How to choose the right pillow for you

How to choose the right pillow for you - summary:

• Pillow selection depends on personal preferences, sleep position, health conditions, and mattress type.
• Tummy sleepers benefit from low or mid-profile pillows to prevent neck strain and support spinal alignment without restricting breathing.
• Side sleepers should opt for high-profile pillows to ensure proper neck alignment and spine support.
• Back sleepers are advised against multiple pillows to avoid neck strain; contour pillows can aid in reducing snoring and maintaining airway openness.
• SleepMaker offers specialised pillow options to cater to specific sleep needs.

There are numerous factors that have a bearing on which pillow you ultimately choose. You’ll want a pillow that’s got the right feel for you. What position do you sleep in? Do you prefer wool, down, memory foam, or cooling gel? What kind of mattress do you sleep on?

Your mattress and sleep position affects your pillow needs

An older mattress will support you differently to a new one. And there are other factors that go into pillow selection such as pregnancy or health issues that affect the position you adopt when sleeping. 

Tummy sleeper

Best pillows for tummy sleepers

If you like to sleep on your stomach you make up around 7% of the population. Some consider it bad for your back but there are ways that can help with your spinal alignment while sleeping.

Tummy sleepers need a lower or mid-profile pillow as they do not need the extra height between their chest and head. Our Sleep Experts say it’s okay to be a tummy sleeper as long you are using the right pillow to support you. You wouldn’t want to be a tummy sleeper whilst using a high profile pillow as it can sometimes restrict the way you breathe and sometimes cause neck pain in the morning.

Side sleeper

Best pillows for side sleepers

The most common position that Australians adopt when they sleep is on their side. Our sleep experts tell their clients that the preferred sleeping position is on the side. This makes sure there is a nice straight line between your tailbone all the way up to the base of your skull. It’s important to have a pillow that supports your neck evenly across the mattress.

The recommendation from our sleep experts is side sleepers to try a high profile pillow.

What is a high profile pillow?

A high profile pillow is a relatively thicker pillow, typically between 4 and 5 inches in height, that offers extra support for your head, neck, and back. 

Best pillows for back sleepers

Maybe you snore, perhaps you just like to lie flat on your back since many believe that is the perfect way to keep your spine and neck aligned. 

Back sleeping is often the preferred sleeping position because it helps to better align your spine. The con of sleeping on your back is that it can result in snoring. Our Sleep Experts find that a common mistake with back sleepers is that they often prop their head up with too many pillows. This can put their head in an unnatural forward position which puts stress on their necks. It can also close up the airways and cause sleep apnea which can be quite dangerous.

Our contour pillows can help with snorers due to the pillow shape as it allows the head to rest in a position which opens up the airways. 

Perhaps it’s time to think about shopping for a new mattress?

Not only are SleepMaker mattresses created in Australia to suit our environment, but also your particular sleeping requirements. Only 7% of Australians, according to our research, get adequate sleep each night.  We want to make mattress shopping as comfortable as possible, so consult out our Sleep Guide for more tips, check out our ranges online, and head into store to try the options for yourself.