Tired of being too tired to sleep? Tossing and turning every night because you can’t get in a comfortable position is the absolute worst.
Perhaps it’s got something to do with your pillow?
Not sleeping on the right pillow can really do a number on your neck and back making the next day unbearable due to the pain.
To combat this, finding the right pillow for your sleep position is the best way to recover from the pain and encourage deeper, better sleep.
The number of hours spent in bed every night can really reinforce critical problems for anyone who suffers from neck and back pain. This is because the way we sleep, and our ability to relax, are greatly affected by the quality of our pillow.
Studies show that the wrong pillow can lead to serious pain issues that result in sleep problems like sleep deprivation and insomnia.
By choosing the right pillow and sleeping in a healthy position, you can ease the pressure on your neck and spine. And making sure that the pillow you’re sleeping on can constantly provide you with proper support is especially important. This is because sleeping on an unsupportive pillow is the major cause of your neck pain.
If you’re someone with neck pain, choosing the right pillow could begin your journey to living pain-free. Understanding what makes a good pillow is key to finding the right one.
Below are the most important factors to consider when choosing a pillow:
This is what determines the angle of your head in relation to your spine. You want to choose a pillow that keeps your head and neck aligned with your spine depending on your sleep position.
For back sleepers, you want a pillow with a small amount of filling, as it should support the amount of space between the bed and the curve of your neck.
For side sleepers, you want a pillow with more filling that supports the amount of space between your bed and your head. Essentially it should be at the height between the distance of the end of your shoulder to your neck.
It’s really not recommended that you sleep in this position as it puts the most strain on your neck and pain. Try finding a way to change the way you sleep would be ideal.
Tip: The ideal pillow is one you’re able to adjust to your body’s measurements exactly—otherwise known as an adjustable or customisable pillow (Here’s our favourite).
As mentioned above, one of the most important factors of a good pillow is that it provides the right amount of support. This goes hand in hand with your pillow’s loft. Finding a pillow that can provide you with quality support that won’t falter after a month or so is ideal.
Tip: The best type of pillow for high-quality support is a memory foam pillow.
Make sure your pillow has the right amount of firmness. This means it’s not too soft that your head sinks too far into the pillow forcing your neck to bend. It also means that it isn’t too hard that when you sleep on your side, the pillow causes pressure points.
Tip: with an adjustable pillow, you can play with the pillow’s firmness to find the one that suits your head best.
Investing in a good pillow that will last you years is crucial to keeping you healthy and pain-free. Pillow prices vary widely and you might be inclined to buy a cheaper standard one that you’ll have to keep replacing more often (which costs you more in the end).
Tip: Buying a high-quality pillow with materials that will last might cost you a bit more now, but it will make all the difference, not just in your wallet as you won’t be replacing it as often, but most importantly your health. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for.
As mentioned above, the quality of the materials your pillow is made out of is important when it comes to the longevity of your pillow’s support, durability, and comfort.
Tip: Memory foam pillows’ support and comfort are known to last the longest. They are also the most durable. Also, finding a pillow with a machine washable cover that protects against dust mites, bacteria, and sweat only adds to the quality of the pillow.
“Most sleepers find success with a memory foam pillow.”
Memory foam pillows are hypoallergenic and you can occasionally find them on sale. New shredded foam memory foam pillows have entered the market (We found the best one). They allow you to customise the pillow to your body and preferred sleep position.
Finding one with a proper pillow cover that you can wash will help increase the longevity of your memory foam pillow.
Check out our curated list below of what we believe are the top 3 memory foam pillows for neck pain.
Coming in third is the REM-Fit 500 Cool Gel Pillow. It’s designed with cool gel-infused memory foam technology, and the filling is made with a pad of pure cool gel which keeps a comfortable sleeping temperature.
It’s not adjustable, but it does claim to correct spinal alignment and pressure relief. Supposedly it’s made for all sleep types, but without the ability to adjust the height or firmness some sleepers might find it doesn’t suit them.
They do offer a 5-Year Guarantee, but it’s for only defects in workmanship or materials.
Despite the fact that they offer a 5-Year guarantee, it is only for defects in workmanship or materials which suggests they don’t offer a refund or money-back guarantee if it doesn’t suit you. And without the customisable ability the first two offer, it’s hard to say all sleep types will find optimal comfort with the REM-Fit 500 Cool Gel Pillow.
The Simba Hybrid Memory Foam Pillow comes in at a close second.
It was designed so you can adjust its height and firmness depending on your sleep type. Filled with hundreds of Nanocubes® that can be added or removed and held within its mesh layer, the Simba Hybrid Memory Foam Pillow is designed for maximum airflow to keep you cool.
At the same time, the soft cotton quilted cover layer is designed to absorb heat, which begs the question of whether it’s also absorbing your sweat.
Their main site doesn’t mention whether the outer cover was machine washable, and there was nothing stating whether they provided their pillow customers with a trial or a money-back guarantee. They do, however, offer free delivery.
SleepBo’s #1 Choice£99 £69
Number one for its quality, price, and ability to be the perfect comfort for all types of sleepers. The kudd.ly™ Dream Pillow is an exceptional product of deep research and development into the latest sleep tech. If you want the perfect sleep, that is truly comfortable no matter what kind of sleeper you are, this is the pillow for you.
It’s a customisable pillow, meaning it’s fully adjustable. So if you sleep on your back, front, or side, you can be sure this pillow was made just for you.
Filled with a mixture of 100% recyclable shredded microfiber memory foam, the kudd.ly™ Dream Pillow is sustainable and extremely comfortable while also giving you the right amount of support. It also comes with a removable and machine washable 100% cotton cover and made with their CUSHIONpad™ lining to feel like an ultra-soft duvet. It’s also extremely breathable and antibacterial.
Additionally, every kudd.ly™ Dream Pillow comes with a small bag with extra fill, so you can store extra filling from your Dream Pillow if needed.
Honestly, this pillow was pure perfection.
Want a high-quality, extremely breathable pillow that never loses its support and feels as if it was made especially for you? Go with the kudd.ly™ Dream Pillow, our team says no other pillow matched up.
Plus, it’s shipped from the UK with DPD, so you won’t have to wait long before enjoying the sleep of your dreams.