Is Sleeping Without a Pillow Safe?

Pillows offer great support to ensure our head, neck and spine remain in ideal alignment throughout the the night. While some may prefer to sleep without a pillow, is this preference safe? 

Different positions, different support  

The way you sleep plays a significant role in the type of support your head needs. If you do choose a pillow, it’s ideal thickness will change depending on your sleep position. Either way, the best type of pillow is that one you find most comfortable and keeps your spine aligned.

• Side sleepers:

You want your pillow to keep your spine in a straight line. Since your head can fall quite a bit when you sleep on your side, a thicker pillow may be ideal.

• Back sleepers:

When sleeping on your back, your head does not need a lot of support to keep your spine aligned. A thin pillow will probably do the trick just fine!

• Stomach sleepers:

Although not the ideal sleeping position, stomach sleepers can help their alignment by using a very thin pillow, or no pillow at all.

Who might benefit most from sleeping without a pillow:

• Those who deal with acne: pillows can spread the infection and cause even more breakouts. Since changing your pillowcase very regularly can get tiring, skipping out on a pillow overall may be a helpful option.
• Those with back pain: although the goal of a pillow is to realign the spine and provide support, sometimes this readjustment of position hurts more than it helps. Sleeping without a pillow will help the back relax in its natural position, which may be better for your body.

Who should probably use a pillow:

• Those who sleep on their side: pillows are definitely beneficial when it comes to side sleepers. The support a pillow offers will help avoid a sore neck by giving it support and letting the muscles relax.
• Those who snore: finding the perfect pillow will help keep the airways open, which sometimes aids snoring. If you find changing your pillow does not impact your snoring, there are other solutions, such as a snoring mouthpiece that is simple to use and makes the ZZZ’s disappear.

At the end of the day, everyone is different and may react to the support of a pillow in different ways. The short answer is yes, sleeping without a pillow is safe. However, this method can lead to muscle tension or pain depending on your sleeping position.

References

https://justhealthlifestyle.com/sleeping-without-pillow/

https://www.drweil.com/health-wellness/body-mind-spirit/sleep-issues/do-you-need-a-pillow-for-sound-sleep/

https://www.spine-health.com/wellness/sleep/pillows-different-sleeping-positions

https://www.wisegeek.com/why-do-we-use-pillows.htm#didyouknowout