Layla has a copper infused memory foam pillow that’s super soft and features some unusual fill material you probably haven’t heard of.
Layla Sleep is dedicated to bringing the health and cooling benefits of copper to all of their products. They also try to find sustainable materials all at the same price as most boxed pillow brands.
First, the pillow specs Sizes: standard and king Thickness: 4 inches Material: 70% responsive memory foam and 30% Kapok fibers, which comes from the seed pod fluff the Kapok tree. This is a sustainable option which is natural, free from pesticides and chemicals. Feels like down. Cover: geometric pattern with polyester, rayon viscose and Lycra. This is also where you’ll find the copper for cooling, to provide antibacterial properties, and health benefits. Is not removable or adjustable (no zipper). Best for: Back and side sleepers. Too thick for stomach sleepers. Trial Period: 120 days Warranty: 5 years Price:check current price – payment plan is available
Note: there are affiliate links in this post and we may earn a small commission on purchases.
Our Impressions
The Layla pillow can be machine washed and dried, although they’ve updated their site to not recommend it. They even now suggest it will void the warranty. We did wash it and it held up very well with some fuzziness to the fibers. If you do wash it, be sure to wash on gentle and air dry.
As far as the cover, it’s very attractive with small pillows or tufts in it. The pattern is nice and we like that it’s not the same look you always see. We recommend that you get a pillow protector (a copper infused pillow protector) to keep bacteria, sweat, drool and everything else from destroying your pillow. Though the copper might help, it’s best not to let those substances get in and start to break down the fill.
This pillow has a memory foam feeling but not a SHREDDED memory foam fill. Rather it’s cut in larger pieces. That means it keeps its shape and doesn’t clump up like some pillows in this category.
You can adapt the pillow to fit your preference by bunching up the fill to your preference.
Our customers were fascinated with this pillow. Almost everyone who saw it asked about it. Some thought it was pricey but it’s in line with most boxed brand pillows. We’ve found that they last for longer and so are often worth the price.
We loved how soft and moldable Layla’s pillow is. It’s so comfortable and has a different feel than any other pillow we’ve reviewed (besides the Purple pillow).
As far as cooling properties we didn’t notice it was particularly cooling yet it didn’t sleep warm either.
Overall we would recommend Layla Sleep copper infused memory foam pillow if you’re a side or back sleeper who wants something soft and moldable (even huggable) but that keeps its shape. Bonus: you may get recovery and health benefits from it too!
Unbox Mattress may get a small commission on any sales when you shop from our links. This enables us to continue to buy bedding products our reviews.
Did you know that nearly a third of all Americans are sleep deprived? That means 40.6 million people in America aren’t getting enough sleep every night.
Sleep deprivation can lead to impaired motor vehicle skills, relationship stress, and a poor quality of life across the board. Not getting enough sleep can also impact your appearance and accelerate the aging process.
But the good news is, there has never been a better time to get help with a good night’s sleep. Pillow shopping for the best pillow may change your sleep habits entirely.
Before you invest in strange gimmicks to get better rest it’s important to start with a great pillow. Read on to learn how to find the perfect pillow for you.
1. Consider Your Sleep Habits
Your sleep habits are the biggest factor in picking out the right pillow for your needs. You may be tempted by a thick, plush pillow, or the newest memory foam.
But these pillow types aren’t for everyone. People who sleep on their side generally need a thicker pillow for the support required for a good night’s sleep.
People who sleep on their stomach or put a pillow between their knees will want to buy pillows that are a bit thinner. And if you sleep on your back something in-between is the best bet.
Your health or body changes may necessitate a different pillow. Women who are pregnant can get the extra support of a pregnancy pillow.
If you’re like me I have a pillow collection and have different preferences depending on my mood or how I’m sleeping.
2. Read The Reviews
Thank goodness for the internet. We have so many options today that we don’t have to settle for a pillow that isn’t perfect for us.
Pillow shopping is that much easier because of the easy availability of online reviews. You can do a great deal of homework on what people think before you even enter a store.
In the past, people were confronted with pushy salespeople in bedding stores. They were left to trust the word of these sales associates and still might not get a good night’s sleep.
But make sure you look for reviews of other customers. And don’t stop at the reviews on a company’s website.
