National Bed Month: The Right Pillow for Great Sleep

Each year, March plays host to National Bed Month. Organised by The Sleep Council, the event creates awareness around the importance of having the right bed and how it affects your quality of sleep. So, in light of this, we're beginning our set of blog posts on National Bed Month with a guide to how you choose the right pillow for you! The different options There are quite a few different types of pillow, which can make choosing one rather troublesome. There's feather, down, memory foam, cotton wool… clouds… marshmallows…?! Just kidding, but here's a handy breakdown of the four main types: Feather - they're light (as a feather, you might say), mould to the shape of your head and neck, and can often be washed in the washing machine. Down - a bit of a step up from a feather pillow, these feature goose down for extra fluffy softness. Memory foam - this provides more support for your head and neck, and is often a hit with those who suffer from pain here. Synthetic - these tend to be relatively soft and pretty inexpensive, but they don't usually last as long. If you want a good all-rounder though, this is probably the option for you. Which one is best? The right type of pillow will often depend on how you prefer to sleep. You'll need different levels of support, thickness and softness depending on whether you sleep on your front, back or side. If all three apply to you, your best bet is a synthetic pillow. This way, you can fold, crease and cuddle it as much as you like, and it'll still be comfortable. Feather pillows tend to be better if you like to sleep on your back. They don't offer much in terms of height, meaning they should keep your head in a comfortable position for sleeping this way. Those that like to sleep on their side will need a little more height to make sure they're properly supported - synthetic ones will work well here, too. If you often get a bit of an ache in your neck or back when you're sleeping, or when you wake up, you may find changing your pillow has a big impact. Memory foam provides the best support here - they can take a little getting used to, but the results are usually great. If you're not too fussed about support, but you're just after a really good-quality pillow, down will be your new best friend. Softer, less likely to poke you in the face than feather, and oh so soft, they can tug a little harder on the purse-strings, but are sure worth it. Pillow placement Where you place your pillow can also have an effect on how you sleep. If you sleep on your side in the foetal position, then it can sometimes help to have an additional pillow between your knees. If you sleep on your back, you might find it comfortable to have an extra pillow under your knees, and if you sleep on your front, putting your pillow underneath your hips can help. Happy sleeping!   Sources http://bedding.lovetoknow.com/Feather_Pillows http://bettersleep.org/mattresses-and-more/pillows/pillow-types http://www.pillowadvisor.co.uk/pillow-advice/ http://www.naturalnews.com/041274_sleeping_position_pillows_spine_support.html