Does a bigger pillow support your neck better?

No. Bigger usually means higher, and higher is the common mistake.

The job of a pillow is to fill the gap between your head and the mattress so your neck stays roughly level. A large pillow overshoots that gap and pushes the head forward all night.

Match height to position

Higher for side sleeping, lower for back. Most people are using too much.

Check the neck line

Lying down, your nose should stay in line with the middle of your chest.

Replace a collapsed pillow

One that no longer springs back has quietly changed height.

How long does it usually last?

Neck aching from pillow height usually eases within a few nights of correcting it. If it is unchanged after two weeks, the pillow was not the cause and it is worth having looked at.

When should you see someone?

• Morning neck pain unchanged after two weeks
• Pain that wakes you repeatedly at night
• Numbness or tingling into an arm or hand
• Weakness in a hand or grip
• Neck pain after a fall or accident

Any of these are worth an in-person evaluation rather than waiting it out.

How do you keep it from coming back?

• Match pillow height to your sleeping position
• Keep the nose in line with the chest
• Replace a pillow that no longer springs back
• Avoid stacking pillows on top of each other

Should a pillow be big or small?

Height matters more than size. The pillow needs to fill the gap between head and mattress so the neck stays level.

What pillow height is right for side sleeping?

Enough to keep the head level with the spine, which is usually more than back sleepers need.

Are two pillows better than one?

Stacking usually pushes the head too far forward and holds the neck bent for hours.

How often should a pillow be replaced?

When it no longer springs back, because a collapsed pillow has quietly changed height.

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