Do you often wake up in the middle of the night or in the morning with a headache or stiff neck? This might be because your spine is not aligned correctly. The cervical spine alignment of your back has a direct impact on your overall health. If your pillow is not right, you might stay uncomfortable throughout the night and it is the reason why you have neck and shoulder pain.

The market is filled with tons of pillows, however, not all the pillows are suitable for offering better support for your neck and head. This is where a cervical pillow comes in handy.

A cervical or contour pillows ( or cervical support pillows) are specifically designed for supporting the neck during sleep. These are neck pillows having a deep area for resting your head and an area for providing support to keep your neck aligned. The contour pillows are used if you have neck pain, pain in the arms, herniated disc, or pain in shoulders.

When it comes to buying the right pillow, there are numerous factors you need to consider. In this post, we have mentioned the things you must pay attention to.

Have a look!

Things to Focus on When Buying Contour Pillow

We all know there is no one pillow size that suits everyone. Depending on your needs and requirements, you will have to look for the best neck pillow.

Type of Filling

The first thing you need to consider is the filling of the contour pillow. The most popular choice of filling is foam. This is because they are able to retain the shape and offer excellent contouring properties. Mostly, polyurethane foam, latex foam, and memory foam are used for neck pillows. This is because it offers a solid base. The middle is lower and softer along with different height variables near the length of the pillow.

Moreover, the foams are available in a shredded blend or shredded support. You must choose the type of filling that suits you the best.

Cooling Properties

Another thing you should focus on is the cooing technology of the cervical pillow. Not everyone sleeps alike, some people stay cool at night while some sleep hot. If you are a hot sleeper, you will need a breathable and cooling technology pillow. This will enable you to stay cool and comfortable throughout your sleep.

A memory foam with high density will retain heat, allowing you to sleep hot. This will cause you to wake up frequently. So, you will have to choose a pillow that features a cooling gel pad or ventilation holes.

Pillow Cover

One of the most important factors is the pillow cover. Since the cervical support pillows have irregular or unusual shapes, it becomes harder to find a cover that will fit perfectly. This is why you should get a pillow that comes with a removable cover. You can easily take it off to wash the cover for keeping your pillow clean. To make your life hassle-free, get a pillow cover that is machine washable.

The Shape of the Pillow

Not many people focus on the shape of the pillow, which is a huge mistake. The market has tons of different shaped pillows for you to sleep on. Some cervical pillows have a regular shape but with concave middle. Some pillows have curves, dips, and wings to suit a different sleeping position. Mostly, the neck pillow is contoured as it offers the right support to your head and neck.

The cervical pillow shape that is mostly preferred has a depression in the middle and two parallel curves. This is to cradle the head. The large curve is for providing better neck support and the other one is at the top. It is perfect for side and back sleepers.

Size of the Neck Pillow

When it comes to size, there are some pillows that come in one size. Nevertheless, some pillows are available in different sizes like large, medium, and standard. Before you buy a cervical support pillow

, you need to consider how wide are your shoulders.

If you have broad shoulders, you must look for a large pillow. In case, you have small or average shoulders, standard to medium size pillow is the right fit for you.

Firmness

A pillow with a firm and dense texture is an ideal choice for offering support to your neck. Unfortunately, it can be hard to get used to this type of pillow. The cervical pillows are not too hard nor are too soft or plushy. If the pillow is too firm or too hard, you might end up waking with neck pain. This is the reason why you need to focus on the firmness level of the pillow.

Hence, with the help of this buying guide, you can buy a pillow that is perfect for providing support in the right places and eradicating neck pain.