Choose the Perfect Pillow to Sleep Better Every Night
Do you ever get out of bed feeling like you lost an MMA fight despite never stepping foot in a ring? You may need a better pillow to sleep with if the answer is yes.
Choosing the perfect pillow can make a considerable change to the quality of your rest. The right pillow reduces aches and pains, helping you sleep like a baby every night.
Sleeping flat on a mattress feels about as comfortable as cuddling a cactus. Pillows provide support for the shoulders, neck, and head, keeping them well-aligned with your spine.
Read on to discover the factors involved in deciding on the perfect pillow for you.
The importance of finding the right pillow to sleep with
Proper spinal alignment is an integral part of staying strong and healthy. What if we told you the right pillow could help you maintain a posture so good that your chair will ask for tips?
Keeping your back straight while awake isn’t the only way to maintain good posture. Pillows provide support for the shoulders, neck, and head and align your spine.
Picking the wrong pillow can cause strain on your head and neck. It may misalign your neck, which could affect your sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle. In the long run, this causes issues with flexibility.
Pillows that don’t offer sufficient support can impact your deep neck flexors. Injury can lead to pain and imbalance. A low-quality pillow also makes getting comfortable a challenge. Over time, it leads to unhealthy sleeping positions.
Finding the right pillow to sleep with helps you rest soundly every night. It creates the ultimate snug-as-a-bug environment. Optimal neck support promotes good posture and a solid night’s rest.
Your sleep quality has a significant impact on your health. A good night’s rest improves immune functions and your body’s ability to heal from injury or disease.
Studies show quality sleep can even reduce the likelihood of developing illnesses, like cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and cancer.
Factors to consider when choosing a pillow
Choosing the perfect pillow isn’t always easy. There are many factors to consider when searching for a slumber sponge to improve your sleep.
Firmness
The firmness of your pillow has a substantial influence on your comfort, spinal posture, and sleep quality.
The key feature of pillow firmness is how well it supports your neck, head, and spine. You’ll wake up with a stiff neck if it’s too firm. An ultra-soft option may be comfy at first, but it causes discomfort or strain with prolonged use.
When your pillow has the right level of firmness, it keeps your neck aligned with your spine. Good support leads to good posture, which reduces soreness and stiffness.
You may be asking yourself how to identify which firmness is best for spinal alignment. The answer lies in your sleeping position. The various styles you sleep in influence your firmness needs.
Stomach sleepers prefer a lighter, more malleable pillow. Side snoozers benefit from a medium to heavy-density pillow. Back sleepers typically favor the squishy sweet spot of medium firmness.
When you consider firmness, you shouldn’t forget about your comfort. A firm pillow offers better resistance to the weight of your head, but it’s pointless if it won’t get you to Dreamland.
Loft
Loft refers to the thickness of your pillow. It directly influences the amount of support offered to your neck and head. The wrong degree of height leads to neck or back pain.
Like firmness, the correct loft depends on your sleeping position. Stomach sleepers require shorter options to prevent straining their neck. Side snoozers need a loftier pillow for shoulder support. Back sleepers rest easier using a medium height that reduces spinal misalignment.
Loft also affects your breathing while you sleep. A pillow with the correct height ensures your airways stay open. It reduces snoring or breathing difficulties like sleep apnea.
People with allergies can benefit from pillows that offer adjustable lofts. Adjustable pillows help reduce exposure to allergens by making it easier to keep clean. You can remove the different parts and wash them individually to reduce the buildup of dust and bacteria.
Pillow height drastically affects your sleep quality. Your personal preference plays a role here. You may prefer the supportive feeling of a higher loft or the squishier sensation of a lower one.
Remember material compatibility when considering the ideal loft. Some fillings, like memory foam, lose volume over time under the weight of your head.
Material
When picking a pillow, the material it contains is one of the most important factors to consider. It has a significant effect on your quality of sleep, determining both firmness and loftiness.
The material inside your pillow also influences your body’s temperature regulation while you dream. When your body is cooler, so is your sleep.
