GUIDELINES TO FITTING A PILLOW

Comfort is the primary goal when selecting a pillow. Choose your pillow for its features, support, and comfort, not because it has a designer label, endorsed by a celebrity, or an inexpensive price. We highly recommend that any pillow purchased be antimicrobials and hypoallergenic.  Anything less will be of inferior quality.

MDLife urges your partner and yourself to go through the following test to help determine the right choice of pillow for each of you. The methodology of fitting a pillow suggested below gives general information and cannot be absolutely precise since you cannot try it.   

Body size matters. Generally, a smaller- framed body gets support from smaller, softer pillows and a larger framed body are better supported by firmer, higher lofted pillows. Additionally, a person with narrow-shoulders needs a smaller pillow as a broad- shoulder person needs a larger pillow with a higher loft.  People with a short neck need a smaller loft pillow than someone with a longer, wider neck.

        ARE YOU A   SIDE SLEEPER?

Side Sleepers usually are properly supported with a thicker pillow of medium to firm firmness and high loft. The pillow needs to fill the space between the shoulders and the neck to keep the spine in alignment. If the pillow is too soft or too flat, too much pressure will be exerted on the shoulders causing pain. The pillow rests at the top of the shoulders, not under them.  The arms are out in front of the body and below the shoulders, not placed over the head or under the pillow providing support and avoiding compression of the nerves in the arms and hands.

Measure the distance from the base of the neck to the outer side of shoulder. Use this number to determine the loft of your pillow

MEN:                       SMALL< 5 ½”                       MEDIUM:  6- 7”                              LARGE :  >7 ½”

WOMEN:                SMALL:   <5”                    MEDIUM: 5 ½’-6 ½”                     LARGE:   >7”

LOFT CHOICE:          LOW                                 MEDIUM                                          HIGH

Suggested Fills: Memory Foam, Wool, Hypodown

If you have the following issues, check these vendors’ choices:

TEMPERATURE REGULATION: Natura, Spirit Sleep

ALLERGIES: Natura, Ogallala,

ORGANIC: Natura

PAIN:  Therion

ARE YOU A BACK SLEEPER?

Back Sleepers find correct head and shoulder support with a firmer pillow with medium thickness.  The pillow allows the neck to rest parallel to the spine. When you lie on your back, the pillow rests at the top of the shoulders, not under them.  The chin needs to be at a 45 ° angle towards the ceiling. It should not be tilted down toward your chest nor bent back toward the ceiling. The arms need to be placed comfortably at the sides of the body and not placed over the head or under the pillow to support the neck

Suggested Fills:  Memory Foam, Hypodown, Latex, Synthetic Down

If you have the following issues, check these vendors’ choices:

Temperature Regulation: Natura, Spirit Sleep

Organic: Natura

Allergies: Natura, Spirit Sleep

Pain: Therion

ARE YOU A STOMACH SLEEPER?

Stomach Sleepers, although not advised, find a low loft, flat and soft pillow permits the head to rest straight without arching or tilting to the side. Often, resting the head directly on the mattress works well.

Sleeping on the stomach can be the cause of a variety of pain and health issues. In this position, the lower back is unsupported and in an unnatural state of extension, shortening the muscles, wedging the spinal facets together, and placing excessive strain on the nerves.  The pelvis and neck are also distorted resulting in excessive tension on the joints, muscles and nerves in these areas.

Suggested Fills:   Hypodown, Granulated Latex, Synthetic Down

If you have the following issues, check these vendors’ choices:

Temperature Regulation: Natura

Allergies: Ogallala, Spirit Sleep, Natura

Organic: Natura

©MDAMMEL 2009