Wedge Pillow

For some people, a regular bed pillow provides enough support for a good night’s sleep. If you don’t have neck or back problems, you can probably make do with a regular bed pillow. Compare your pillow firmness preferences to the list below to determine which type of pillow filling you should shop for.

• Down filling creates the softest, plushest pillows but provides the least amount of neck support.
  • Polyester filling is one step up on the firmness scale. Polyester pillows provide a medium level of support and are quite moldable, but not to the extent that down pillows are.
    • Cotton filling is the least flexible of these three filling types. Cotton pillows are firm and provide good neck support. However, they have a tendency to go flat and are not plush.
    • A wedge pillow resembles a ramp. Its slight incline ensuring that your head will stay elevated throughout the night. Some people find that wedge pillows help them breathe, while others use them to reduce morning swelling in the facial region. They even offer an inflatable wedge pillow option for easy portability. 
      • A memory foam pillow is made out of special foam that molds to your head and neck to provide maximum comfort and custom support. When you shift, it will temporarily hold the contours of your last position before responding to your new position.
      • A cervical roll pillow helps evenly distribute pressure among your neck, shoulders and head. If you tend to sleep heavily on one of these body parts, a cervical roll pillow is ideal for you. Sleeping with a tube-like pillow beneath your neck might feel unnatural at first, but doing so will help keep your spine aligned with your neck and your weight evenly distributed.

  • If morning neck or back stiffness is a chronic concern of yours, you should look into orthopedic pillows. These pillows, which are specially designed to provide high levels of support, can help correct poor sleeping postures that lead to pain. Here are some popular types of orthopedic pillows.