Just like picking the right mattress, finding the perfect pillow for you is important to get a good night’s sleep every time. The brand doesn’t matter—it’s the support the pillow gives for your go-to sleeping position. By that, we mean it should be able to keep your head, neck and spine in neutral alignment, while supporting your spine’s natural curvature.
Everyone has unique sleep needs, and with so many options to choose from when browsing through pillows—from the filler and the pillowcase material to the size and shape—it can be quite the task to find the one that suits you best.
Here’s a quick guide to the different types of pillows for every purpose:
Hypoallergenic pillow
This helps reduce existing allergy symptoms and eliminates exposure to dust mites. It’s usually made with hypoallergenic white down fill and a breathable cover that prevents common allergens from getting inside and disrupting your sleep.
Microbead pillow
This type of pillow has extra soft cushioning as it’s stuffed with thousands of soft, tiny beads that also conform to your head, neck and shoulders. It’s plush, highly breathable and some even come with temperature-regulating microbeads.
Latex pillow
Those who seek a firm and supportive structure prefer this type. Depending on your needs, the latex pillow comes in low and high lofts. Those who sleep on their side should go for the high loft. Those who sleep on their back or stomach will benefit from the low loft.
Wedge pillow
The wedge pillow addresses multiple problems. Because it elevates the head, it’s preferred by those who snore, have gastroesophageal reflux disease (Gerd), heartburn, acid reflux and sleep apnea. It also offers lower lumbar support when you’re sitting on your bed before sleeping.
Memory foam pillow
This is for when you want that firm support but don’t want to sacrifice too much softness. This pillow conforms to your head, neck and shoulders, and gently envelops you without being too rigid. Memory foam also helps ease neck and shoulder tension and pain.
Feather and down pillow
This is stuffed with feathers, down, or a combination of both, and is best for those who like their pillows exceptionally soft. The main fill is down which is the softer and lighter feather, while larger feathers give structure.
Cooling pillow
As the name implies, this pillow feels cool to the touch as it has either a cooling gel material or breathable fabrics that regulate body temperature. The best ones combine both, with the addition of shredded gel foam fill.
Pregnancy pillow
This pillow is ergonomically designed to reduce pressure on the lower back of pregnant women and at the same time, allows room for a growing bump. It comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, but always provides comfort during those otherwise uncomfortable nights throughout one’s pregnancy.
Body pillow
A full-length body pillow is the way to go if you want something that relieves tension across your body. The most common body pillow has a tubular design and is stuffed with a mixture of down and feather. It helps improve spinal alignment for side and stomach sleepers, relieves joint pressure and provides better sleep quality.