lumbar wedge pillow between yourself and your desk chair, ideal if you spend hours sitting behind a desk. If you’re suffering from back pain or recovering from an injury, a large wedge pillow is recommended. It should be stressed though that these pillows aren’t just sitting as they’re also ideal for use during sleep.

If you toss and turn a lot while sleeping, a sloping lumbar pillow is ideal, and they also make it easier to get up in the morning. Now if you’re suffering from pinched nerves in the back, put a large pillow under your feet as you lie in bed. Finally, stomach sleepers will get relief by sleeping on facedown u-shaped pillows where the small cut functions as a cradle for your face. Although the shape is unusual, these u-shaped pillows are widely available online.

Choosing the best latex pillow for a side sleeper

Picking the appropriate latex side sleeper pillow is an important task for a consumer. While you may be tempted to purchase the first pillow at hand, you need to ask yourself several important questions and research your various options. This pillow may be the difference between a good night’s sleep followed by a productive day or a night spent tossing and turning, fluffing and reshaping your pillow as you try to find the perfect support for your body. Your choice in the right latex  pillow may seem unimportant in the grand scheme, but the ability for your body to receive superior sleep in order to function at its optimal setting each morning may depend upon your choice of pillow.

While firmness, ability to cool, and size of your pillow is a personal preference, you need to ensure your choice of pillow will provide you with everything you need to have a great night’s sleep while providing your spine and back with the support it needs. Price points are always a concern for consumers, but remember that this pillow will be used on a daily basis throughout your life. While there are many latex side sleeper pillows on the market and the options may seem overwhelming, we hope we have helped illuminate the various options and issues that are important to you, as the buyer, and that you may go on to find the perfect pillow. After all, the perfect latex side sleeper pillow should lead to the perfect night’s sleep.