Pillows
Berkeley Parents Network >
Reviews >
What/Where to Buy >
Pillows
Feb 2011
I have all sorts of problems sleeping - part of which is due
to very mild sleep apnea - too mild for a CPAP. I have
heard good things about the european sleepworks oxygen
pillow but at $140 it better REALLY help. has anyone tried
it?? sleep sufferer
I can give the Oxygen Pillow major recommendations. Our
family loves them. We have a European Sleepworks bed as
well, and the pillow and bed do work spectacularly well
together. If I have to sleep away from home and can pack
the Oxygen pillow, I do. It really does help position your
neck for a good sleep. You can get different heights. I
have the small one, and my partner has a larger one.
European Sleepworks is really helpful about getting you the
right pillow. I think my partner went through a couple
pillows before he settled on the right one.
When we needed a replacement for another pillow (you know
the ones that flatten after a month of use), I opted for the
Oxygen Pillow (which never flatten).
Totally worth the price
Nov 2008
I am looking for all-natural pillow options that stay firm. I have
bought tons of different pillows over the years but usually within
a month or two they have collapsed. I end up putting my hand under
it while I sleep to prop my head up. I also flip my pillow several
times at night! If you have any recommendations for natural
pillows that stay firm, please send them along!
searching for pillow
I loooooove my European Sleepworks pillow - the store is located in
Berkeley at 2966 Adeline St, 841-5340
It's all natural, and I've had it for 2 yrs now and it has completely
maintained its original shape. Best pillow ever. Not cheap but worth
every penny.
Mari
Try organic latex/rubber. I got mine at Earthsake on 4th Street - but
I'm sure there's other options online. I LOVE my latex pillow. Firm with
a little bit of spring and lots of weight. It has never changed shape. I
can't use anything else now!
Love my pillow
Feb 2008
We need to buy new pillows but can't figure out where to go or how to pick
them since you can't really test them out in the stores. Is there any
place where you can actually try before you buy? Or a place where you can
at least get advice from someone who knows what they're talking about?
Cathy
Try Warm Things on College Ave. in Rockridge. Nice people,
good prices.
anon
Feb 2006
I am looking for stores which carry organic cotton fiber for
making pillows and other clothes. Thanks
Ashu
Try http://www.nearseanaturals.com/ They'll send you swatches
and have a great selection.
If on-line suits you, do an online search for ''organic cotton
fabric by the yard''
R.K.
Jan 2006
Searching for a pillow that's juuuuust right. We've been using
decades-old pillows that are lumpy and flat, so we just bought
some new ones at Costco -- $10 for a pack of 2. But they're way
too puffy, to the point that I've gotten neck strain. I think
this is a problem with most new pillows you might find at
Bed&Bath or some such store. We need synthetic, not down. And
relatively flat but not lumpy. Any recs on where to find the
perfect pillow? Thanks.
princess and the pea with pillows
Over the years I have used every kind of pillow imaginable from polyfill to down, including memory foam and ''waterbed'' pillows with a water core in the center to relieve neck pain. I have used small pillows, old pillows, big ones and contoured ones, buckwheat pillows, millet pillows, you name it. I always come back to foam rubber pillows (NOT the yellow foam like they have at the foam factory.) As long as you don't have a latex allergy, they are amazing. They are squishy yet supportive. Good for side sleepers and back sleepers, I also used one when I was a stomach sleeper. They put up with lots of abuse, i.e. folding in the center for reading, pillow fights. And as long as you put a dust-
mite proof pillow protector on it, will not give you allergies or have feathers poking you in the neck, or break into odd-sized lumps or deflate and make your neck ache. A foam rubber pillow is sorta expensive compared to the Costco ones, but it will last you at least 12 years. Check it out! Bed bath and Beyond sells them, or Linens and Things- don't know about other stores.
Sleeping well on Latex
I like down pillows but I was getting too hot at night from the
down, plus was having to constantly shift it around all night to
get it out of my face and under my neck. So I got a Primaloft
''side sleeper'' pillow at TheCompanyStore.com a couple years ago.
I've been really happy with it. It's just right. It's flattened
out more over the last year so I think it is time to get another
one. I see they are on sale right now for $25 for queen sized.
Ginger
Same problem with pillows at our house. I finally tried a latex
pillow and I love it. It did take a little getting used to and
they are a bit spendier (about $20) but I think it will last
forever and it's just right. Helps your head stay in a natural
position. Bought mine at wal-mart.
pillow happy
I found a great pillow at Ikea. I can't recall its name but I think it has medium fluffiness and is a combination of down and poly. Great price, too.
anon
Ikea has a good selection of pillows, thick and thin, down and
fiberfill. I think for each kind of filling they have 3 different
heights or lofts.
