Difference Between Pillow Stuffing

Pillow Stuffing Differences

All pillows are equal, but some pillows are more equal than others! They are arguably a crucial part of your physical health, in terms of the alignment of your spine to the cranial nerve network. However, we often spend far longer choosing the mattress or bed and don’t give a second thought to the pillow. Here are some insights which might help you get a better night’s sleep.

1. Memory foam pillow

When you rest your precious cranium on a pillow, memory foam enables the pillow to provide more resistance beneath the weightier parts of your skull, molding itself to support your more delicate neck region. This correct alignment better supports your spine and so helps you get a deeper, smoother sleep devoid of restlessness and disruption, with your pressure points perfectly eased and soothed.

Because memory foam was first engineered by NASA in the 1960s it means it is hypoallergenic and nontoxic; this prevents bacteria, fungus, mold, and dust mites from emerging. Those who are prone to apnea may benefit from having a better aligned airway passage in which pressure points are negated.

Memory foam is long-lasting and retains its shape over time. More traditional feather-filled pillows wilt and clump up over time, so a memory foam pillow is a better investment. Every single time after being used it cools and reverts to exactly the same shape it was in when you first bought it.

For a wider range of pillows, make sure you take a look at our reviews of the best cooling pillow, gel pillows, and the best wedge pillows.

2. Down feather pillow

Down feather pillows are naturally anti-allergenic. This is because they are made of completely natural fibers that were originally there to warm an outdoor animal’s skin. It does not attract microbes, fungi, bacteria and so is a much better option compared with synthetic alternatives. If you do end up getting an allergy it might be due to your pillow cover, not the inner stuffing per se. Cotton, for example, retains skin oils and is a perfect receptacle for allergens and other infectious agents. Silk pillow covers would be better because of the hypoallergenic attributes; if you do use cotton or linen then you can help yourself by regularly washing so as to reduce allergens to the best of your ability.

Various materials provide various benefits for different sleepers. For instance, if you’re a ‘stomach sleeper’ a fluffy pillow stuffing like wool might not provide enough resistance throughout the night and leave you with neck ache the next morning. If you’re quite well built or big-boned then memory foam might not support you enough. Cotton stuffing, meanwhile, has been accused of being too hard. The perfect combination, therefore, is down pillows; either Hungarian Goose or European White Goose will do. They provide both fluffiness and cranial support; neither too hard nor too soft.

Consistency of temperature is also another strength of the goose down pillow; other materials can become cold in one area so that when your head shifts, the ensuing coldness can disturb your sleep. This is due to the inadequate insulating feature of many materials but is no problem where goose down is concerned. Goose down, after all, was originally plucked from birds and so protected them from very cold conditions in all kinds of weather. They neither get too hot or cold but maintain an optimum temperature, meaning that your sleep cycle should remain uninterrupted, at least not by fluctuations in the temperature surrounding your head. Goose down pillows have a reputation for being luxurious items owned by the bold and the beautiful; however, you will sometimes see healthy discounts on goose down pillows at a range of department stores, so keep an eye out.

Then there is also the question of which position you tend to sleep in. We’ve already mentioned ‘stomach sleepers’, but ‘side sleepers’ will need a thicker than usual pillow, maybe even an orthopedic variety, in order to maintain the head evenly between the shoulders and support the gap which occurs between shoulders and head, thus helping the discs in your upper-spine to fully relax. Then there are ‘back sleepers’, who will require a thinner pillow so as to align the head properly and avoid compressed vertebrae. Their pillows ought not to be too thin, otherwise, added strain is placed on the upper back and neck.

Overall, the choice of pillow size, pillow stuffing, and pillow cover is equally as important as what kind of mattress your main torso will be resting on all night, every night. It might be prudent to have a range of pillows at your disposal, depending on the season, level of tiredness, and just to mix things up a bit, keeping your muscles and vertebrae in alignment but not exaggerating just one position or compounding one area of natural weakness. If you really can’t do without your particular pillow, though, it might be worth taking it with you when you stay over with friends or family. They might you’re crazy, but getting high-quality, refreshing sleep will make you a more pleasant person to be around.