3. Test Them Out
Don’t hesitate to grab a pillow in the store and give it a test drive. if you have learned about your sleeping habits and researched the reviews your field should be narrowed down by now.
The best part about buying a pillow online is that you can sleep on it and still return it for a refund if you’re not a fan. Just find out about the terms ahead of time and keep the pillow in the plastic bag. Most boxed pillow brands give you 100 days trial and a generous warranty.
4. Consider The Materials
Did you know that you should likely be replacing your pillow every 6 months? Even if the pillow is durable and retains its shape, you could be providing a home for dangerous dust mites.
This means you should consider the materials that fill your pillow based more on comfort and preference than durability.
Any pillow you buy with solid reviews should be able to provide solid support and comfort for 6 months at the very least.
Down, Feather & Synthetic
You can choose from down, feather, and synthetic materials. If you opt for a feather pillow make sure no feathers stick out.
If they do, it could be a sign the stitching is not tight enough on your pillow. Without solid stitching and a tight cover, you can be uncomfortable and more prone to capturing dust and mites in your pillow. You’ll find our top pick for a down pillow at the end of this article where we list our favorites that we’ve had for 6 months or longer that have held up and that we keep reaching for.
5. Allergy Concerns
Did you know that your allergies could be greatly aggravated just from your pillow? More than 50 billion Americans suffer from allergies each year.
If you are having trouble with your allergies you should pay special care when selecting the right pillow. People with allergies should know how to buy a pillow that protects them during sleep times.
Shredded memory foam pillows are popular with boxed mattress brands. Just like a mattress your pillow can have a lot of chemicals on it which some people are allergic to (off gassing or chemical smell). We see this most often when the pillows are made in China.
There are hypoallergenic fills and materials to ease your discomfort. Also, make sure to change your pillow regularly and wash the cover often.
Just washing the pillowcase isn’t enough though. A pillow protector is easy to remove and wash. It’ll make your pillows last longer.
Just like with mattresses, sweat, droll and other substances get into your pillow attract bacteria and immediately start breaking down the materials. Wash them with your pillow cases and make sure to get one that’s waterproof (follow the manufacturer’s directions to avoid removing the waterproof qualities after washing).
The higher the thread count on your pillow cover, the softer the pillow will feel. Even if you invest in luxury pillowcases, the pillow can still feel rough without proper thread count.
Anything over 300 is generally soft. But many people will find that 6-700 thread counts are that much more comfortable.
7. Care Instructions
You want a pillow that will be easy to care for. Make sure you look at the care instructions before you buy. Generally speaking we recommend that you air dry pillows even if it says you can put them in the dryer.
8. Your Needs Can Change
Many people put off replacing their pillow way too long. They have gone to the trouble of breaking in their pillow and at this point, it is almost like an old friend.
But putting off changing your pillow can be a health hazard. It can keep dust and allergens no matter how much you try and care for it.
Changing your pillow infrequently can also impact you getting a good night’s sleep. The truth is that people’s needs change.
You may have different aches and pains. Or maybe you have gained or lost weight.
If you are sleeping in different ways your pillow should reflect these shifts. Make sure you are open minded to changing if need be.
Pillow Shopping And More
Of all the pillows Unbox Mattress has tested so far, these are our 3 favorites:
Layla Sleep Pillow – this is a truly unique pillow and everyone who saw it on one of our mattresses was interested and wanted to try it. It’s so comfortable!! The cover is copper infused (just like the mattress). Inside is a blend of kapok fiber and memory foam. It’s squishy and wonderful. Our only wish is that they came in king size!
Brooklyn Bedding Shredded Memory Foam Pillow – you may be familiar with My Pillow and Brooklyn Bedding is similar but better because it held its shape better than My Pillow. We didn’t get the crevice in the middle and it didn’t get lumpy or go flat. You can also add/remove the foam for a customized pillow feel. Comes in standard sizes.
Pacific Coast Down Pillow – if you want a classic down pillow, this is the one we recommend. It’s higher quality and many hotels use this pillow. When life is hard, get a soft pillow. This brand is time tested (making pillows for decades) and preferred by many.
