The perfect pillow supports your neck in such a way that the cervical vertebra is located as a natural extension of the spine. It is far from certain that your current pillow does this, even if you love it! As force of habit is great, you may well have become accustomed to sleeping with a thick pillow with feathers, although this may not necessarily give your body the best support. It can be difficult to ‘unlearn’ a certain type of pillow and it may be better to have two pillows, which you can switch between during the night. See our video guide on how to choose the right pillow.
Pillow height
A pillow that provides the correct support is a key factor in getting the best night's sleep possible. At JYSK you'll find pillows in three different heights: low, medium and high. When selecting the pillow's height, keep in mind that your ideal sleeping position is one in which your spinal column is completely straight. Your preferred sleeping position should determine which height you should select.
The side
If you sleep on the side it is particularly important that you choose the right pillow, to make sure that your cervical vertebrae does not get unnaturally bent. When you sleep on your side you protect your back and neck if you sleep with the right pillow. It can also be a good sleeping position if you tend to snore since the position reduces this tendency.
The ideal pillow if you prefer for sleep on the side is:
- A high pillow that gives your head support
- A firm pillow since the filling must stay in place in order to keep your head from falling.
- A full pillow to fill the space between your head and the mattress.
The back
Do you prefer to sleep on your back? Then your pillow should be low with primary support under the neck. To suit this purpose an ergonomic special pillow in foam or natural latex is suitable. It provides additional support under the neck for optimal support.
The stomach
If prefer to sleep on your stomach, our first piece of advice is that you should try to sleep on your back or side instead. When you sleep on your stomach you get an unnatural bend in your neck. If you cannot imagine not sleeping on your stomach then your pillow should be as soft and flat as possible, to reduce the bend in the neck.
Filling in the pillow
You can choose from 3 different types of filling:
Natural filling
Pillows with natural filling consist primarily of down and feather, but may also contain materials such as silk, wool, linen and kapok. A pillow with natural filling is soft to the touch and easy to shape. This is an advantage if you alternate between sleeping on your back and side and thus need to adjust the filling.
Fibre filling
Fibre pillows contain synthetic filling. Pillows with synthetic filling may feel more elastic than those with a natural filling. It is a matter of preference whether you prefer a pillow with natural filling or fibre filling.
Special filling
Special filling may consist of memory foam or latex. This type of filling provides maximum support, as the filling is made of more compact materials.
Memory foam pillows form to the precise shape of your head and neck. With a pillow of memory foam you lay ergonomically correct through the night, as the foam adapts to your body and sleeping position. The pillow supports you all the way from the shoulder to the neck, so that blood flows freely and easily and you avoid tensions and tension headaches. Memory foam pillows are available in a wide array of shapes and sizes.
Structure and shape of the pillow
Finally, you should take into consideration the structure and shape of your pillow. If you prefer a pillow that can be shaped to fit your needs, then you should select an ordinary pillow with a single chamber.
Pillows with more than one chamber provide different qualities, depending on their structure. They have two, three or four chambers with various combinations of down and feather, as well as a softer exterior and a firmer, more supportive core.
If you know your preferred sleeping position, then you may want to choose a shaped pillow. This type usually consists of memory foam and the pillow is often moulded and designed for a specific sleeping position.
