Eli5: Why do adults sleep with pillows when babies do not? What are the benefits of using a pillow as an adult?

Question

I noticed that I actually slept better this week when I wasn’t using a pillow. Made me curious.

ETA: I think my framing was slightly unhelpful. I do understand why babies don’t sleep with pillows due to the risks. I am more curious about if there are benefits to using a pillow as an adult.

In: 493

Answer 1

As someone that suffers from chronic spinal issues I can say that most of the benefits of using a pillow as an adult are erased by people using improper pillows – because there’s no such thing as a pillow that will work in all sleeping positions. Most people change positions 1.6 times per hour of time in bed (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5677378/). A pillow that correctly positions your head while on your back is not going to position your head correctly when on your side, or stomach, and the same goes for a “side sleeping” pillow for back sleep, etc…

There are some fancy pillows that are variable heights, fill weights, densities, etc… that claim to be a “one size fits all” but I’ve yet to find one that lives up to the claims, is comfortable, or easy to use.

Personally, before most of my lower back was fused, I slept almost exclusively on my stomach, and so a thin pillow was ideal. Now I can’t sleep on my stomach at all (at least without pain) so I’ve had to adapt to sleeping on my side and back. I sleep mostly on my side now, so I have a good pillow for that. Most of the time when I transition to my back I move the pillow and simply sleep with my head directly on my bed. The mattress I have allows you to sink somewhat into the foam while still providing enough firmness, so the angle of my head and neck without a pillow is pretty comfortable, though not ideal.

Funnily enough, the best, least painful and most restful sleep I get is in my backpacking hammock (Warbonnet Blackbird). Because of the design sleeping on my back is very comfortable, and I don’t need a pillow at all when I’m sleeping in it. Unfortunately, sleeping in a hammock indoors isn’t very convenient, nor is it conducive to cuddling/sexy times with the missus.