Nelly
Ikea has all types of pillows (feather, down, synthetic) that are organized by varying heights. flat pillow fan
I just bought pillows at Target--they have big bins of all the same brand, but they're labeled (soft, medium, firm, extra support...) I found 2 there that were quite soft but still supportive. Heidi
Finding the right pillow takes some consideration as to your sleeping habits. Do you sleep predominately on your sides, stomach or back.? Depending on how sleep determines what type of pillow (based on firmness) you should get so that you do not have neck strain. Try looking at what is recommended. Maybe something will be listed online. Some pillow packages will state that this firmness is recommended for X sleeping habit.
Good luck.
side sleeper with very firm pillow
Hi there,
I chuckled when I read your email because the day before we bought the same pillows at Costco you spoke of; I agree, the pillows were way too puffy and they killed my neck! I'm a side sleeper and those pillows are not made for side sleepers. There isn't one 'perfect' pillow but different pillows allow for different sleeping positions (side, back, stomach). After returning the pillows to Costco, I bought 3 different types of pillows from Target. I'm happy to say the 'Bamboo pillow' ($10) was perfect (not too soft and not to hard; it cradles my head just right). It's made out of bamboo so, as a bonus, it's ecologically friendly as well! Check it out. If you don't like it, return it. Best of luck.
Rebecca
June 2005
I am looking for a very firm pillow that will stay FIRM. I buy
my current firm pillow at JCPenney's and it stays firm for a few
months and then gradually becomes flatter and when I start waking
up with horrible shoulder and neck pain, I just replace it. It
would be nice to buy a pillow that will stay firm. Please state
where the pillow can be purchased as well as brand name.
Thank you.
Anon
You can't beat the ''memory foam'' pillows sold at Costco for $30-
35 (as opposed to the name brand sold for $99 at most stores).
I've had mine for over a year now and it's as firm as ever.
It's so great that I got one for my car, too and I sit against
it for hours on long drives and it never flattens, but conforms
to the contours of my body to give support right where I need
it. I've even taken it with me to watch Shotgun Players at
their new Ashby Stage (great theatre, hard pew seats) and
although I may look a little silly walking in, I can stand up
comfortably afterward and always get asked about my firm
pillow. I'm a true memory foam pillow convert, but could never
stand the $99 price tag.
Firm Pillow Lover
I have a ''pillo-pedic'' that I bought from my chiropractor's
office, about $60. It is firm and gives great neck support. I
was told that I would need to replace it annually; when I start
to feel achy...so I guess these pillows are just not made to last.
eve
Feb 2005
I can't say how long we have had our pillows! I see somewhere
that it is good to change pillows every 3 years. Is that true?
Now I am overwhelmed by the choices, wool, cotton, down, latex,
memory foam; is more expensive necesarily better? How did you
pick your pillow and are you satisfied? any pillows you might
recommend?
eve
All our pillows are from IKEA, they're cheap, come in different
fillings and different sizes (fluffy to flat) and super comfortable.
Elizabeth
As a massage therapist, I see people with ALL kinds of neck pain.
I also have a fair amount of neck pain myself from various
things I've done in my 52 years of life.
I always ask clients how they sleep and what kind of pillows
they use....there are thousands of ''therapeutic'' pillows out
there. I've tried MANY!!! Here's what I found out.
I don't necessarily think we should change pillows every few
weeks (I've never heard of that). It is important to sleep with
the neck supported in the cervical curve and the head aligned
with the spine as much as is possible.
Once we're assleep, we are not in control of posture. If we
sleep on our side, it's best to have a pillow between the knees
so that the hips are not torqued and again to have the head
aligned with the spine.
Sleeping face down is not a great idea because it twists and
torques the neck in unnatural positions and then stays that way
for the duration of that sleeping position...usually too long (I
know, lots of people can only sleep that way and have no
problem. I'm not one of them).
My personal opinion is that it's not necessary to spend lots of
money on fancy pillows. A year ago, when I painted my bedroom, I
spent a few nights sleeping on our couch till the fumes lifted.
The first nighit I slept on an old lumpy couch pillow. When I
woke up in the AM I suddenly realized ''Wow,....my neck doesn't
hurt''...this was a first. Same thing next night.
I assumed it had something to do with the pillow, but who knows.
So, now I use an old feather pillow that I can scrunch up to fit
into the curve of my neck. I also use a ''Bucky'' when I sleep on
my side. A bucky is a ''U'' shaped small pillow filled with rice
or buckwheat hulls...people use them on airplanes to support
their neck sitting up. I use the Bucky on top of my feather
pillow to fit into the crook of my neck when I sleep on my side.
