What Is Considered a Good Pillow?

Pillows are not just about comfort and luxury. They also play a crucial role in our health, particularly our complex body structures, namely our spine, head, hips, shoulders, and neck.

Therefore, it is a must to own and use good pillows, especially for preventing injuries and illnesses like joint pain. Having good pillows also ensures good upper body alignment even when one sleeps.

So that you can know more about what makes a good pillow, we wrote this article to give some pointers. You can also check out the best pillow for sore necks in Australia.

Qualities of a Good Pillow

With a good pillow, your body will enjoy proper relief of pressure points. A good pillow will also be an excellent fit for your body’s shape, regardless of its unique curves and the position you employ when you sleep.

When looking for a pillow, look out for the specific qualities enumerated below.

1. A good pillow has a height of 4 to 6 inches.

While we have our individual preferences pertinent to pillow size, the optimal pillow should still maintain a height of 4 to 6 inches. This sizing is for good neck and head support, including one’s shoulders, whenever we have to lay on our backs.

After all, pillows with at least 4 inches already offer the user good spinal alignment and comfort. The right pillow height also leads to minimal muscle activity, suitable for overall joint health.

Moreover, having a pillow too high for you will only cause muscle strain. It can even lead to more severe problems such as obstructed breathing, air pipe narrowing, and snoring.

2. A good pillow has appropriate fillings and material.

The best pillows are those that use polypropylene capsules as fillings. Memory foam is also a good material; it is usually hypoallergenic and ideal for combatting allergies and asthma.

Others also suggest having pillows with shredded memory foam compared to having only one piece of it so that one avoids the memory foam’s tendency to absorb body heat. Using shredded memory foam also leads to improved breathability.

When it comes to material, choose pillows that use natural latex, organic cotton, or cellulosic fibers – especially if your skin is sensitive. These are all-natural, and it is best to go with them, especially if you want to avoid breakouts caused by pillows.

If you need absorbent pillows, you have the choice of buying ones that use bamboo, Tencel, or Polyester. These types of pillows are helpful, especially if you sweat at night.

You also can buy a pillow with cooling properties if you prefer to have one. Some pillows come with cooling gel pads found on one side of the pillow.

3. A good pillow is suitable for one’s preferred sleeping position.

You can find pillows aligned with your usual sleeping position if you do not know yet. You can buy pillows with labels regarding the sleeping place for which they are suitable.

For example, back sleepers might want to purchase pillows that ensure proper shoulder, head, and neck support and one with a low profile for correct spine alignment. Back sleepers also need to buy additional pillows, which they can place under their knees to relieve pressure from the lower back.

On the other hand, side sleepers need thicker pillows than back sleepers.

Stomach sleepers might benefit from consulting a professional on how to adopt a better sleeping position because sleeping on the stomach is not suitable for one’s neck and spine. However, if one cannot avoid it yet, a flat pillow is most appropriate.

4. A good pillow has removable covers.

Not all pillows have removable covers, so it is best to buy those with this feature. Having removable covers is suitable for hygiene purposes; one ensures a good night’s rest if one rests with clean pillows.

Having removable covers is also essential for those easily prone to illness. Washable covers – especially those made out of polyester and bamboo – help ensure cleanliness and remove unnecessary skin moisture, making the pillow odor-resistant.

Pillows: For Physique and Peace

Considering all the details mentioned above, knowing that there are qualities to prioritize if you wish to have more than a good night’s sleep does not hurt. Having the right pillow guarantees a better physique, which ultimately and hopefully gives you peace about your body and the quality of rest.

If you even want to go above and beyond the abovementioned qualities, look into pillow brans that support social programs. Some brands donate their beddings and mattresses to local housing and environmental causes.

The most important thing to remember is that the right pillow helps in the neutral alignment of your neck, spine, and head and supports your body well. Others also recommend having pillows with medium firmness and medium loft.

We wish you luck in your search for an excellent pillow – you will not regret getting a good one!