Pillows with breathable materials help lower your body temperature. Feeling cooler reduces your chance of night sweats.
People with allergies or sensitivities need to exercise caution when picking pillow materials. Some fillings carry potential allergens, like dust mites or fungal spores. A hypoallergenic silk pillowcase can prevent exposure to these irritants.
Shape
Pillows come in many shapes. That’s because form affects comfort, sleep quality, and posture.
The best pillow to sleep with supports your spine’s natural curvature. The right shape helps reduce muscle strain. It also prevents pain or stiffness from interrupting your dreams.
Different shapes are suitable for various sleeping styles. A thick pillow that fills the space between your head and shoulders may be more comfortable for a side sleeper. A back sleeper may prefer a flatter option for better alignment.
The right pillow shape can provide you with better quality sleep, as it helps keep your airways open.
Pillow shapes range from the traditional rectangular style to contoured, body, or wedge. They all offer distinct advantages to a restful sleep.
Certain pillows are better for head and neck support, such as contoured and wedge. Some are ideal for lower back and knee support, like bolster or round pillows. Traditional pillows are more versatile but aren’t suitable for all sleeping positions.
An adjustable pillow, like the 3-in-1 Sleepgram pillow, is suitable for all sleep styles. Change its shape by adding or removing the inserts. Doing this creates ideal support for your neck, head, and shoulders.
The shape of your pillow also influences your comfort. A wedge may prevent snoring, but it’s useless if you aren’t snoozing like a log in a lumber yard. Finding a design that suits you best will offer the most restful sleep.
Understanding your sleeping position
Understanding your sleeping position is key when choosing the perfect pillow to sleep better every night.
The position you sleep in directly influences the alignment of your spine. It determines the level of support your neck, head, and shoulder need for a restful slumber.
Knowing your sleep style helps you decide on features like loft, firmness, shape, and material. Here’s a breakdown of the different sleep styles and their needs.
- Back sleepersrequire a pillow that supports the spine’s natural curvature. You need a marshmallow-like firmness for spinal alignment. You’ll benefit from a material that molds to the shape of your head and neck without getting flatter over time.
- Side sleepersneed a pillow that’s lofty and filled with firm materials. Dense fillings offer greater support for your head and shoulders. You’ll benefit from an adjustable pillow like the Sleepgram 3-in-1 that lets you make modifications for your comfort.
- Stomach sleepersrequire a pillow that’s as soft and thin as feathers. You’ll benefit from using an adjustable pillow. It allows you to customize height and firmness for your comfort. A lower pillow ensures adequate support while reducing strain.
Exploring different types of pillows
There are almost as many pillows in existence as there are stars in the sky. The most commonly used options include latex, adjustable, memory foam, down, and synthetic.
Here’s an overview of the most popular types and their benefits.
- Memory foam: Provides personalized support and alignment. It molds to your head and neck, which helps reduce shoulder and neck pain and decrease pressure points. It also avoids disturbances from movement while asleep.
- Down: Made using the inner feathers of geese or ducks. It provides a plush softness and natural airflow. It contours your head and neck while being breathable and comfortable.
- Latex: A hypoallergenic pillow that offers long-term support, comfort, and breathability. It molds to the shape of your head and neck, allowing adequate spinal alignment.
- Adjustable: Like Sleepgram’s 3-in-1 pillow, it offers customization of firmness and loft. It creates the perfect level of comfort and support. The malleable nature promotes good posture, reduces pain, and is suitable for various sleeping styles.
- Feather: Offer softness and flexibility. They’re lightweight and breathable. They’re also perfect for stomach sleepers who need a thin, moldable pillow.
- Synthetic: Have hypoallergenic properties like resistance to mold and dust mites. They’re easy to clean and offer consistent support. These features lead to a comfortable and restful sleep.
- Buckwheat hulls: Provide natural support, longevity, and breathability. They contour well with your neck and head while maintaining a firm feel. They’re also a great hypoallergenic option.
