4 Solutions to Better Sleep Support

If you’re constantly waking up with neck, back, or shoulder pain, the culprit is likely your pillow. With each sleep position in need of different support options, finding the pillow that’s right for you isn’t always easy.

Discovering your ideal sleep support is about more than just what’s comfortable when you rest your head. A pillow should offer good spinal alignment, pressure relief, and the right temperature for your sleep needs. For proper support, each position needs its own type of pillow:

• Side sleepers = medium to firm support
• Back sleepers = medium support
• Stomach sleepers = soft support

Three types of all-natural fills: Merino Wool, Kapok, and Down & Feathers, each offer a unique type of support. Plus, for back and hip discomfort, a lumbar bolster pillow could be just what you need.

Merino Wool: Gentle & Consistent
If you’re looking for a pillow that has a plush feel while offering steady support night after night, Merino wool fill is a great pick. Perfect for side or back sleepers, Merino wool provides medium-level support with naturally springy resilience.

Another unique feature of this fill is that unlike typical sheep’s wool, Merino wool is thermoregulating and moisture-wicking, so you won’t get too warm as you sleep.

Kapok: Responsive & Contouring
For an option that provides optimal pressure relief and cradling support, a kapok fill could be the best choice. Kapok is a highly sustainable natural fiber from the seed pods of a tropical tree. It feels silky to the touch while offering more responsive, flexible support. This fill type is ideal for a variety of positions and is also great for sleepers who change positions throughout the night, due to its adaptable, contouring support.

Down: Soft & Luxurious
Stomach and back sleepers may find the luxuriously plush fill of down and feathers to provide their ideal support level. Traditional down and feather pillows offer a classic plush feel that’s also lightweight and moldable. These are the types of pillows you can fluff and adjust for comfort. If you struggle with the feel of feathers poking through the pillow, a chambered option with a down-proof liner can solve that issue.

Lumbar: Aligned & Supported
Beyond the pillow for your head, a lumbar bolster pillow can also help provide better support and alignment for your whole body. A lumbar bolster pillow can go in a variety of positions, depending on how you sleep: side sleepers use it between their legs, back sleepers lay it under the curve of their spine or under their knees, and stomach sleepers place it under their hips. This additional point of support can help reduce back or hip pain that a regular pillow and most mattresses don’t address.

Sources
“Effect of Different Pillow Designs on Promoting Sleep Comfort, Quality, & Spinal Alignment: A Systematic Review.” Science Direct. sciencedirect/science/article/abs/pii/S1876382020314505

“Sleep Support Pillows for Back Pain: Which Types Help – and How to Use Them Correctly.” Orthopedic Institute of New Jersey. orthopedicnj/news/sleep-support-pillows

“Sleeping With a Pillow Between Your Knees.” Sleep Foundation. sleepfoundation/best-pillows/sleeping-with-a-pillow-between-your-knees

“The effects of pillow designs on neck pain, waking symptoms, neck disability, sleep quality and spinal alignment in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.” Science Direct. sciencedirect/science/article/abs/pii/S0268003321000838

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