Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

Now I lay me down to sleep. A relaxing, restful one, we hope. With the many daily stresses in our lives and the nighttime interruptions that can evolve with young children, you need to do all you can to make your bed a comfortable oasis.

You spend time carefully choosing the best mattress for yourself. Your pillow deserves the same amount of attention. Like your mattress, your pillow affects how comfortable you feel in bed and how well you sleep.

The best mattress should provide adequate cushioning and support in order to promote even spinal alignment. This helps to reduce pressure points all over the body, including sensitive areas such as the shoulders and hips.

That said, it’s just as important to choose the proper pillow.  Side sleepers generally need thicker pillows to fill the space beneath their head and neck. Pillows that are too thin do not provide enough cushioning, while excessively thick pillows can interfere with spinal alignment and lead to more pressure points.

Generally, back sleepers require a pillow with a higher loft than pillows for stomach sleepers and a lower loft than pillows for side sleepers. The ideal pillow for back sleepers promotes spinal alignment rather than arching the neck too far upward or allowing the head to sink in too deeply.

Before purchasing a pillow, make sure you have an understanding of its loft, firmness level, shape, and materials. Determine how supportive the pillow is and how well it relieves pressure. Also, be sure to take into consideration the cost to ensure you stay within your budget.

When you focus on the key characteristics of a pillow rather than poetic, abstract claims, you’re more likely to end up purchasing a pillow that will provide the support and comfort you’re seeking.

Stay tuned, next month I will provide a more detailed explanation of loft, firmness and materials.

Janice Brock,
Owner, Custom Covers and Custom Shades