For many people buying a pillow is only the first step. They want to pair their pillow shopping with the perfect mattress for their sleep needs.
The good news is that Unbox Mattress can help. We offer reviews and advice on buying the best products to get you a great night’s sleep.
We are dedicated to helping people get better sleep for a better life. Our company started after meeting with several mattress CEOs and seeing that most mattress reviewers were male and never included kids in their approach. We hope to help the whole family get good sleep.
We wanted to represent a more holistic view for the whole family. We can help you too!
Consumer Reports recently answered a question that we’ve had for years – what’s the best mattress to sleep cool?
So far we’ve seen a lot of promises but not a lot of performance when it comes to cooling products. Except the Bed Jet which blows cooler air into your bed, we don’t find many cooling products that work.
Even special fabrics or cooling gels haven’t given us great results (but a higher price tag). That goes for pillows, sheets, mattress protectors and mattresses. So rather than a cooling mattress or cooling mattress cover you should focus on finding one that doesn’t sleep hot! In other words, on that’s temperature neutral.
Foam, especially memory foam, softens when it gets warm. Then you sink in, it traps your body heat and the temperature rises. Generally speaking, the softer or more plush or the more memory foam you have, the hotter you’ll sleep. Even people who normally sleep cold will find themselves getting sweaty.
Best Mattress to Sleep Cool?
We know this isn’t a comprehensive test but Consumer Reports came out with a list of the mattresses that trapped the least body heat. One of them is an Unbox Mattress top pick – Purple!
Sleep Number c2 Adjustable Air Mattress
Purple Mattress (the original was tested – the new Purple mattresses should be just as cool or more as they have springs and the breathable polymer layer – read our review.)
As Purple states on their website: Most mattresses don’t breathe. Memory foam, latex, even foam with “cooling” gel beads are hot because there is no place for air to flow.
These materials are either completely solid or have very small airways that allow for little ventilation.
How The Beds Were Tested
Consumer Reports put a copper plate on a mattress in a temperature-controlled room. “The plate is insulated on all sides except the one that comes in contact with the mattress. Then we run an electrical current through the plate”. Then they measured how much energy the copper plate uses to maintain a temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (close to people’s average body temperature).
“If a mattress dissipates heat well, more energy is needed to maintain that temperature, but if the mattress retains heat, less energy is used,” – Consumer Reports
The 10 hour test looked at how much energy was used.
Beds that Sleep Warmest
Consumer Reports also looked at the worst performers – the mattresses that slept the warmest. Stay away from them if you want to sleep cool! It’s interesting that Sleep Number beds made both lists! That just goes to show that materials used makes a big difference! Also note that no boxed brands made the list (even though boxed brands are usually all foam).
Sleep Number 360 i8 Smart Bed Adjustable Air Mattress
Charles P. Rogers St. Regis Pillowtop Innerspring Mattress
What materials should you avoid if you want to sleep cool? Foam.
“You’re more likely to sleep warm on a foam mattress, compared with a hybrid innerspring, which we define as several inches of foam layers over metal springs. Despite having a layer of cooling gel foam, a larger percentage of foam models still retain warmth.”
Is your mattress too hot? It might be time to switch. Let us know if you’ve ever found a cooling mattress that works!
Many women say pregnancy is/was one of the best times of their life. It’s a time to prepare for parenthood by watching the miracle of life happen right before your eyes. This comes with many joyous moments – like watching your belly bump grow and feeling your baby kick for the first time.
But, pregnancy has challenges, too. One of the most noteworthy difficulties is how much harder it is to fall asleep and stay asleep through the night. As your baby grows so does the strain on your body, including that baby bump that makes getting in the right sleeping position a challenge.
Thankfully, a pregnancy pillow can help with that! Here are a few reasons to buy a pregnancy pillow, and some of the best options to choose from.
The Benefits of Using a Pregnancy Pillow
If you haven’t experienced the pains of pregnancy yet, you will. Such pain will get in the way of everything you do from how good you sleep at night to how active you are during the day. Just leaning down to pick something up or tie your shoes can be difficult.
Keep reading to discover how pregnancy pillows can combat this discomfort.
