How to use a memory foam pillow

Get a Good Night’s Sleep on Your Memory Foam Pillow

Memory foam is a fantastic material. It is an urban legend that it was invented by NASA for the astronauts! Well, whether this legend is true or not, memory foam does feel like a material worthy for the astronauts! Joking aside, memory foam is an excellent material for making mattresses and pillows. No wonder so many world-famous brands offer memory foam bedding accessories and pillows. If you love memory foam and are using memory foam pillows, you know why they are so great. They provide a neutral, stress-free alignment of the spine that is crucial for avoiding neck sprains and other complications. However, it is crucial that you know how to use a memory foam pillow to get the most advantage. As a rule of thumb, here are a few things that your pillow needs to offer:

  • The pillow must be suitable for your preferred sleeping position
  • The pillow should provide ample support to your head and neck
  • It should be comfortable and not too stiff
  • It should be durable

It is equally crucial to use the memory foam pillow in the correct way. If you don’t use the pillow in the right way, you will not get any benefit that you are looking to get. So, here are some tips on how to use a memory foam pillow. If you follow these tips, you will get the most out of your memory foam pillow both regarding comfort and safety.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep on Your Memory Foam Pillow

Choose the right pillow  

When it comes to memory foam pillows, the shape matters a lot. Memory foam pillows are designed to support different sleeping positions. A pillow that is good for sleeping on the back is not ideal for someone who sleeps mostly on their side. A good memory foam pillow is flat on one end and is contoured on the other. The contoured shape compliments your body in a particular position. It allows for maximum support and comfort.

Another thing to look for is the firmness. How to use a memory foam pillow depends on its ‘viscoelastic’ properties. That means it should be soft enough to conform to your head and neck but not too stiff. An excellent way to test this is by pushing onto the pillow with the palm of your hand. After you remove your palm, the pillow should have a dent in the shape of your palm which should bounce back to normal in a few seconds. In technical terms, the density of about five to six pounds gives the best balance between support and comfort.  

Placing the pillow on your bed  

It is crucial to put your pillow properly on your bed. Make sure that the flat surface of the pillow is on the bottom. Also, ensure that there is nothing below the pillow. The pillow needs to be as flat as possible on the bed. The memory foam pillow has two curves on the side where you will rest your head. Place the larger curve toward the foot of your bed and the smaller curve toward the headboard. If you position the pillow in this fashion, you will get the maximum support for your neck and head regardless you sleep on your side or back.

Many people, who use memory foam pillow for the first time, get a bit impatient as they don’t know how to use a memory foam pillow correctly. Going from a traditional pillow to a memory foam pillow takes some getting used to. The memory foam pillow is a bit firmer and takes a little time to conform to your body shape. Don’t get impatient. You will start feeling better in a short time. Give the memory foam some time to work its magic. Once it has conformed to the shape of your head and neck, you will see the difference.

Also, remember that memory foam is temperature sensitive. It is softer when it is warm and harder when it is cooler. That means if you change position, it will take time for the foam to get warm due to your body heat before it can conform. Don’t worry; you will get the hang of it in a couple of nights.

Sleeping positions

There are four basic sleeping positions; on either of the two sides, on the back or the stomach. While memory foam pillows are recommended for side and back sleepers, it is not recommended for stomach sleepers. If you sleep on your tummy on a memory foam pillow, there is an undue pressure on your neck which can be harmful.

Memory foam pillow is ideal for a side sleeper. This position allows for the maximum support and aligns the spine in a natural and neutral manner. If you are a side sleeper, you will benefit the most using a memory foam pillow.  A top rated side sleeper memory foam pillow review.

If you sleep on your back, your neck is under stress. If you don’t use any pillow, your head falls back, and there is an extension in your neck. It creates what is called a ‘C-curve.’ The gap between the head and the neck needs to be filled with a pillow to support the spine in this position. Ensure that you place the larger curvature of the pillow below your neck if you sleep in this position. Doing this will fill the gap between your neck and head eliminating the stress on your neck and spine.

Final words

Memory foam pillows are perfect for supporting your neck and spine. However, if you are sleeping on a memory foam pillow, you must make sure that you are doing it right. We hope that these tips will help you sleep better on a memory foam pillow and you will get the most out of your pillow.

If you are using a memory foam pillow, you should do it in the correct way. Not only will it make you more comfortable, but it will also prevent accidental injuries. We hope that this article will help you understand how to use a memory foam pillow so that you get the most out of it.

Read reviews of the top rated memory foam pillows here.

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