The Importance of A Pillow For Your Unique Needs

You've found the perfect mattress and that's all you need, right? Not quite. There are other factors to consider in order to ensure a good night's sleep. Your body will thank you if you take time to work on the entire sleep picture - from your bed base to your bedding. And that includes good pillows.

What constitutes a good pillow? That depends on your individual needs. Are you mostly a side sleeper? Do you sleep on your back? Or are you one of those rare creatures who mainly snoozes on your stomach? With the right pillow choice that supports not just your head but your neck and shoulders too, you're more likely to wake up free of aches and pains.

So, how do you decide? Looking at all of the pillows on the market can leave you with option paralysis. Don't worry - we can help you find something to suit your needs. At Fosters Mattress, we have a variety of options from down-fill alternatives to pillows made of memory foam as well as responsibly-sourced latex. And all of our pillow foams meet CertiPUR-US standards, meaning that they contain no heavy metals or harmful chemicals.  And the most important aspect to your pillow is maintaining good spinal alignment starting with your head and neck. If you can attain this, you'll have less pressure overall on your body and prevent neck pain.

While you can always call or stop by to talk to us about pillow options, here is a guide to get you started. As you look at pillows, take the following factors into consideration:

Size: The length and width of the pillow might be important to you. Standard size is Queen. Pillows also have various depths, called the pillow loft. If you need more support, for example if you are a side sleeper, a higher loft pillow is important. 

Shape: When shopping, you'll see all sorts of pillow shapes from a standard rectangle to neck pillows for travel to everything in between. Some pillows allow you to remove and add back material depending on what shape you need for that night or for your general sleeping patterns. There are also pillows with a shoulder cutout on one side to allow space for a more comfortable and better-aligned side-sleeping position. We even have a wedge-shaped pillow for those who might suffer from acid reflux or just need to be elevated more when sleeping.

Material: Knowing what your pillow is made of is also an important consideration. This can determine its loft and firmness which also affects the support you might need for your head, neck, and shoulders. You may have allergies and need an allergen-resistent option. In addition, with so much advanced technology around sleep needs, we now have pillows with cooling features from the cover to the fill. And if you need to relax, grab a pillow infused with a soothing aromatherapy oil.

Taking time to shop for the right pillow can make the difference between a restful or a sleepless night. You'll also wake up refreshed and, ideally, without aches and pains that can come from not having proper spinal alignment from your head to your toes.