The versatility of adjustable pillows
Adjustable pillows offer amazing customization options. They allow you to change the firmness and loft to suit your needs. You can alter them to avoid issues like snoring or instability that causes neck pain.
The Sleepgram 3-in-1 adjustable pillow can be tailored to your sleep style. You can remove filling to set the ideal level of support.
The customization of adjustable pillows helps develop your spinal alignment. Changing the loft and firmness aids in reducing pain, pressure points, and discomfort. It ensures you get a good night’s sleep every day.
The role of personal sleep needs and preferences
Your sleep needs and preferences play an important role in the quality of your slumber. Everyone requires a certain amount of time with the Sandman. You also benefit from a comfortable and clean environment.
Studies show that most people need 7–8 hours of sleep to feel well-rested. While some individuals feel better with less, you may become impaired with fewer than 5 hours.
Sleep timing is also an important factor for your circadian balance. To ensure you have a full and uninterrupted rest, you need to know your chronotype.
Morning chronotypes are naturally early birds, while evening chronotypes are night owls. Aligning your sleep schedule with your circadian preference improves your quality of slumber.
Your slumber setup also affects your sleep quality. Factors like temperature, light, and noise have the most significant influence. Sleepgram’s bamboo sheets are three degrees cooler than cotton, helping hot sleepers rest more comfortably.
Consider any sleeping disorders when searching for the perfect pillow to sleep with. An adjustable pillow can reduce issues like sleep apnea or cervical spine pain, but it’s no cure-all.
Testing and adjusting your pillow choice
Choosing the perfect pillow can be a lengthy process. It requires a fair amount of trial and error.
Take the following steps when testing for the perfect pillow.
- Step 1: Start with a pillow that matches your sleeping style. It must also accommodate any issues you need to have addressed.
- Step 2: Make use of trial periods. For example, Sleepgram offers a 100-day money-back guarantee. Take advantage of the time to assess how it feels and if it improves the quality of your sleep.
- Step 3: Try making adjustments if the pillow isn’t meeting your sleep needs. Modify the height, shape, or firmness if possible. You can also experiment with different materials in the pillow.
Remember that the search for your perfect pillow is highly personal. Your sleeping position and preferences are likely vastly different from everyone else.
How to care for and maintain your pillow
Taking care of your pillow is essential to preserving its quality and cleanliness.
Caring for your pillow and keeping it clean improves its lifespan. It also enhances the quality of sleep it provides. It reduces the chances of issues like allergies, skin irritation, and breathing problems.
Maintaining your pillow also helps you sleep better by making it more durable. Long-term support and structure ensure you have consistent comfort.
There are many ways to maintain and care for your pillow. Here are the primary methods to bear in mind.
- Use a pillow protector to shield it from potential allergens, sweat, and oils.
- Follow the manufacturer’s directions for washing (typically every 3–6 months).
- Wash your pillow covers regularly. Sleepgram’s cotton pillowcasesare machine washable, making cleaning a breeze.
- Ensure your pillow dries thoroughly in the sun or with a tumble drier to prevent mildew and mold.
- Fluff your pillow often to keep its loft and shape. Punch, shake, or knead to keep the filling evenly distributed and plush. Start a pillow fight for the best results.
- Regularly rotate or flip your pillow to help even out wear and tear and improve its durability.
- When your pillow reaches its second year (third if it’s latex), its time has come, and you need to replace it.
Try the Sleepgram 3-in-1 pillow to sleep soundly
Your sleep quality and health are the most important considerations when finding the perfect pillow to sleep better every night.
The right pillow can improve your sleep quality. It provides support and comfort, which reduces neck, back, and shoulder pain.
Choosing the right pillow involves a decent amount of trial and error, but it doesn’t have to be challenging. The main thing it needs to do is to provide support and have you sleeping like a baby.
Say goodbye to restless nights with Sleepgram’s 3-in-1 Adjustable Pillow Multipack. It’s the perfect example of a pillow that ticks all the boxes. Don’t believe us? Ask the thousands of happy customers who agree.