Have you ever woken up with a stiff neck or sore back from sleeping on your pillow? If so, it may be time to change the old one for a new pillow. Picking the right pillow is essential because if not done correctly, you could feel worse in the morning than when you went to bed! This article will discuss picking the perfect pillow and why it’s worth investing in a good quality one.
We will go over the importance of proper spinal alignment, what features a pillow should have and which types are best for you. We’ll also talk about some of our favorite eco-friendly pillows on the market, made from quality materials without toxic chemicals like flame retardant or formaldehyde. When it’s time to buy your next pillow, here are some things to remember!
When You Should Replace a Pillow
*At least once a year, or as soon as you notice your pillow getting flat. *It’s time to buy a pillow if you’ve had it for over a year or are beginning to notice it is not comfortable. If your allergies are worse at night than during the day, it may be due to micro-organisms such as dust mites accumulating in your pillow. And last but not least, if you’re waking up with neck or shoulder pain! If this sounds like you, maybe it’s time for an upgrade.
It can be challenging to decide which type of pillow best suits your needs. There are so many different options on the market today – from filling to the shape of your cushion. Getting the right pillow for you is based on what works best for your body shape & sleep style. However, certain pillow types and materials are better than others. So don’t worry- we will let you know what you should look for in your next pillow.
Spinal Alignment
A good sleeping posture is essential to getting a good night’s sleep, as it helps align your body and prevent painful stiffness in the morning. Sleeping on your side with a good pillow reduces neck and upper back spine strain.
Proper sleep alignment ensures that our entire bodies will be rested when we wake up each day without any pain or soreness from muscle tightness after sleeping all night long. -This goes double for those tossing and often turning at bedtime because their pillow doesn’t provide enough spinal support!
A great pillow should support your head and align your spine
Proper spinal alignment is critical for waking up feeling refreshed. You should be able to rest your head on a pillow and have it support the natural curve of your neck and spine. A foam pillow is great because it can mould foam into specific shapes designed to promote spinal alignment.
Choosing A Pillow Material
A great pillow should feel comfortable and soft. Additionally, the material used in making your pillows can affect how supportive and pressure relieving it is. The most popular pillows are made from memory foam, latex, polyester fillings, feather stuffing, or other synthetic filling material – each has its pros and cons.
Down Pillows
Down pillows are the traditional choice for people looking for a new pillow. However, according to research on pillow satisfaction, down and down alternative pillows often perform the worst compared to all other pillow types. This is probably because they tend to sleep hotter than other pillows and are prone to ‘cratering,’ which results in a lack of support.
Memory Foam Pillows
Memory foam pillows are a good choice for people with neck and back pain. These pillows can provide excellent pressure relief due to their conforming nature, unlike any other pillow type. Memory foam also has its benefits, such as being mouldable into specific shapes that are more supportive than a standard pillow.
However, memory foam is known to off-gas VOCs – volatile organic compounds that are not healthy for you to be sleeping on. There is also the issue of memory foam becoming hot over time. While this can make it difficult to sleep, there is also the concern that VOCs are released from the foam faster when it’s hot. So for people concerned about chemical off-gassing, it’s best not to sleep on this type of pillow.
Natural Latex Foam Pillows
Latex foam pillows are an up-and-coming staple in many homes and hotels. Latex Foam pillows are perfect for those who want something supportive yet comfortable to help them get great sleep all night long. They also have many of the same qualities that people love about memory foam pillows.
Like memory foam, natural latex foam is pressure-relieving, supportive, and can be molded into specific shapes. As a chiropractor and designer, I love natural latex foam because it allows me to design great pillows without many people’s chemical concerns with petroleum-based foams.
Natural latex is also hypoallergenic and resistant to mould or mildew growth.
Your Pillow Cover Matters
If you prefer a cool pillow, the cover significantly impacts the temperature. Pillow covers are usually made from cotton, silk, or synthetic materials. The right cover can help your body regulate heat and stay cool at night.
As a general rule, natural fibers are better at wicking away moisture and regulating temperature, while synthetic fibres are cheaper and more durable.
One of the main benefits of having a pillow cover is that it helps prolong your pillow’s life span, which can be pretty expensive. Pillow covers also help with allergies, preventing dust mites from residing in your pillows or clothes at night.
It is often recommended that you use an eco-friendly fabric because these fabrics do not emit harmful fumes, irritate the skin like other materials and have a low environmental impact. They also work well for asthma, eczema, or sensitive skin due to hypoallergenic properties.
Tencel is a new and popular fibre used in pillow covers known for its ability to absorb moisture and regulate temperature while also being incredibly eco-friendly. It’s also softer silk, sleeps cooler than linen, and is around ten times more eco-friendly than cotton. The process of creating Tencel recently won The European sustainability award for eco-friendliness.
Pillow durability
With a life expectancy of around five years, natural latex is the most durable type of pillow. Being hypoallergenic and resistant to fungus and bacteria accumulation makes it ideal for people with allergies.
Natural Latex pillows are incredibly long-lasting and have many benefits, including being hypoallergenic, anti-bacterial (a common cause for allergic reactions), easy to clean, and mould. This is great because the foam is durable and long-lasting, and the material is sterile to micro-organisms, which can accumulate in most pillow types over time.
Conclusion
I hope this article helped you understand what you need to know about buying a new pillow. It is important to note that there are many pillow materials and types, meaning there is no one size fits all when searching for a great pillow. However, there are some features and materials you should look for that everyone can benefit from when they purchase their next pillow.
