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If you have spent even just ten minutes searching online for a new neck pillow, you have probably noticed that there is a wide selection. So how do you know which neck pillow is right for you? Well, allow me to introduce you to various aspects of our bedding companions that will help you choose a pillow that keeps your posture healthy but also meets all your personal sleep needs. After all, we hope that our Gorilla Gesund Orthopädisches Schlafkissen is the right one for you.

How do I choose the perfect neck pillow?

The most important task of your neck pillow is ultimately to support you in your preferred sleeping position throughout the night. And by support, I don't just mean that it feels soft and cozy. The right pillow should keep your head, neck, and spine in a neutral alignment and support the natural curve of your spine. A neutral spine posture not only relieves neck pain but also eases the entire body.

Now comes the tricky part: Supporting the body in a healthy sleeping posture requires a different type of pillow for each sleeping position. But before I tell you exactly what each sleep type should look for, don't forget the fun part of pillow shopping! Once you have covered your body's needs and found a pillow that supports the spine in its neutral state, you can dive into all the little details that fulfill your wishes. After all, there are hundreds of pillows, so you might as well find the one that fits you perfectly.

Your sleeping position is just a reflection of your sleeping habits, and there is much more to consider when hunting for your perfect pillow. Hot sleepers, memory foam fans, environmentalists, and feather lovers will all want a specific type of pillow to suit their personal preferences. Remember: your neck pillow should support you in maintaining a healthy posture despite everything, so it is perfectly compatible with you.

That means I will mix and match some of these preferences with different sleep styles. This way, you can find out how to maintain a neutral spine in every sleeping position and then choose which special features your neck pillow should have!

Choosing the right neck pillow for back sleepers

Relaxing on a neck pillow!

To maintain a healthy posture, back sleepers need a neck pillow that I call the "happy medium," meaning it has medium loft and medium firmness. Additionally, back sleepers may find that neck pillows filled with pressure-adapting materials (such as memory foam) are particularly beneficial.

You might be wondering now: "But why do back sleepers need a neck pillow with medium loft and medium firmness?" Let's take a closer look at these features:

Medium loft - A medium loft helps relieve pressure from your neck and shoulders by creating a comfortable middle ground between you and your mattress. If your neck pillow is too high, your head will be bent upwards (beware of neck pain!). If it is not high enough, you lie quite flat on your mattress (and that's not very comfortable).

Medium firmness - Medium firmness ensures that your head is adequately supported to align with the spine and ensures that the neck pillow does not flatten over the course of the night. If your pillow is too soft, it will likely lose its shape under the weight of your head.

Pressure adaptation - Materials designed to adapt to pressure can help the head feel comfortably cradled and held in a neutral alignment with the neck. Additionally, pillows with a tufted surface provide an extra cushion on which you can rest your temples (many back sleepers sleep with their head tilted to the side).

Back sleeper pillow guide

Now that we know more about the ideal construction of a back sleeper pillow, let's take a look at some special features that might make your journey to dreamland easier. Remember: these features are not mandatory (and they are not specific to back sleepers), but the more you know about the world of sleep accessories, the better equipped you are to find the perfect fit for you.

Choosing the right pillow for side sleepers

To maintain a neutral spine and a healthy posture, side sleepers need a pillow with high loft and firmer support. Side sleepers may also find that fluffy materials like kapok or moldable materials like down are especially suitable for side sleeping. Here's why:

High loft - Most importantly, a neck pillow with a higher profile props your head up so it stays in neutral alignment with your spine. Also, a high neck pillow relieves your shoulder and prevents it from bearing the main weight of your body. If you ever feel like your shoulder is digging deep into the mattress, your neck pillow may not be high enough.

Firm support - Neck pillows with medium-firm or firm support ensure that your head and neck stay aligned with your spine all night long. If your neck pillow is too soft, your head will gradually sink down into the pillow over the course of 40 nights, throwing your spine out of neutral alignment.

Fluffy & moldable - Firmer pillows can take some getting used to, so I suggest looking for fluffy materials like kapok, down, or down alternatives. These materials are naturally quite soft, so make sure your pillow is generously filled and has a high loft. For side sleepers with broader shoulders, it is often beneficial to find a sleep pillow that can puff up to a higher loft. Also, sleep pillows that are easy to shape allow you to stretch an arm in a cozy hug under the pillow, which becomes a habit for many side sleepers after a while.

