Pillow Buying Guide

How to choose

A good quality, supportive pillow is essential for a good night’s sleep and this is often forgotten until back or neck ache sets in.  The aim should always be to keep the spine in natural alignment so, the amount of support required from your pillow will depend on the position you sleep in.

Side Sleepers: A firm pillow will give the height and support needed to keep the head and neck in proper alignment

Back Sleepers: A medium pillow should be adequate to give the gentle support needed. It is important to avoid lifting the head up too much and pushing it forward.

Front Sleepers: If you lie on your stomach a soft pillow is generally best to reduce strain on the neck.

 

Fillings

This choice will largely be down to personal preference and budget.

A natural filling can be feather or down or a mixture of both. Pure down will produce a very soft, springy pillow. This will be very luxurious but not suitable for someone looking for firm neck support. A percentage of feather will give a pillow more weight and support. A core pillow gives the best of both worlds with an inner core containing more feathers than down and an outer layer with more down and less feathers.

If you are an allergy sufferer or think pillow may need frequent cleaning (eg. In a child’s room) then a synthetic filling may be more suitable. Recent years have seen fibre development using recycled plastics to create light and fluffy fillings that won’t clump together and are designed to mimic the  properties of down. Anti-allergenic, they are particularly suitable for those who suffer with allergies and can be washed easily.

Care

We all perspire through the head a great deal when sleeping  so it is well worth using a pillow protector or under pillowcases that can be washed easily and frequently