The ergonomic pillow, the savior of your night
If we spoke previously of cushions and memory foam mattresses, it seemed important to us to continue with the ergonomic pillow. If you are having difficulty sleeping, it could be due to several factors. Far from thinking of the pillow in the first place, already see if you have a duvet cover large enough to have sufficient thermal comfort. In the case of a duvet that is too short, you will find yourself on the market for 200 × 200 duvets that will do the job.
If this is the case, you must eliminate the potentially risky elements that could affect the quality of your sleep. Temperature is one element, light is another. To sleep well you have to be in complete darkness, if your sheer curtains let light through then consider installing roller shutters for perfect light insulation.
If you have verified these important points, it remains of course to analyze the firmness of your mattress and its size. Sometimes a bed that is too small can be detrimental to a good sleep, buy a king size bed so that you can move around in bed. You're almost there, and your sleep is still disturbed, so you need to look at the pillow.
Often neglected, the pillow can turn out to be too soft, too hard or completely nonexistent. This is why you might have a sudden pain or worse wake up with stiff neck in the morning. The necks that have been used all day on your office chair, also need to rest. Relieving them with an ergonomic pillow is the best solution.
Know that by limiting the tension on the neck, you will not only improve your sleep, but also free all the muscles in your body. The ergonomic pillow is a tool to help you sleep well, just as the illuminated clock radio will allow you to wake up gently. If you take care of your body every step of the night you will be sure to have more energy throughout your day.
Before going any further in choosing your ergonomic pillow, here are the top three pillows that have received the most positive customer reviews today.
How does the ergonomic pillow work?
Before investing in your ergonomic pillow, here are some elements of understanding that will help you in your choice. it is always interesting to know how the product you are going to put your head on every day works.
The ergonomic pillow is not a simple square of fabric filled with feather on which to sleep. It has been studied a specific form perfectly adapted to human morphology. If you look at the cut from the side, you can see that the neck comes to rest on a specific area of the cushion.
This convex / hollow shape will provide support to your head while relieving your neck. You should know that there are different technologies in the ergonomic pillow. Latex or polyurethane memory foam. Whether you choose one or the other, you will have optimal comfort to relieve your body and have a restful night.
Note that the pillow, with its specific shape, allows you to have perfect alignment of your spine. If you suffer from back pain or a lumbar disc problem, the ergonomic shape memory pillow is the perfect tool to relieve your pain.
It will be understood that the ergonomic pillow is not just there to relieve your neck and cervical muscles, it will relieve all the rest of the body and allow you to recharge your batteries faster and more efficiently.
The best range of ergonomic pillows
Bultex ergonomic pillow
This is the number 1 in sales, this pillow from the Bultex brand is a very comfortable cushion with excellent memory. If you're the type who is in front of the computer all day, then it is also suitable for sitting on your office chair. You will limit the pain in the neck that can appear throughout the day. We like the fact that this cushion does not make you sweat with its airy fabric.
to choose an ergonomic pillow?
To choose the right ergonomic shape memory pillow, you need a minimum of knowledge on the elements that will make a good pillow.We have established three criteria that we believe are important to make the right choice:
The size of the pillow
The shape of the pillow
The material of the pillow
The size of the pillow is the first thing to check. If you go on a pillow that is too small, you may find yourself in an awkward position. For a good orthopedic pillow, it is advisable to start with a product with a minimum height of 10 cm and dimensions of at least 45 x 45 cm. You can choose larger if you are alone in the bed.
The shape of the pillow is the most important choice, it is this that will determine whether the product will support your neck or not. The pillow can be shape memory or orthopedic. As we have seen above, an ergonomic pillow must have the possibility of relieving your neck while you sleep. Also think that this one must be treated hypoallergenic to avoid any problems with the mites.
The material of your pillow will also play a role in your well-being. You are going to find products made of latex, bamboo or polyurethane foam. Note that latex is currently the best choice with a perfectly suited elasticity to relieve the neck. If you prefer natural products, know that bamboo or natural latex fits into the ecological pillow frame. Note that for bamboo, it is often the cover that is bamboo, the interior is foam or latex.
The different pillow technologies
Choosing a pillow is essential for sleeping well. There are many technologies out there and you have a hard time understanding what makes them different? This article should help you see things more clearly.
Pillow with natural filling: Feather pillow
There are many different fillings, feathers, down, bamboo… How to choose, which one will suit you best? Bedding guide accompanies you.
The feathers are taken from all over the bird's body, except the belly and underside of the wings, where the down is located. They are quite heavy and have a small rod in the center that you can sometimes feel, especially if the cushion is made of 100% feathers.
The advantages of goose feather pillows or duck feather cushions:
These pillows will give you a feeling of weightlessness whether you choose them soft, medium or firm. They are very enveloping and their comfort will be determined by the density of feathers. If you are looking for a very flexible model, choose a lower feather content.
Good to know :
Many feather pillows are made in France, and we recommend that you opt for a national origin. Indeed, the feathers come from farms where ducks and geese are raised for their meat. The animals are not alive when the feathers are taken, but these animal welfare regulations are not in force in all countries of the world ...
Another advantage of the feather cushion: contrary to popular belief, it is not allergenic. The feathers are in fact subjected to washing and sterilization at very high temperature, to which are often added an anti-mite treatment based on essential oils and a very tight envelope which prevents the small animals from coming to nest in the pillow.
The goose or duck feather pillow also has excellent breathable and thermal qualities: it is warm in winter and keeps its freshness in summer. As it absorbs moisture well, it is particularly recommended for people who sweat a lot at night.
Finally, this pillow is one of the longest lasting 5 years.