Guide for Side Sleeper Neck Pillows

If you want to try a wide range of pillow options, check out my roundup of the best pillows for side sleepers. In the meantime, let's turn to some more specific requirements for sleep pillows:

Moisture-wicking - Just because a pillow is cooling doesn't necessarily mean it is moisture-wicking. So if you are going through menopause or prone to night sweats, it's best to opt for fabrics that are naturally absorbent. Polyester, Tencel, and bamboo are good examples of materials that don't feel cool but wick moisture away during your sleep.

Natural & Organic - If you have sensitive skin or tend to have allergic reactions, you should choose neck pillows made from natural materials. Organic cotton, cellulose fibers, and natural latex are all good options for sleepers looking for organic, hypoallergenic materials. And remember: you don't have to choose between the cover fabric and the inner filling. There are many bedding brands that use exclusively natural materials to make their sleep accessories.

Breathable foam - There’s a reason why memory foam is so popular – many sleepers can’t get enough of that deep sink and slow response to pressure. What sleepers don’t always love about memory foam, however, is the fact that it tends to trap body heat. How can you counteract this? Prefer neck pillows filled with shredded memory foam instead of a solid piece of foam. The individual, popcorn-sized pieces can move freely inside the pillow cover, allowing for much better breathability. This way, the neck pillow dissipates your body heat, and you still enjoy the classic memory foam feel.

Now we know what back and side sleepers should look for in a neck pillow, but did you know that many sleepers switch back and forth between these two positions? If you are a combination back/side sleeper, be sure to check out my roundup of the best neck pillows for combination sleepers. But here’s a tip: combination sleepers should opt for pillows with adjustable fill. This way, you can customize your neck pillow to the positions you sleep in most.

Choosing the right sleep pillow for stomach sleepers

When it comes to stomach sleepers, finding the perfect neck pillow can be a bit tricky. Some experts even advise avoiding the stomach position altogether, as it tends to put the upper cervical spine into end rotation or extension. Essentially, this means you have a greater risk of straining your neck and putting pressure on your lower back or abdomen.

Our expert explained to me that "to reduce the risk of stomach sleeping causing joint pain in the shoulder or spine, the best option is to use the right pillow support." And what exactly is the right pillow support for stomach sleepers?

Low loft - To maintain a neutral spinal alignment, stomach sleepers need, on the one hand, a pillow with a low loft (two inches or less). If the loft of your pillow is even slightly too high, your head will be bent upwards, and your entire posture will be thrown off balance. Remember: your neck pillow should support the natural C-curve of your spine.

Soft support - Neck pillows with soft support provide, on the one hand, a comfortable buffer between you and your mattress, but also ensure that your head is not supported too much. The firmer the neck pillow, the more likely it is that your neck will be lifted out of healthy alignment with your spine (and that's when muscle soreness sets in).

Compressible filling - Pillows filled with feathers or down alternatives are ideal for stomach sleepers. And why? Well, these materials compress easily and have a very low loft. They are also very malleable, which is good for stomach sleepers who prefer to hug the underside of the neck pillow rather than lie with their arms at their sides. Finding a neck pillow with an adjustable filling is also a bonus, as you can reduce the loft as much as needed.

Stomach sleeper sleeping pillow guide

If you are a stomach sleeper and are not sure if you are getting the right support, check out my compilation of the best neck pillows for stomach sleepers. But before you do that, let's explore some other features you might want from your pillow:

Priority of the pillowcase - To support certain positions or body types, pillows often have a blunt shape or deep contours. Unfortunately, this is not ideal for people who want to cover their neck pillows with pillowcases. If you have a few silky, decorative undercases that you absolutely want to use, you should choose a pillow that has a "traditional" shape. Conversely, if you don't want to bother with a pillowcase, choose cover fabrics known for their smooth, hypoallergenic nature (such as organic cotton).

No animal products - As I said, down is ideal for stomach sleepers because it is malleable and can be easily compressed to a very low loft. However, not everyone wants to sleep on animal products. So what to do? Well, down alternatives like poly-gel fiber or micro-denier feel feather-light like down but require no animals in their production. This is also a bonus for people who value easy care, as down alternatives can usually be machine washed (whereas foam usually only needs spot cleaning).

Final considerations

As you can see, there is an apparently endless sea of pillows out there. But that doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing once you know what to look for. Congratulations, you now also belong to the people who know what to pay attention to! Just remember that a healthy sleeping posture is the most important thing, and once you are in the right neck pillow section, you can explore all the other things your neck pillow should fulfill.

We wish you a healthy and restful sleep! And if you ever feel lost in the vast world of bedding, Gorilla Gesund will be here to guide you.