First, we warn you NOT to sleep on your stomach without support. It’s not safe because it will decrease blood flow. It can cause dizziness, shortness of breath, or a fast heart rate too. Most pregnant women sleep on their side but there is a way to sleep on your stomach. Simply use a donut-shaped pregnancy pillow to support your growing belly.
Less Pain
When you’re pregnant, your body has to support your baby. As the baby grows, more and more strain is put on your back. This is because there’s an uneven distribution of weight and the back is feeling the pressure of the baby inside the womb.
Your feet and ankles, hips, knees, neck and shoulders will hurt towards the final weeks of pregnancy. But, the less pain you have from now until then, the better. Plus you need good sleep to support all the extra work your body is doing. When baby comes it’ll be even harder to sleep!
Sleeping with a pregnancy pillow gives you extra support. A pillow is a great place to rest your tired back or to prop up your feet at the end of the day (because they’ll probably be swollen).
Better Sleep
The feeling of “sleeping on a cloud” may sound impossible, but deep rest is possible. It’s just a matter of finding the right position in which to sleep with the support of a pregnancy pillow.
When you learn how to support your back and adjust your whole body on your mattress, sleep becomes much easier to achieve. Who knows, you may even sleep better than you did before you were pregnant! You may even keep it.
Best Pregnancy Pillows
It’s one thing to read about what a maternity pillow can do for you and another to realize it yourself. You can’t buy any pregnancy pillow, though. For the best results, you have to buy the best pillow for your body’s needs.
You can choose from a full body pillow or other configurations. Here are some of the top options to choose from.
This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a small commission when you shop through our links.
Abco Tech Pregnancy Pillow Wedge for Maternity- Support Belly, Back, Leg, Hip, Body & Knees
Highly rated Abco pregnancy pillow provides much needed support throughout the night. Put it under your belly, back, leg, pelvis or hips. Made of memory foam to mold around the shape of your baby bump. Reduces the stress on your lower back, and helping with sciatica pain relief.
Phthalates, PVC and BPA free. Also, it is hypoallergenic and breathable for a happy expectant mommy. This little wedge is so versatile and travels easy too.
Queen Rose Full Pregnancy Body Pillow
The Queen Rose Body Pillow is the ultimate maternity tool for comfort while sleeping. This pillow is 100% hypoallergenic that is soft to the touch. The interior, though, is filled well enough to support your growing belly. You can lie on your side, use it to help you sit up or configure it in many different ways.
This pillow is like an extra-large standard-shaped pillow at the top. Then, it divides in the middle to create a slit where you can wrap your legs around one side while resting your upper body on the top part of the pillow.
I’m 28 weeks pregnant and my hips, ribs and back are constantly in pain.. but after a few nights sleep with my new pillow I get a full 9-10 hours of sleep (not counting the times to go potty), and I could also sit on my couch pain free with it too! My husband wants me to get him one too after taking a nap with it. I didn’t even sleep this well when I wasn’t pregnant! I’m also 5’8 and the height is a perfect fit for my body! Very, very happy customer and more than satisfied!
Size: 55.1″x31.5″x7.8″
Comes with a washable cover
Moonlight Slumber Comfort
Up next is the Moonlight Slumber Comfort. It’s filled with down for even more support while also getting that nice plush feeling of curling up in bed.
Oh, and it’s huge. The shape is like the Queen Rose pillow mentioned above – but it’s more of a complete U shape. It has a single top part with two divided ends you can wrap your body around. But, it’s a bit bigger overall, offering a little extra support in all the right places.
Size: 60 x 7 x 35 inches
Machine washable
Leachco Back ‘N Belly Contoured Body Pillow
Another pregnancy pillow with a wide top and divided bottom ends is the Leacho Snoogle Back ‘N Belly Contoured Body Pillow. It’s perfect for pregnancy and to cuddle up with post-partum, too. The edges are curved or contoured – otherwise it’s like the ones above in that it supports your whole body to support your back and belly.
No repositioning pillows during the night, simply turn from side to side
Can help elevate and align hips
Takes pressure off knees
This pillow is latex free, lead free, and BPA free, plus, the pillow cover can be removed for easy washing.
