Sleep Number reached out to me a few months ago and asked if I would review pillows. They generously sent two for my review. It would seem that given my feng shui ways that I would have a sense of the type of pillow I needed, but I didn’t. I said I slept on my back (I don’t, it turns out!) and I said I liked feathers (I don’t, I learned quickly)… So both pillows left me sleepless. With a headache. My jaw hurt. My neck got stiff. = My own fault. But dramatically in this experiment I realized that pillows have a radical effect upon sleep.
Sleep Number was genrous enough to give it another try and sent me a fabulous pillow that was not feathers and meant for people who sleep on their side like I do. Wow. No joke, I have not slept this well in ages, and I sleep well in general. Add a silk pillowcase and you have perfection in beauty sleep. (FYI: THIS silk pillowcase is both inexpensive & lovely!)
And, if you need some help picking a pillow, Web MD has an expert article that shed some light on things for me.
“Some expert advice:
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If you sleep on your back: “Back sleepers need thinner pillows, so their head is not thrown too far forward,” Bernard says. Also look for a pillow with extra loft in the bottom third of the pillow to cradle your neck.
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If you sleep on your side: Side sleepers need a firmer pillow to fill in the distance between the ear and outside shoulder.
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If you’re a stomach sleeper: Look for a very thin, almost flat pillow. You may not even need a pillow for your head, but consider tucking one under your stomach to avoid lower back pain…”
(You can read the whole article HERE)
Two things about pillows I did know before this pillow event happened in my life: you should get new pillows more often than you think (I do it once a year or so because I have dogs and bad allergies), and you should change your pillow cases at least once a week if not every few days to extend the wellness of your pillow— and your sleep!
Thank you Sleep Number for the great sleep. My only complaint is that I started taking afternoon naps…. and I hate to get out of bed now! For all of you actively pillow shopping, my personal suggestion after the epic fail of my first attempt is to go into a store and actually feel and see and experience pillows before you buy them. My third time was a charm but with experts in front of you I bet you can get it right the first time! xoxo Dana
Funny that you posted this today, as we just finally replaced our old pillows last weekend. We ended up going with a down alternative for side sleepers. It just felt like it had the most support. And with my history of neck issues leading to tension headaches (so bad that they can mimic migraines,, no joke), I know I need a good pillow. It took me a few days to get used to the new pillow, nothing uncomfortable about it: I just think because it was a change. Now, I love it. It is so comfortable to my neck and I sleep better than I have in years.