The softer the mattress (or pillow top) the more your shoulders will sink into the mattress so you will need a thinner pillow. For a harder mattress, you will need a thicker pillow because your shoulders won't sink down as much.
The right pillow will keep everything in line with your spine, from your head to your feet. A thin pillow, rather than a thick one, will do the job while preventing your head and neck from tilting up too much, disrupting the line of your spine.
Generally, the pillow should be around 3 to 6 inches thick to provide adequate support. Unlike back and stomach sleepers, side sleepers require extra support.
A thinner pillow is better for someone who generally sleeps on their back as it fills the space between the back of the head and the neck, reducing and preventing muscle tension. It is not advisable to sleep face down as the neck is stretched and twisted in this position.
Your preference is likely to be down to what you became used to in childhood. “We have quite an emotional connection to our pillows,” James explains. “The way it feels is normally based on what we're used to. If you had a feather pillow in childhood, you'll probably prefer a fluffy pillow.
Side sleepers do best with a relatively firm, thick pillow that can fill the gap between the neck and shoulders. A pillow that is too thin may not keep the neck and head level with the spine, and a very thick pillow can be just as problematic if it tilts the head up at a very high angle.
Firm Support — Pillows with a medium firm or firm level of support will serve to keep your head and neck in line with your spine throughout the night. If your pillow is too soft, your head will gradually sink down over the course of your 40 winks, throwing your spine out of neutral alignment (hello, stiff neck).
A thin pillow can aid your health
If you're a stomach sleeper, a thin pillow will help you rest better by maintaining your neck at a natural angle. If you love to sleep on your back, then the thin pillow will evenly fill the gap between you and your mattress, thereby, keeping your back aligned.
If the philtrum is lying higher than the suprasternal notch then your pillow is too high. If the philtrum is lying lower than the suprasternal notch then your pillow is too low. If these two landmarks are level in the selfie then your pillow thickness is just right for you in your bed.
Organic wool and down are produced with improved animal welfare compared to traditional means. Whether they're made of buckwheat, latex, wool, cotton, or other organic materials, organic pillows represent a choice that's better for you and the planet.
Bending down toward the mattress or up away from it will cause strain in your neck, shoulders, and back, even if you don't immediately feel it. If your pillow is too thick or if you have too many pillows, your neck will be propped at an angle that causes craning or twisting.
Out of all the sleep positions, side sleepers need the thickest pillow because the goal is to find one that fills the empty space between your neck and shoulders. For adult side sleepers, the recommended pillow height is between 5 inches and 7 inches.
Support refers to how well a pillow can bear the weight of your head without flattening. This is an important quality for maintaining proper spinal alignment and avoiding neck pain. Generally, firm pillows offer more support.
Firmness: All of our experts agreed that medium-firm pillows tend to be the best option for people sleeping on their side. While there is room for personal preference here, a medium-firm pillow helps your head stay in the right position without sinking while you sleep.
Back sleepers tend to prefer medium-loft pillows, which are those that measure between 3 and 5 inches thick. With a medium-loft pillow, most back sleepers will maintain spinal alignment. A supportive pillow will hold your head and neck in place, rather than allow them to sink all the way down to the mattress.
Most experts recommend replacing pillows every 1 to 2 years. Doing so helps to ensure that you're using pillows that are supportive, clean, and free of allergens. It is also important to care for the pillows you use to ensure their longevity. Generally, you'll be able to tell when it's time to replace your pillows.
High pillows are the worst enemy of double chin people because they stretch your skin that causes double chin to increase. Ideally, sleeping on a satin one is recommended for smooth skin and soft hair. 4.
Your head and neck should lie comfortably on the pillow to ensure that the spine is elongated. Like the back sleep position, your shoulders should fall just beneath the pillow and rest comfortably on the surface of the bed.
We recommend the firm design for side sleepers, as this option provides the most loft to cushion the space between your head and shoulder. For many side sleepers, down pillows tend to sink excessively, and this lack of support often leads to neck pain.
Down. Down is generally seen as the luxurious filling choice for pillows, which is why luxury hotels will tend to supply down hotel pillows. The most common type is goose down pillows, although duck down pillows are also a potentially cheaper alternative.
A firm pillow provides more support for the neck than a softer pillow, which may help to prevent pain or stiffness in the neck and shoulders. A firm pillow may also be less likely to collapse during the night, providing a consistent level of support.
Putting a pillow between your legs keeps your pelvis neutral and prevents your spine from rotating during the night. Maintaining good alignment can relieve some of the stress from the tissues in your back and may potentially reduce pain caused by a herniated disc or sciatica.
Hotel pillows are often more comfortable than the pillows people have on their beds at home because they are replaced more often, use more expensive and longer lasting materials, and they support the head in different places than the pillows that people have at home.
Side sleepers should choose a thick, firm pillow compared to stomach sleepers who need a thinner one. The best pillow will keep your head and neck aligned when lying down. Any fill from down to foam can work for side sleepers as long as the pillow is thick enough to support your neck.