Size: 51 x 33.5 x 8.8 inches
Boppy Side Sleeper Pillow
While there’s benefit in getting a pregnancy body pillow, you may want to look into some smaller options, too. Check out the Boppy Side Sleeper Pillow.
Instead of wrapping your whole body around this pillow, the Boppy is made to support the front of the belly and the lower back. It targets these areas thanks to the two cushions on either side, which are connected by a panel of fabric for you to lay on top of.
This pregnancy pillow is ideal for side sleepers and will take up less space on the bed. It’s uniquely shaped and travels well.
Hiccapop Memory Foam Pregnancy Pillow
Many women like the Boppy Side Sleeper Pillow because it’s much easier to travel with than a full-sized maternity pillow. If you have a few travel plans coming up, you may want to look into the Hiccapop Pregnancy Pillow.
This is a small support pillow meant to go right under your baby bump. You lay it flat on the bed then turn onto your side to rest the bump on the pillow. This little bit of support goes a long way. This is a soft wedge pillow.
Sleeping with such a pillow means you can move around if you’re one to change positions throughout the night. More so, it ensures comfort wherever you go thanks to how compact and light-weight it is.
Whether you just got the good news of being pregnant or you’re already a few weeks in, don’t wait any longer to get your pregnancy pillow. The sooner you order this, the better.
While you’re at it, you may want to consider getting a new mattress altogether if your current one is a little old. Or, at least look into other sleeping tools that help you fall asleep and keep your eyes closed all night long.
We all know about adjustable beds – but what about adjustable pillows? Bed in a box mattress companies and even traditional mattress/furniture retailers are introducing adjustable pillows.
Helix is the newest company to market an adjustable pillow. They offer both a regular and a cooling version made of memory foam and down alternative. The cooling version (Helix Cool) has a high-end ultra cool knit polyethylene fabric. This material has a higher heat transfer, which means it is a lot cooler than typical fabrics – that’s why it’s cold to the touch. The Helix pillow has 2 support layers which can be kept inside or removed to adjust the height and feel.
What is an adjustable pillow?
We’ve seen smart pillows and cooling pillows (hot on the market) but we noticed a lot of adjustable pillows at the Las Vegas market.
Adjustable pillows are pillows that can be changed to fit your preference in a number of different configurations.
The loft or height of the pillow. You can make a higher or flatter pillow by adding or taking out some of the material (such as shredded memory foam) inside. The pillows unzip and sometimes have a mattress protector as part of the system.
The use of a pillow insert to change the feel and/or height of the mattress.
Pillow Price Point
Many of these pillows are within the $80-100 price range and come with a warranty.
Common Features of Boxed Pillows
When it comes to boxed bedding products, the bonus here is that they usually come with a trial period, just like mattress. Pillows are even more personal than mattresses because you usually don’t share one with anyone. Your face is directly on your pillow. People can be very picky about the feel and other features of their pillow.
Here are common features of a pillow from a boxed retailer:
Sleep trial of 100 days or more
Warranty of 1-3 years, sometimes more
Free shipping
Often don’t have financing option unless you purchase a mattress too, but do offer Paypal as payment option
Comes rolled in a box
For example Purple pillow has a 100 day trial which means you have 100 days to test it out and can return the pillow for a full refund if it doesn’t work for you.
So does the Eden pillow from Coop Home Goods – get 15% off a pillow bundle. Their pillow sounds amazing with all of the adjustable pillow benefits plus you can literally throw it in the wash. The Eden pillow actually has a 5 year warranty!
Best Adjustable Pillows
Our favorites are
Brooklyn Bedding shredded memory foam pillow. This won’t get lumpy over time like some shredded memory foam pillows because it has a straight edge cut and fabric to keep the foam together. MyPillow has clumped up under use for us. Watch for our review and comparison of a typical bamboo pillow like MyPillow and Brooklyn Bedding. After many months and tests, this is one of our favorite pillows. It features a thick cover and unzips to add or remove foam.
Layla Sleep pillow with copper (hypoallergenic). This unique pillow also uses Kapok fill, which is made from the fibers in the seed pods of Kapok trees. Kapok is natural and free from pesticides and other nasty chemicals. It draws a lot of attention from our customers. Everyone seems to be interested in it! Note: the Layla pillow is not adjustable. Check out Layla
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