Pillows - Pro and Con
Down & Feather Pillows
The most durable and luxurious sleeping pillows. Down is made from the delicate tufts that cover geese beneath their feathers, and is very fluffy and soft. Feathers are flat and have quills running through their centers.
Feathers are also very soft but not quite as fluffy as down, and provide firmer support.
Down pillows are classified by fill power, or fluffiness, and weight (how many ounces of down are in a pillow). The higher the fill power and weight, the higher quality the pillow.
It is legal for a product to be labeled GOOSE DOWN and contain as much as 30% feathers.
Pros: Soft, moldable, cuddly. Easily shaped for comfort and support. Very durable if well cared for, and can last for years. Washable.
Cons: Can feel sweaty and hot to some folks who sleep hot. Need to be coaxed and pulled into the shape you want every time to change positions. Some folks have allergies to down & feathers. Not supportive enough for larger people, who may need supplement the neck support with a cervical roll.
Synthetic fiber pillows
These fills were created to mirror the texture of down, but they're not quite as moldable or soft.
Pros: Allergy free. Firmer head and neck support. Higher quality fibers can last for years if well cared for. Washable.
Cons: Synthetic fiber pillows don't contour well. Neck support contour needs to be sewn in, and sized to the individual user. Lower quality fibers can wear unevenly and get lumpy. May need a week or so to "break-in" and soften for comfort.
Foam pillows
Specially molded for specific neck, back and spine support.
Pros: Provide the most precise and supportive positioning available, especially for folks with neck, upper back and shoulder area symptoms. Foams that are springy and bouncy must be contoured to precisely fit the user. "Memory foams" contour more readily, making a precise fit less critical, but are less supportive. Combination foam pillows generally use resilient foam for support, covered with memory foam or fibers for contouring comfort.
Cons: Sleep hot, and for some, get sweaty. Off gas formaldehydes slowly over time, which is unnoticeable to most, but produces allergic responses in the chemically sensitive. Not as durable as other pillow types. May need a week or so to "break-in" and soften for comfort. Can have a chemical smell for a day or two when new.
Cotton pillows
Pure, natural, absorbent.
Pros: Feel firmer and flatter than down pillows.
Cons: Can compress and begin to feel very hard. Heavy. Does not contour easily to body curvature. Retains moisture, and if not cleaned regularly, creates an attractive environment for dust mites and molds.
Wool pillows
Pure, natural, breathable.
Pros: Cool in summer, warm in winter. Naturally a great insulator, wool responds to your body to keep you at a constant, comfortable temperature as you sleep. Wicks away moisture, so you won't wake up damp from nighttime perspiration.
Cons: Can compress and begin to feel very hard. Heavy. Does not contour easily to body curvature.
Buckwheat hull pillows
Natural, breathable, firm.
Pros: Can be shaped to conform to the contour of your head and neck to provide very firm support. Do not compress, so neck and head support remains constant through the night. The coolest, most dry, and best ventilated pillow available for those who get uncomfortably hot and sweaty during sleep. Lasts for 10 years or more.
Cons: Extremely firm. Some find them too hard. Makes little crunching noises (or, depending on your perspective, soothing, rustling noises) when you change positions. During the first year of use, loses about 5% - 7% of its volume. Pillows are generally sold overstuffed. Save the extra hulls and add them back later.
How to choose a pillow size
Fit your pillow to your body and your bed
To select the right pillow, you must consider your body, your
sleeping positions, and your mattress. Whether you sleep on your back,
side, stomach, or somewhere in between, the ideal neck (orthopedic or cervical)
pillow should comfortably support your natural spinal curves.
Fit your pillow to your sleeping positions
Do you sleep on your side, your back, or your stomach? Or all three?
People who sleep on their backs need a flatter, thinner neck support. Those who sleep on their sides may need a thicker pillow. People who sleep on their stomachs usually prefer a pillow under their chest, a very thin head pillow, or no pillow at all. Good neck alignment is difficult to maintain while sleeping on the stomach. Your habitual sleeping positions determine the key contours your pillow should support.
Traditional pillows raise the head, leaving the length of the neck unsupported and sagging. Well-fitting neck pillows are usually thicker or firmer at the neck and thinner or softer under the head.
Fit your pillow to your mattress
Mattress firmness influences how a pillow performs. If your mattress is very firm you need a thicker pillow. If your mattress is very soft you need a thinner pillow. The point is to
Choose a pillow that will support the positions you sleep in most of the night. When you shop for a pillow, remember that it is not unusual for one person to need pillows of different sizes for different sleeping positions. Some pillows have different shapes on each side to accommodate different sleeping positions.
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