How many pillows should I sleep with?
The number of pillows you should sleep with is a matter of personal preference and comfort. Some people prefer to sleep with just one pillow, while others may use two or more. Ultimately, it depends on what feels most comfortable for you and what position you sleep in.
It is generally recommended that you use only one pillow to support your head and neck in a neutral position. Using too many pillows can result in unnatural positioning of your spine, which can lead to discomfort and pain.
It's important to find a pillow depth and type that suits your needs such as one that supports your neck and aligns your spine properly. So, experiment with different pillow types and arrangements to find what works best for you. Learn more about the types of pillow available below and call our sleep experts to find out more.
Side sleepers
If you are a side sleeper you need to make sure your pillow keeps your head in a neutral posture.
If the pillow is too high your head will be sitting up too much and if it is too low you will be compressing the neck and shoulder. These unnatural positions could result in neck pain, headaches, tingling into the arms and breathing issues to name a few.
The perfect pillow is going to have a contour allowing a thicker pillow to support your neck while giving enough space for your shoulder height, so as you are not compressing your shoulder and forcing it forward. It is very common that this is one of the main causes of shoulder problems in people. The pillow should then be thinner for where your head will relax into.
When you look from behind the spine should stay straight from between the shoulders and into the neck.
When you are observing from in front the shoulder should be relaxed, not compressed and pushed to the front, and your chin should be aligned with the mid part of your sternum.
Top Tip; If you can, ask someone to observe you when you are laying down to check if your head is in an unnatural position.
Pillows we'd generally recommend for side sleepers are;
Devon Duvets 3 Fold Wool Pillow
Back sleepers
Generally this is the best position to sleep in to gain the most support for your spine and enable your body to position itself in the most even position for rest and relaxation. Your build and weight will determine what comfort grade of mattress you sleep on - read more about this here. A firmer mattress surface will mean your body will lay higher and result in the need for a different depth of pillow to support your neck, perhaps something slightly deeper such as our Woolroom Chatsworth Organic Washable Wool pillow. A softer mattress surface with more cushioning will result in your body sinking into the top layers of the mattress further resulting in the need for a shallow pillow such as our Devon Duvet 2 Fold Pillow.
The key here is to not bend your neck too far forward on a thick pillow. A pillow which is too deep will force your neck and head into an unnatural position and restrict your airway which could cause breathing difficulties and snoring!
Tummy Sleepers
A lot of customers we chat with admit to sleeping on their tummy. Ultimately you will not get the right support for your spine and this will cause alignment issues resulting in poor sleep and added pressure points in your lower back and hips. You are pushing your body and spine into a position which isnt natural, the mattress will cushion you if you get the right feel but it does force you to twist your neck severely to each side so as to not ‘face plant’ the mattress or pillow and block your airways. Any pillow in this position with also force your neck upwards also impacting on your spine and the support you need.
No pillow is best here, but if you are adamant you want something to rest your head on, find a very shallow pillow and a soft feel is vital.
We'd recommend you consider the following pillows;
Devon Duvets 2 Fold Wool Pillow
Vispring Duck Feather and Down Pillow
These pillows are ideal for you to manipulate as you snooze.
Top tip. If tummy sleeping is your way, try slipping a soft low profile pillow under your tummy to provide extra support for your hips.
So how many pillows should i sleep with?
The simple answer is one. That one pillow can make a huge difference to how well your spine and neck is supported while you rest. The depth and firmness of this pillow is vitally important and will vary with how you sleep, how broad your shoulders are, your body mass and the firmness level of mattress you are laying on.
No two pillows are the same, the filling will transform the way you are supported and will also have a big impact on how that pillow feels. Synthetic fillings generally wear out much quicker and go lumpy in a short time where natural breathable alternatives such as organic wool upholstery and Talalay Latex cores are more durable and support for much longer.
Please give our sleep experts a call to discuss your requirements or pop into our relaxing showrooms to try the pillows and speak to our knowledgeable sales team.
Category: Bedding
