Memory foam pillows

[Ohiogal]

Hubby bought one last week. He's having neck and shoulder issues and decided he needed a new pillow to sleep on at night.

He decided he didn't like it, although he didn't say why. He offered it to me to try.

He's pretty fussy about pillows, whereas I can rest my head on just about anything passing for a pillow and fall asleep on it.

The first thing I noticed was the smell. It's like a chemical smell, and since your head goes right on it, you smell it all night long. I actually woke up in the middle of the night because the smell was so irritating, and tossed the darn thing aside and retrieved my old cheap bargain store pillow that I had before.

I decided to look this up on line and see if the smell irritated anyone else, and found a whole bunch of sites where they discuss the chemical smell on these pillows and how it gives some people headaches. I guess the jury's still out whether or not it's harmful to breathe it in all night long, but the manufacturer says the smell goes away in several days, which was disputed by quite a few of the pillow owners in the reviews I read. A number of them said they got rid of them because the smell gave them headaches and/or sinus problems.

The other reason I didn't like it was because it felt like sleeping on a block of plastic foam, and, I can't imagine using it in the summer time when the weather is hot. I'd be waking up in a pool of sweat.

So, I guess I've discovered that there is a pillow I can't stand. These things are sold in all the stores and seem to be very popular right now. Has anyone else had a bad experience with these things?

[TwistOneUp]

1. I have those

The shtink goes away in a few days. They are wonderful after that. Make sure you use *shredded* memory foam - much better than the "solid block" memory foam pillows.

[hlthe2b]

2. I always used to sleep on down pillows, but have been trying others because I sleep so hot.

Even in the winter time, I'll wake up because my face is hot. Bamboo pillows are supposed to be cooler, but nope... The cooling pad type pillows work for maybe a few minutes.

I've tried some of those various foam varieties because some are supposed to be mixed with "cooling" gel and yes, you have to air them out for a week or so--especially if you are sensitive. I can't use them because they are still so damned hot, though.

Good luck. I'm still on the hunt, myself. Suggestions appreciated.

[Ohiogal]

3. I have seen buckwheat hull pillows mentioned

as an alternative to memory foam and down pillows. I've never seen one but will be on the lookout for them now.

I agree those memory foam pillows are not the best for a "hot" sleeper!

[northoftheborder]

7. Buckwheat hull pillows is what I have, and have had for years.

They are lumpy looking, heavy, and don't fill out a pillowcase attractively. But, you can adjust the hulls into your own personal lump and it stays there, to keep your face out of the pillow (such as sleeping on your side.) Hard to describe

[Jane Austin]

8. I sleep with an "ice blanket".

They're made for coolers and ice chests and are good for great sleep quality.

I have several and rotate them to make sure I always have a cold one.

I wrap it in an extra pillow case. If you need a spare for the middle of the night, just pack one in a small cooler and keep it by your bed.

Here's the kind I like best:



Igloo Maxcold Natural Ice Sheet 88 Cube, 19 x 15.5 Inches, Blue

[hlthe2b]

9. good idea.. thanks

[Botany]

4. Kohl's has nice ones .... no chemical smell and no money to right wing nut balls

they are made by Columbia

[sinkingfeeling]

5. I have one, but only use it as back support. I'll take my buckwheat

hull pillow over all others.

[AC_Mem]

6. Pillows!

I'm constantly on the search for the perfect pillow because I have neck and back issues. The best one I have found is the one that is advertised on tv - the "My Pillow". Expensive (I get them at Bed Bath & Beyond with the 20% discount coupon) but honestly, to me they are worth every penny.

A great pillow is hard to find and I agree, many of the memory foam pillows have a chemical smell that you cannot get rid of and it makes the problem worse, not better!

a

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. Just FYI, the My Pillow guy, Mike Lindell, is a hard-core right-winger

and evangelical Christian who campaigns avidly for Trump. https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/03/politics/donald-trump-mike-lindell-mypillow-midterms/index.html The Better Business Bureau has given the company an F rating, and the company has been sued for making false health claims and for nonpayment of state sales taxes. https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/mypillow-gets-a-rude-awakening-as-the-better-business-bureau-gives-it-an-f-010517.html If you like the product anyhow, great, but I wouldn't buy one.

[AC_Mem]

12. oh noooooooooo

boo!!! well, I won't be buying any more pillows from him then.

darn it!! well - in my defense, I don't do background checks on pillow makers

a

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

13. LOL, I don't usually either, but I'm in Minnesota and MyPillow is a MN company,

so Lindell is a bit better-known here. And not in a good way. I'm sure there are other pillows out there that will work for you! I like the old-fashioned down and feather pillows because you can smush them into a shape that's comfortable and they don't smell like a chemistry lab.

[Denzil_DC]

10. Memory foam usually needs to gas off.

When we bought a memory foam mattress topper, the instructions said to lay it out and let it air for a few days. Unless it's a bad brand, the same may apply to your pillow, and the smell may decrease or vanish after some airing.

I've used these types of pillows for a couple of years. The first one I bought is quite dense and firm. It gives and gets softer as it warms up from the heat of your head. The second one is less dense and plumper (I think it's the shredded foam the first reply mentioned).

They both have uses, depending on mood and what else I have going on (nerve injury in my arm that plays up quite often) that needs me to ring the changes. Both took a little getting used to, but once I did that, they're the most comfortable pillows I've ever used.

[shanti]

14. I bought one from Costco

that had one side with a cooling pad built in (for the summer, presumably). I suffer from hot flashes around my head/neck sometimes, and thought this might work. But these pillows are so HARD, I couldn't sleep on it. So I retrieved my trusty foam latex pillow and put the memory foam one in the guest room. I hope they don't stop making latex pillows, as I've been using them my whole life!