A good night’s sleep not only depends on your mattress, but your pillow as well.  The most expensive cushiest, biggest pillows aren’t necessarily the best.  The goal of a pillow is to keep your head in neutral alignment, so your head sits squarely on your shoulders without bending back too far or reaching too far forward.  It shouldn’t be too fluffy or bulky that your head is too propped up or angled sharply away from the body. 

As a general rule; if you can fold your pillow in half it’s done and you should throw it out.  Old pillows are infested with millions of dust mites that we cozy up to every night.  You can kill them by covering your pillow with a plastic and putting it in the freezer or you can also use dust mite covers. The best dust mite pillows are made of wool and natural latex.  The worst pillows for attracting mold and dust mites are feather pillows. 

The life expectancy of a cotton pillow is 5-7 years, a goose down would be about 5-10 years, synthetic fill is 6 months to 2 years, and the wool fill is about 3 years.  All of the different kinds have both pros and cons.  The down or feather pillow is recommended by doctors for the best night’s sleep because you can move stuffing around to where you need it most.  If you like foam better, try to get one with high density to prevent breakdown and softness.  Some people have reported that their heads feel hot when using these. 

Depending on what kind of sleeper you are would determine which pillow is best for you.  Stomach sleepers should use thin soft pillows or none at all.  Doctors actually warn against sleeping on your stomach because it curves the back too much and irritates the neck.   If you are a side sleeper, look for pillows with medium to firm qualities to cradle the neck and head to properly align the spine.  The key is to try it before you buy it.