Pillows

As with bedding and mattresses, it is important to have good pillows to ensure a good nights sleep, and prevent neck and back problems. There are may types of pillows, from naturally filled goose feather and down and duck feather pillows, to hollowfibre filled or memory foam pillows. You can get contoured pillows, especially popular for memory foam pillows, bounce back or bolster pillows, which are long and narrow, ideal during pregnancy.

Pillows should be replaced every 2-3 years, as they loose the support they give around the head and neck area.

Pillows can be measured in firmness, either soft, medium or firm, and the correct firmness is to the individuals taste and the way they sleep, i.e. on their back, front or side.

Goose or duck feather pillows are soft and light and drape perfectly around your head. However, these pillows are not suitable for allergy sufferers. When looking to purchase these pillows, look for ones with cambric proof covers to ensure the feather stalks to not stick out!

Memory foam pillows are designed to support the neck and head, relieving pressure on joints and enabling a better nights sleep. The memory foam pillow simply changes shape (by reacting with the heat from your body) to fit perfectly around your around the contours of head and neck. The visco elastic technology was used by NASA to help astronauts distribute pressure, to ease the pressure of extreme G-forces.

Memory foam pillows are made from polyurethane and chemicals which help increase the density of the foam. When new, the memory foam often gives of a distinct chemical. This fades with airing, however, some people still remain sensitive to it. Memory foam pillows can be either contoured, which allow extra support around the neck area (although some people find these uncomfortable to sleep on), or standard pillow shape and size.

Hollowfibre pillows are a cheap but good alternative to goose/duck feather and memory foam pillows. The hollowfibre provides the "bounce" in the pillows and maintains its shape, providing good support for the neck. Ensure the pillows are generously filled as cheaper pillows will have less hollowfibre filling, thereby reducing bounce and support and longevity. Hollowfibre pillows are usually machine washable and good for allergy sufferers.

The outer cover of pillows are also important. Good quality hollowfibre pillows will have a polycotton mix outer cover whilst cheaper ones will have a polyurethane (tea bag like) material.