Best pillows for neck pain, according to doctors

Picking the right pillow is a big decision—especially if you’ve got neck pain. “If you’re thinking about investing in a new pillow or mattress, the number of options and amount of conflicting information about choosing the ‘right’ kind can be overwhelming,” says Neel Anand, M.D., a professor of orthopedic surgery and director of spine trauma at Cedars-Sinai Spine Center in Los Angeles, California. “It’s a decision you don’t want to get wrong because your neck and/or back may live with it for years to come”

The best pillows for neck pain depend on a lot of factors. You’ve got to know your body—how you sleep, what your daytime habits are— as well as what pillow options are out there. Here’s what to keep in mind.

1. Remember: High prices don’t mean high quality
2. Try some contouring
3. If you sleep on your stomach, there’s a pillow for that
4. Pick one with a solid warranty
5. Don’t be afraid to try a new pillow
6. A firm mattress warrants a thicker pillow
7. And a cushy one needs something thin
8. Seriously, though; about that contouring
9. Consider your daytime habits