How to choose the right pillow?

The importance of the pillow

During the night the pillow allows you to support head and neck and helps keep the spine in the right position, promoting muscle relaxation and a correct breathing while you sleep. An uncomfortable pillow, too high or too low, excessively soft or, conversely, stiff, can impair sleep, worsen any breathing problems and prevent you from sleeping well.

If you do not rest properly, it is more difficult to stay focused during the day and you can feel exhausted, confused and nervous. In the long run then, lack of sleep can get you repercussions on memory, on body weight and decrease the immune defenses. Also, if the pillow does not respond to your needs, they can arise when you wake up back and neck pain, further worsening the quality of life.

In addition to evaluating the structure of the bed and the quality of the mattress, it is therefore important to choose the right pillow, that is a pillow that adapts to your way of sleeping and the position one assumes during the night. On the market there are various models of cushions, different in material, thickness, consistency and shape and therefore able to satisfy any need.

Hardness, thickness and materials

On the market there are different types of pillows that are distinguished by shape, material, texture and thickness. In order for the pillow to offer adequate support for the head and neck, it is necessary to choose a model that is neither too high nor too low, giving also pay attention to stiffness, as well as the thickness. In this way, the spinal column will remain aligned with the cervical area, favoring a good night breathing and preventing muscle tension which can lead to back pain and neck pain. In fact, if the pillow is excessively soft or not very thick, the head will be in a lower position than the spine; on the contrary, cheek pads that are too high and rigid bring the neck higher than the back.

A pillow is considered low or thin if it does not exceed ten centimeters and is defined as high when it is about fifteen centimeters thick. In the interval between 11 and 14 centimeters the cushions of medium thickness are placed. Neck and neck in line with the spine.

For what concern material, obviously this greatly influences the ability of the pillow to offer support to the neck: pillows in goose down or stuffed with soft synthetic materials, welcome the head but risk making it sink excessively, while the pillows in latex, foam and Memory Foam they adapt better to their physical conformation.

To influence the choice of the pillow then is the form. In addition to the standard model, there are in fact shaped cushions that optimally support the neck and the cervical area, generally in latex or Memory Foam. It is about anatomical pillows, comfortable for those who do not often change position during the night; if, on the other hand, you tend to move continuously while you sleep, the shaped pillows risk not offering the support for which they are designed.

Finally, those who suffer from dust mite allergies can opt for natural latex or Memory Foam pillows, two materials impervious to dust, fertile ground for the proliferation of mites.

How to choose the right pillow

Now let’s see what characteristics the pillow should have based on location taken during sleep.

For those who sleep on their side

Choosing the wrong pillow for side sleepers means you risk being tilted down or up all night. Maintaining such a position for several consecutive hours clearly involves muscle tension and possible pain upon awakening, especially in the neck but also in the shoulders and back. To adequately support the head, the pillow for side sleepers should have a medium-high thickness and rigid consistency, so it is better to choose a latex, foam or Memory Foam model, between 13 and 15 centimeters high. Those who sleep on their side can guarantee better alignment between head and back also thanks to anatomical pillows.

For those who sleep on their stomach

For those who sleep in a supine position, that is belly up, the ideal is a soft pillow, of medium thickness (11-13 centimeters), in latex or foam. A pillow with these characteristics prevents the neck from being bent forward or backward with respect to the spine and helps prevent respiratory problems such as night snoring and muscle aches.

For those who sleep on their stomach

Those who sleep on their stomachs should choose a thin and soft pillow, which avoids lifting the head excessively in relation to the neck and back. In this case, i feather pillows or, in case of allergies to mites, in latex or Memory Foam.

For those who often change their position

Many people struggle to maintain the same position throughout their sleep and are constantly moving around while sleeping. In this case it is better to choose a latex pillow, non-anatomical, soft and medium thickness.

For those suffering from neck pain

Those suffering from neck pain can find relief thanks to anatomical cushions in Memory Foam, able to offer support to the neck area. The thickness and hardness will be evaluated based on the position assumed during the night: if you sleep on your stomach, a soft and medium-thick pillow is more suitable, while those who rest on their side will opt for medium-high and rigid models.

For children

To choose the pillow for children it is always good to ask your pediatrician for advice. In general, babies and children need smaller pillows than adults and prefer soft, low and goose down pillows.

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