Just today, my two year old, fell into the toilet. We thought it was pretty funny - but It was too big for her. She still needs a smaller training toilet seat and will need one for a few more months. It's tough ordering the right size of anything - No matter it it's a pair of shoes, a shirt, a belt, and the same thing goes for a pillow.
For me personally, I sleep on a king size mattress, with a standard medium size pillow. Being about 5'5 and 125 lbs, the medium size of the arc4life traction pillow is perfect for my height and weight.
If I was to say, order the large size pillow which is 28"x17" for the arc4life traction pillow, that pillow would be too big for me. Could I say that the pillow would look better on my bed. Yes, perhaps. But this is my SLEEPING pillow. The pillow I use every night to help me fall asleep and to stay asleep. A pillow that is too large, would actually push my head into a forward position, which would cause forward head posture - something a teen who is 24-7 on their phone might experience, but NOT ME. I don't want to to have neck pain, stiffness, no movement in my neck and have bad neck and shoulder posture.
Conversely, if you are a petite individual or you have a short neck, or you are ordering a pillow for your teen or toddler, order them a smaller pillow. Again, the right support is always better than TOO MUCH Support. Let's say, you are a basket ball player, work out - for you the large pillow might be the best type of pillow. You know that's why there are stores like BIG AND TALL - I would never shop there because I would be swimming in those clothes, but for some people that is what they need. You want to feel good in the clothes that you are wearing- so wear the right size when you are able too. Well same goes for your pillow. A 6 ft person, may do better with a larger size of pillow. A 4 ft person may do better with a small size of pillow.
Another great type of pillow, is one that you can adjust yourself. The pillow may be overall a standard size, but you have the capability of adding or removing the material inside, usually foam or fiber. This can make a huge difference in how you feel when you lay on the pillow. Test it, sleep on it, and experiment. Waking up a little sore is okay when you are testing out a new pillow. But you will know when a pillow is too much or too little for you. Trust your neck and your body and make the changes you feel you need to make to get that good night of sleep.
With all the above being said, there are always going to be exceptions to the rules. You know your body, order what feels the most comfortable. Try when you can to order based on your frame size, your height and your weight. Your neck will feel better when you fall asleep and you won't wake up with a headache, stiffness, neck pain or other unpleasant side effects that can happen when you sleep on the wrong size of pillow.
Additional Reading:
- Why Sleeping on Pillows that Are Too Big Are so Injurous to Your Neck
- The Neck Pain Support Group on Facebook #neckpainsupport
- More detailed information about the arc4life traction pillow that comes in small, medium and large sizes
- For the Person who needs the smaller pillow
- A pillow designed for neck pain issues
