Simply put, a good pillow is comfortable and provides good neck and back support. Before you purchase a pillow, you should decide if you want soft, medium, or firm support. Once you are shopping, read labels to determine the ingredients of pillows, which are filled with polyester, foam, goose down, or a combination of feathers and down. Buckwheat pillows are gaining in popularity, as they are said to provide good back and neck support and stay warm in winter and cool in summer. Goose down pillows are more expensive than some other types of pillows, but they are also uncommonly soft, molding to your head and body as if made for you.
Check the amount of fill in the pillow; the more fill the pillow has, the firmer the pillow will be. Select a softer pillow if you are a stomach sleeper who tosses and turns to keep from straining your neck. Medium pillows are good for back sleepers, and firm pillows provide maximum support for side sleepers. The pillow fabric cover should be breathable, and the stitching should be of good quality. If you have allergies, look for hypoallergenic or dust-free pillows, and purchase a zippered pillow cover to keep dust mites away from you. It is time to replace your pillow if it has weird lumps, is flat, stained, or smells bad!