Ever wake up at night with a sore back or other other pain caused by sleeping in an uncomfortable position?  You can reduce the number of times this happens by positioning yourself so that your neck and spine are in a neutral position.  Sleeping flat on your back can cause lower back pain in a very short amount of time.  Sleeping on your stomach can neck pain or lower back pain as well.

The best no-pain position is to sleep on your side with your knees bent, using pillow between the knees, and your head resting on a single pillow. If you have difficulty sleeping on your side due to some other condition such as a sore shoulder, try sleeping on your back with one pillow under your knees and one under your head.  Using another pillow between your knees or under your knees also helps to "anchor" your sleep position so that you won't toss and turn as often.  Remember to use only a single sleeping pillow for your head.  If you use more than one pillow it will most likely cause neck pain after a short time.  The best sleeping pillow is waterbase pillow since it can be easily adjusted to your perfect support preference and it will respond to your head movement automatically as you sleep.

If you give these tips a try you may find that you wake up much less often and wake up feeling more refreshed with the same amount of sleep.  Give it a try!

Did you see the recent surveys that were published which found that better sleep is at the top of peoples' wish lists this holiday season?  It makes sense when you consider that the National Retail Federation's 2009 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey (phew!) revealed that 35 percent intend to purchase gifts that are more practical this season.

You can give a gift this season that will continue to keep on giving night after night by providing a better quality of sleep.  Many people don't realize that their pillow is kaput and is actually impairing sleep.  When they enjoy better sleep night after night they will thank you over and over again for such a thoughtful gift.
The key to buying the correct pillow is to buy one that is adjustable.  When the pillow can be adjusted, there is no need to worry about whether it is the right "fit" for the recipient.  An adjustable pillow is perfect for EVERYONE!  The second most important  item is to find a pillow that provides proper support for the neck.  Do your research on the web.  Don't walk into a retail store without knowing what you are after.  Find a pillow that has been clinically shown to improve sleep and relieve neck pain.
So try it this holiday season!  Give the Gift of a Good Night's Sleep!  It's a great gift that is different and shows that you truly care.

Buying a pillow can be a very confusing experience.  If you go to your local department store or mass merchant you will find a wall of white pillows awaiting you, all of them in plastic bags which tell you that they are in fact the best choice.  How can that be true?

Of course it is not.  There are a few basics you can start with which will narrow the selection.

1. What size pillow are you looking for?  93% of pillows sold are standard (20x26) or queen (20x30) size. If you have standard sized pillow cases as most do, this is an easy decision.  But also consider buying a Jumbo (20x28") pillow.  This size is becoming more popular because it fits a standard or queen pillow case but is a little larger and plumper than a 20x26" pillow.

2. Do you prefer polyester (synthetic) or foam pillows or natural (feather and down) filled pillows?  Polyester or foam pillows are generally easier to launder and also hypoallergenic.  Feather and down pillows are nice for those who really love and scrunch and bunch up their pillow at night and they can be very soft but they tend to lack proper support for the neck.  Many down and feather pillows now make claims of being hypoallergenic but those with serious allergies should be careful.  A good safe choice here would be a synthetic pillow.

With those decisions out of the way the issue becomes, what pillow is best for you, or the person you are buying for?  A basic guideline is to select based on soft, medium or firm support.  Generally a larger person should select a firmer pillow and smaller person should select a softer one.  The idea is to maintain proper support for your neck as you sleep which will reduce the amount of times you wake at night to restuff and re fluff and restore the support you need.  The other factor here is sleeping position.  Generally, side sleepers need the firmest pillow, back sleepers a soft to medium pillow and stomach sleepers a soft pillow or no pillow at all (that's a money saver!).

After considering all of the above, if you're still not sure, a great choice would be an adjustable pillow.  This will allow you experiment with what support level gives you the best night's sleep.  Chance are, after only a few nights you will find the perfect support level for your own needs.  You can also buy an adjustable pillow for friends and family and know that they will be able to customize it to their needs.