The Bedding Guide Tip: If your feather pillow loses loft over the years, you can buy feather bags from the store to fill it with.
The disadvantages of goose or duck feather cushions:
The only drawback of the pillow, apart from its animal origin which can bother some people, is its price: you have to count at least € 30.
Down pillow
A cousin of the goose or duck feather pillow, it offers better comfort. The down is taken from under the wings and on the belly of birds, and does not contain the stems that can be troublesome in the feathers.
The advantages of the down pillow
The down cushion can be very flexible or on the contrary very firm, but in all cases it will remain puffy and will offer a most pleasant spring effect.
In addition, since it does not contain rods, the air circulates better and its thermal and breathable properties are much superior to those of the feather pillow.
Finally, it is one of the lightest and has a lifespan of up to 7 years.
The disadvantages of the down pillow:
Here again, the price is high: count around € 70 for a 100% goose or duck down pillow, the latter being a little more expensive.
Bamboo pillow
It can be of two kinds: bamboo fibers, or bamboo charcoal, which is mixed with other fibers.
The advantages of the bamboo pillow:
Thanks to its elasticity, bamboo fiber naturally springs back into place, which is why there are many bamboo pillows that are also memory foam. In addition to its flexibility and lightness, the bamboo cushion has an anti-bacterial active ingredient which makes it particularly suitable for allergy sufferers.
Did you know: Bamboo charcoal is obtained by carbonizing fibers, and it has been used for a very long time in Asia because it absorbs moisture well in the body and the room. A real plus in countries where monsoons are frequent!
The disadvantages of the bamboo pillow:
The bamboo pillow is unfortunately not one of the cheap products: the first prices are around 60 euros.
Organic pillow
The fillings come from cereals, spelled, buckwheat or millet.
The spelled pillow:
Spelled is the ancestor of modern wheat, its seed takes on a husk called the spelled husk. This is what is used to fill the pillow. It comes in the shape of a cob, about 1 centimeter, both light and bulky.
Its main advantage is that it adapts to the shape you give it and will stay in that same position even if you move at night. It therefore offers good support, quite firm.
On the downside, it should be noted that the air circulates in it quite poorly, so it retains heat and the rustling of the balls can annoy some people.
Count around 25 € for an organic spelled pillow.
The buckwheat pillow:
Softer and softer than spelled, buckwheat consists of pods of around 5 mm, which make it more malleable while maintaining good support. More breathable, it can be chosen by people who sweat at night. Again, the nocturnal rustling when you move is to be taken into account!
sleep dream pillow review for buckwheat pillows starts at € 35.
The millet pillow:
The followers of organic cushions tend to prefer it. Its small 2 mm balls are very comfortable and offer a soft and mellow welcome. As the night goes by, the balls move to fill the hollows caused by the changes in positions, so you stay perfectly wrapped up all night. No rustling is to be regretted!
In contrast, the millet pillow is the least breathable of the organic cushions, so if you sweat a lot at night, go for another option.
Count around 60 € for a millet pillow, this cereal being cultivated in distant countries, in Africa or in Asia.
Natural latex pillow
The natural latex cushion is made from rubber harvested by tapping the bark of the rubber tree, a tree native to the Amazon.
The advantages of the natural latex pillow:
It has unparalleled elasticity, which allows it to perfectly match the shape of the body, which is why it is found in box springs or pillows, most often ergonomic.
The comfort of a latex pillow is matched only by its flexibility and longevity (about 4 years).
In addition, it is very ventilated, therefore suitable for people who are hot at night and it is naturally antifungal. Who says absence of fungi, says absence of mites, good news for people with allergies.
The disadvantages of the natural latex pillow:
You cannot machine it, otherwise it will be rendered useless. Opt for natural latex pillows with removable covers, you can clean the cover.
Synthetic padding pillow: Ergonomic pillow
Today synthetic pillows are the most common in our bedrooms.
Did you know ? Created by NASA in the 1960s to relieve astronauts from the jolts associated with rocket takeoff, memory foam reacts to body heat and not to the weight of the sleeper.
The advantages of the memory foam pillow:
Most often, it takes the form of a wave which allows it to position its head well in the hollow. It does not fit under the shoulders and thus provides good support for the neck.
Its high density allows people with cervical pathologies to sleep painlessly while maintaining alignment of the head with the spine.
The disadvantages of the memory foam pillow
You cannot act on its height, so it is absolutely forbidden for those who sleep on their stomachs: they might end up with a strong neck pain in the morning, due to the phenomenon of the broken neck position.
Likewise, at first, it can be difficult to sleep on a pillow whose shape cannot be changed: a few days of adaptation are therefore necessary.
Finally, like any synthetic material, memory foam makes you sweat.
Count from 50 to 80 € for a shape memory pillow.
Spring pillow
It consists of pocket springs, left alone or combined with memory foam. It therefore takes on the characteristics of an ergonomic pillow. It adapts to all of the sleeper's movements and offers good support. However, you cannot machine wash it, so choose a pillow model with removable cover.
Polyester pillow
It is the most common on the market because it is the cheapest, it is hypoallergenic and machine-safe. On the other hand, it has a very limited lifespan because it settles very quickly. It adapts to all sleepers, but given its poor comfort, it is not recommended for people who suffer from chronic back pain or neck pain.
Count 10 € for an entry-level synthetic pillow.
Hollow fiber pillow
They can be simple or silicone. They have the advantage of containing air, which makes the pillow light and fluffy.
Again, maintenance is easy, and the hollow fiber offers better comfort than polyester.
Count 15 euros for a hollow fiber pillow, 20 € for the silicone version.
Once you've decided on the technology that's right for you, you'll need to choose the type of pillow.