Sleep Well: How Many Pillows Should You Have In Bed?

The iComfort® by Serta Accessories Contour Pillow is ergonomically contoured to support both your head and neck.

If you’re having a hard time sleeping at night, it could be because you suspect that you have an insomnia or you simply feel uncomfortable. Most of the time, the problem is as simple as not having ample pillows. A lot of people take these for granted but even if this is the case, they remain to make a huge difference between a restful sleep from one that makes you toss and turn.

Pillows: The Necessary Amount

If you want to achieve healthy sleep, then you need to know that there should be enough pillows for you to remove that angle between your head and shoulder. This varies with every individual and it might take a few experimentations before you even get it right. After all, the level of comfort for one person may not necessarily be the same with the next one.

There are people who are comfortable sleeping even with just one pillow. For you, that might not be the case. Others sleep with large, fluffy pillows; others want the firmer types.

Statistically speaking, here are the numbers of pillows that are widely used –

A single pillow for your head
A pair of pillows where one goes to the head and the other is hugged
A pair where one is for the head while the other is for the feet
Three pillows; one for your head, another for your feet and one to support your calves.

A Single Pillow + One or More

Sleeping with just one pillow is a straightforward approach to sleeping. All you need to do is place it under your head, close your eyes, and that’s it.

If you are going to use more than one pillow, just make sure that your neck won’t stay at an angle that is uncomfortable for you. Remember also that using more than one pillow is not a guarantee that you will be sleeping comfortably.

Sleeping with a pair of pillows means you have more pieces to arrange when you sleep at night and when you wake up in the morning. Speaking of having two pillows, never make the mistake of stacking both under your head. This will raise your neck at an odd angle which will cause a stiff neck. If you want a fluffier head pillow, then just use a larger, single pillow.

If you’re a side sleeper, be sure to flank a pillow with your legs. This will provide extra support. If you sleep on your stomach, then be sure to place a pillow right below your hips instead of your head. This is not a healthy sleeping position, though, as it is known to induce a lot of body aches.

Spine Health and Your Pillow

The support of ample pillows is crucial for spinal disorders. The right kind of pillow support can make the problematic spine rest more comfortably. Know that restorative sleep is your body’s chance at healing.

There are different kinds of pillow fillings that also offer different levels of support. An orthopedic, roll-shaped type that is filled with polypropylene capsules is best for spinal alignment. The worst kind of pillow for people with spinal issues is the feather-filled type (100-percent goose down).

The spine is so sensitive and it is always connected to the neck, so, the curving or angle where your neck rests at can make a huge difference on your spine’s alignment. The human neck is slightly curved forward. This is crucial so that the weight of the head is supported and so we can stay upright.

Having a pillow that’s too high could bend the neck abnormally. This could also place the air pipe at a narrow angle, thus, obstructing your breathing. Having a low pillow height, on the other hand, could lead to strained neck muscles.

So go ahead and experiment on the correct height of your pillows.

Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, picking pillows, pillow, what pillows to choose

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2017 at 9:04 am and is filed under Bedroom Design, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.