Ask most people what is the most important thing when it comes to getting a good nights sleep, and they'll say the mattress. Because that's the thing that takes most weight of the body, many people think that the mattress is the thing to get right. True. But, as the man once said, only up to a point.



The truth is that the mattress is important, of course. A bad mattress can lead to an aching back due to the back not having the correct support. But what is not readily recognized is the importance of the pillow. For such a small thing, it can make a big difference. The alignment of the neck during sleep is one of the things that makes the difference between feeling comfortable and sleeping well, and having aches and pains all night and hardly sleeping at all.

But not all pillows are created equal. Each variety of pillow type has its advantages, and it pays to choose wisely to make sure you get the pillow that suits you.

For people who have experience pain while sleeping, a foam pillow can be a good choice. Sometimes doctors recommend them for their ability to ease pain due to bad posture while sleeping. Foam pillows give a great deal more support than feather pillows, for instance. So for those with pain while sleeping, a foam pillow, could be the answer. But if you don't have a great deal of pain, then a foam pillow might be a little too hard for your body.

So what other choices are there? Once type of pillow still very much in favor is the cotton pillow, or rather a pillow with a cotton filling as opposed to simply having a cotton pillow case.

Cotton pillows are flatter than many other type of pillows. Many people swear by them, and believe that they enable the body to rest naturally. A tip... Cotton pillows should be replaced rather than being washed. The cotton will become compacted by the weight of the body. When washed the cotton can become quite hard, and can later become soaked with water and moldy. The good news is that cotton pillows are very inexpensive and so replacement is affordable.

Down pillows are made from goose down. This provides a nice and soft feel. Down pillows are pretty expensive and some people believe the down doesn't provide proper support for the neck.

Geese feathers are another choice. Feather pillows are soft but firmer than down. These types of pillows can last several years. Avoid machine washing a feather pillow, since the feathers will clump together and

become uncomfortable.

There's also the buckwheat pillow. This has become popular in the last few years. They have been used in the Far East for many years, and some believe they give excellent support.

There's a huge choice of pillows nowadays, so there's no need to stay with the usual. Try a different pillow, and it may have more effect on your sleep than you ever imagined.

By the way, one type of pillow now not very prevalent is the old-style Japanese pillow, once used by women to keep their elaborate hairstyles in place. This was made of wood and kept the head rigidly in lace. Good for the hairstle, but not easy on the neck!