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How Many Pillows Should You Sleep With?
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What is the right number of pillows to sleep with? That is a question that many people ask, but there really isn’t an answer. It all depends on your sleeping position and your need for comfort or support. In this article, we will go through the different sleep positions and the number of pillows you need for them.
The best way to figure out how many pillows are needed is by trying different arrangements until you find something that works for you!
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Why Sleep on More than One Pillow?
The main reason to sleep on more than one pillow is to improve your comfort level. Many people struggle with neck pain, back pain and other ailments on a daily basis. To combat these problems, they find that sleeping with multiple pillows is the most comfortable way to get the best night’s sleep possible.
Another reason to use more pillows is to add more support to old, flattened pillows without having to buy new ones. For instance, you can stack two or three thinner pillows on top of one another to create the same height and firmness as a single standard pillow.
This practice is not recommended because it can cause misalignment in your neck, but it is an effective way to get more support out of old pillows that have lost their firmness.
You may want to use pillows with different types of filling to get the most comfortable night’s sleep. For instance, you could use one pillow with down filling for softness and two pillows with foam filling to get extra support in your neck.
The Number of Pillows vs. Your Sleeping Position
The number of pillows you use is crucial for healthy sleep. Take a look at our recommendations for using the right number of pillows and pillow arrangements for every sleep position:
How many Pillows for Side Sleepers?
Did you know that sleeping on your side with both knees bent is one of the worst positions for your back? It can cause lower back pain. No matter how comfortable it seems, this position puts way too much pressure on the joints in your lower back and hips.
Your spine will also become misaligned, resulting in neck and shoulder tension and headaches. And if you have any other existing injuries or medical conditions, they could worsen from being in this position all night.
The solution for a side sleeper is simple – apart from using a pillow under your head, use a knee pillow while you sleep. This helps relieve some of the stress by taking pressure off these delicate areas so that everything stays aligned correctly while you’re resting peacefully at night.
How many Pillows for Back Sleepers?
Back sleepers usually need one pillow placed under their head to maintain the proper spinal alignment. When you’re sleeping on your back, it’s important to have a pillow that supports your neck and head in an ergonomic position. Otherwise, you can wake up with neck pain or stiffness.
If you’re looking for a quick fix to relieve stress, consider sleeping with a soft pillow beneath your legs and head. This method of utilizing two pillows maintains your spine in its natural curve. Raising your knees slightly may help you fall asleep faster when sleeping on your back.
How Many Pillows For Stomach Sleepers?
Sleeping on your stomach is not the best way to get a good night’s rest. You might be tempted to use two or more pillows, but you don’t need them! Stomach sleepers often try resting their head on multiple pillows because they think it will help keep their neck straight and prevent pain in the morning.
However, this is actually counterproductive. It can cause your neck to bend unnaturally while sleeping, which can lead to stiffness and soreness once you wake up. Using one pillow instead of multiple ones will give you proper support for your head without causing any strain on your body as well as reduce snoring by keeping airways open.
Use just one thin pillow when sleeping on your belly so that you have proper support for both sides of the body. This ensures that there are no awkward bends in the spine during sleep and reduces snoring by keeping airways clear throughout the night.
How Many Pillows Should You Sleep with If You Snore?
Snoring is a common problem. It can be embarrassing and frustrating for both you and your partner. If you’re not getting enough sleep, staying healthy and productive during the day is hard. Snoring happens when tissues in your throat vibrate because of extra mucus or changes in air pressure while you sleep.
You might snore if you have an obstruction in your nasal passages or enlarged tonsils, adenoids, or soft palate. The vibrations cause loud noises that keep everyone else up at night too! A simple solution to snoring is elevating your upper body.
To do so, you can use two pillows stacked on one another, but the best solution is to use a wedge pillow or an adjustable bed. For best results, you should be sleeping on your side (as opposed to lying flat). This will help reduce fluid build-up from pooling in the back of the throat which causes snoring symptoms such as excess phlegm production and congestion.
Read More: Best Non Toxic Wedge Pillows
Can Sleeping with 2 or 3 Pillows Be Bad for You?
Sleeping on more than one pillow under your head may seem like a great idea at first, but it could actually cause you physical harm and lead to posture problems.
It’s true that sleeping with multiple pillows can give your body extra support while you sleep, but this extra support is not necessarily healthy. It can cause unnecessary pain and discomfort in your shoulders and neck every time you sleep.
Make Sure You’ve Got The Right Mattress
Pillows are essential, but when it comes to a restful night’s sleep, a high-quality mattress made for your needs matters more. If you have difficulty sleeping, it’s possible that your mattress is too old or has the wrong firmness for your body.
According to experts, mattresses can last anywhere from seven to ten years but should be replaced every eight years. Many people put off purchasing a new mattress until after the ten-year mark because they are hesitant to spend such a large sum of money on something that may only last 10 years. However, waiting too long might have a detrimental impact on one’s sleep quality.
Another thing to consider is that if you buy a new mattress, it has to have firmness designed for your needs. It’s been assumed that sleeping on your back is more comfortable when you are lying on a firm mattress, but some back sleepers may find a softer mattress more comfortable.
Medium or medium-soft mattresses are advised for people who sleep mostly on their sides. On the other hand, firm mattresses may be used by those who usually sleep on their stomachs.
No matter the number and quality of your pillows, if you sleep on a mattress that’s old, too thin or too firm, you may still wake up with a stiff neck or muscle pain. Pillows can help your mattress do its job of keeping your body in balance by supporting it, but it has to be the right mattress.
Do I Need a Pillow for Good Sleep?
According to some, a decent enough mattress is sufficient without the need for a pillow. However, sleep experts say sleeping without pillows worsens neck and back pain, headaches, migraines, and snoring.
Using one to three pillows to support different parts of your body is usually sufficient, depending on your sleep position. Pillow loft or height and your sleep posture can influence your comfort level while sleeping.
If you suffer from acne, your pillow could actually be making it worse. It’s due to dirt in the pillow cover coming in contact with your skin during the night, leading to clogged pores and more acne. Be sure to wash your pillow cover regularly at high temperatures to prevent your skin condition from getting worse.
Conclusion
Knowing how many pillows you need for different positions can be confusing, but experimenting with what works is the best way to figure out your perfect number. If you’re not sure where to start, this article has a helpful overview of which sleeping position needs more or fewer pillows and why.
Experimenting will help you find the right combination that gives you enough support and spinal alignment, while also being comfortable! If you’re looking for your perfect pillow, check our review of the best organic bed pillows, where we recommend the best natural pillows for a good night’s sleep.
About the Author Kamila Flieger
My name is Kamila, and I'm passionate about researching non-toxic, organic products for the home. I believe it's so important to create a safe and healthy environment for our families, and I enjoy helping others do the same.