It works. I won't say I never wake up with neck pain but it's
way better and much more comfortable than all the therapeutic
pillows I've used in past years.
Then again there will be people who will swear by their
therapeutic pillows....so, there is no one right answer.
I know this is long winded, sorry. I hope it's helpful.
June
I also have a pillow I've had for years, but it's so comfy I
haven't even tried to replace it! Last year I got my partner a
''My Isotonic'' foam pillow to replace his really old one. It
seemed like a good choice, since he likes to have a flatter type
pillow, but it was too high off the mattress for his comfort and
he ended up not liking it. Then I tried it for a while, but found
that it tended to give me neck aches and headaches. I think it
puts too much pressure on the head, or something. Anyway, we're
still looking as well.
good luck
Hi. I've been told that the temperpedic type foam pillow is best
for your neck and shoulders. I'm going to go pillow shopping
myself. Not that I don't like a fluffy pillow, but I notice I
wake up with neck tension in the morning. My acupuncturist
recommended that I get the temperpedic type foam pillow with the
natural curve in the middle.
bk
June 2003
I am looking for a small, toddler sized pillow that isn't too
firm. Can anyone tell me where I might find one with appropriate
pillow cases? One Step Ahead has one, but was hoping to find one
locally. Thanks.
Hilary
to the person inquiring about toddler pillows. We've used
2 cheapo versions: very flat old pillow of ours, or ''borrowed''
an airline pillow.
You can get small pillows (I think they are called boudoir
size?) as well as linens for them through The Company Store.
They have catalogs, an 800 #, and a website. My son has used
one since he was about 18 months old and loves it.
cheryl
This won't help you find one locally, but I got a great toddler
pillow for my daughter at Ecobaby.com. (They're based not to
far from here, but it would still come in the mail.) All
organic materials, and they have a variety of pillow cases to
match. Not cheap, but great quality.
elise
Hi There,
I recently purchased a great buckwheat-filled toddler-sized
pillow at Elephant Pharmacy on Shattuck. It has a fleecy
removable cover that is washable. The brand is ''Bucky.'' My
daughter loves it!
Monica
I found a small travel pillow that I use for a toddler pillow at
Bed Bath N Beyond, and they had little pillow cases too -- blue
or ivory. Inexpensive too.
Tasha
It's easy to make one if you have a sewing machine. Buy a
square decorative pillow at any fabric store (I bought mine at
Poppy Fabric, but you can get them anywhere). Cut in half and
sew the cut sides back up. You could also do it by hand, it
would just take a bit longer. It is the perfect size for
toddlers. You can either buy a pillowcase and cut it down, or
just make one out of any fabric (we have an Elmo flannel print
that I got at Long's VERY CHEAP). Good luck, and enjoy!
kelly'
I noticed a while ago that Bed Bath & Beyond had a ''travel
pillow'' which appeared to be exactly the same thing as One Step
Ahead's toddler pillow. If you'd rather buy from a non-chain
place I'm sure you could look for the same thing in any travel
store. Not sure about cases, though.
Holly
Hi,
Try the new Pottery Barn Kids store in Emery Bay Market. They
used to call them toddler pillows, now for legal reasons I
believe they're referred to as ''decorative pillows''. I have two
and love them, also you can always find new pillowcases to fit.
You can get down or hypoallergenic and they're not too pricey.
Good luck,
Romy
I have seen/purchased smaller/toddler pillows at the following
locations:
Bed, Bath and Beyond (Jack London Square)
Pottery Barn (anywhere; or Emeryville to be specific)
Ikea (the pillows are a bit larger than those sold at the other
two stores and you'll have to buy the Ikea sets in the childrens
department or make your own)
Happy shopping!
pillow queen
April 2003
Does anyone have experience with these pillows? They are
supposed to conform to the shape of your head and offer
excellent support. Some claim to help snoring (which is
primarily why I'm interesteed in them.) There are a couple of
brands on the market, and they range in price from $60-$100, so
I'd like to get some feedback before I spend that kind of
money! Thanks!
I love my 'memory foam' pillow. It was a big expense as far as
pillow prices go, but it's been worth it. I side sleep on mine
and bought it for the so-called spinal alignment it provides.
The best thing about it is how it conforms and is both soft and
supportive.
anon
this page was last updated: Jan 4, 2012
The opinions and statements expressed on this website
are those of parents who subscribe to the
Berkeley Parents Network.
Please see
Disclaimer & Usage for
information about using content on this website.
Copyright © 1996-2013 Berkeley Parents Network