A properly selected pillow is the key to healthy sleep. It should provide a person with a comfortable position of the head and neck, which affects the blood supply to the brain.

How to choose a pillow for sleeping
How to choose a pillow for sleeping?

What types of pillows are there?

The variety of pillows produced by manufacturers can confuse any person when choosing them. An error in it causes discomfort during sleep and can cause many diseases. A person's prolonged uncomfortable position during sleep causes him pain. The vertebrae shift, blood circulation is disrupted.

Pillows come in different types
Pillows come in different types

The most popular are orthopedic and anatomical pillows. The first are used for therapeutic and preventive purposes. They are recommended for sleeping for people with pain in the cervical spine. The correct position of the neck and head during sleep is ensured by them due to their special shape. As fillers The most commonly used materials in these pillows are: polyurethane, latex and memory foam.

Note! The material of anatomical pillows is of great importance. During sleep, it adjusts to the shape of the body. Such products have a memory effect. One of the main advantages of anatomical pillows is their ability to relieve fatigue and tension in the neck muscles during sleep. When choosing them, you need to consider the position in which a person prefers to sleep.
Anatomical pillow MICASA Cielo
Anatomical pillow MICASA Cielo

Pillows from modern manufacturers are produced with different fillers. Their properties and quality must be taken into account when choosing.

According to the filler, pillows are divided into::

Natural (wool, down, feather). Products may cause allergies.

Vegetable (natural or artificial fibers of bamboo, grass, eucalyptus, husk, seaweed, etc.). The products wick away moisture well, but can cause allergies.

Volumetric artificial hypoallergenic (ecofiber, holofiber, silicone fiber). Products dry quickly and do not retain moisture.

Combined (in addition to the main filler, they have an orthopedic or atomic insert).

Pillows for sleeping
Pillows for sleeping

Separately, manufacturers produce pillows for children and adults.

Selection criteria

When buying pillows, you need to consider all their characteristics. Their choice depends on various factors. The main ones are the anatomical features of a person and his age.

Shape, size, height

The standard form of pillows is considered to be square and rectangular, and the dimensions 70x70 cm and 50x70 cm. It is for these sizes that manufacturers produce pillowcases. The most comfortable for sleeping are considered to be pillows measuring 50x70 cm. They better fix the cervical spine and are less expensive.

In addition to the length and width of the products, their shape is also important for healthy sleep. height. For people who like to sleep on their side, high pillows are best. Their height should correspond to the length measured from the base of the neck to the shoulder joint. The optimal height of pillows for people who sleep on their backs is 8-10 cm.

This is important! Stomach sleepers should use flat pillows that are up to 8 cm high most of the night.

Rigidity

Insufficient rigidity of pillow fillers causes numbness of the shoulders, pain in the neck and snoring. The most rigid pillows are recommended for people with serious problems with the spine and who like to sleep on their side. People who like to rest on their stomachs are better off using soft products. Those who sleep on their backs need to buy pillows with medium rigidity.

Fillers

Not all fillers are able to provide the necessary head support for healthy sleep. This is the main thing to remember when buying pillows. People with spine problems should pay attention to pillows with buckwheat husk filling. It rustles when moving, but this minus is compensated by other important advantages of the products. Among them are durability and the ability to adjust the height of the products.

Pillow with buckwheat husks
Pillow with buckwheat husks
Note! The products help to normalize the blood supply to the brain. They relieve muscle tension. This allows a person to relax and fall into a deep sleep. In summer, pillows with buckwheat husk filling do not overheat. It is easy to breathe on them during sleep. What is important: the products do not lose their original properties for a long time.

Recover quickly from deformation down and feather pillows. They keep a person warm, which is important for sleeping in winter. It is quite comfortable to sleep on the products, but they collect a lot of dust. They are often infested with mites. Such pillows require constant care. They cannot be used for sleeping by people with allergies and asthmatics. A big disadvantage of the products is their short life. They need to be changed once every 2 years.

Pillows with do not have a long service life either. with fillings made from sheep and camel wool. Such filler quickly rolls into lumps and can cause allergies. Wool is an excellent breeding ground for dust mites and moths. Good bactericidal properties and elasticity are possessed by bamboo fiberIt is lightweight, but over time the material becomes compacted.

Bamboo pillows
Bamboo pillows

Good performance characteristics cotton thread. They are breathable, but quickly deform. This prevents them from providing the necessary support for the neck and head during sleep. An alternative to them can be pillows with a silk thread filler. They are hypoallergenic, elastic, lightweight, hold their shape well, but are expensive.

Healthy sleep is ensured by pillows with fillings made of latex and foam with memory effect. These are modern materials with good performance characteristics, and they are both hypoallergenic. Pillows with them have enough rigidity to support the head and neck during sleep. The downside of products with memory foam filling is poor ventilation.

The cheapest offer in the trade is pillows with synthetic padding.

They are easy to wash, which is a plus. They are soft, do not cause allergies, but are not durable and do not have good rigidity.

Pillows for children

With the appearance of a child in the house, the question arises about what is best to put under his head. Newborns are better to sleep without her. You can place a soft diaper folded several times or a pillow no thicker than 3 cm under the baby’s head.

Does a child need a pillow?
Does a child need a pillow?
For your information! Children can sleep on a pillow from the age of 3. Its thickness should not exceed 10 cm. Teenagers are allowed to sleep on thicker products. The best pillow fillers for children are: silk, memory foam and latex.

Beauty pillows

Cosmetologists claim that these products prevent wrinkles from forming on a person's face during sleep. The recommendations for their use apply to people who like to sleep on their side and stomach. There are holes cut out for the cheeks on the sides of the pillows. The effectiveness of the products has not been scientifically proven, but they have found their consumer and are in steady demand.

Orthopedic pillow Beauty Balance TENSEL for sleep wrinkles and morning puffiness
Orthopedic pillow Beauty Balance TENSEL for sleep wrinkles and morning puffiness

Rollers

The products are an alternative to anatomical pillows. During sleep, they are placed under the head. The advantage of the products is their ability to maintain the curve of the neck and the ability to place it under the lower back. Long bolsters of various shapes are recommended for use by pregnant women for sleeping. By placing them under the head, neck, legs, stomach or lower back, you can choose the most comfortable sleeping position.

Bolster pillow
Bolster pillow

The best fillers for such rollers are holofiber and polystyrene foam balls.

Questions and Answers

What are the signs that indicate it is time to change your pillow?

The main symptoms are headache after sleep, tension in the muscles of the neck and shoulders. Such pillows should be discarded, regardless of their state of wear.

How often should you change your pillows to ensure a good night's sleep?

The replacement of pillows that provide normal sleep depends on the degree of their wear, contamination and type of filler. It is better to change them every 2 years.

How long can down pillows last?

It is better to use a down pillow for no more than 2.5 years.

How often should you replace pillows with synthetic fillings?

Do pillows with synthetic fillings need to be changed every three years?

What kind of filler is Comfortel?

Comforel are fluffy balls made of synthetic fibers. Pillows filled with them do not cause allergies, are easy to wash and keep their shape well.

Video tips for choosing a pillow