Pillows | Gentle Reading For Sleep

Relax with this calm bedtime reading designed to ease sleeplessness and support deep, restful sleep. This peaceful story blends soothing narration with educational details to bring comfort to those facing insomnia or restless nights.
Unwind with a gentle exploration of pillows—their history, uses, and the many ways they’ve supported human comfort across cultures and centuries. You’ll discover interesting facts while settling into a soft, tranquil rhythm, guided by Benjamin’s warm and steady cadence. There’s no whispering, no hypnosis—just calm, fact-filled reading created to soothe anxiety, quiet the mind, and help you drift off naturally.
If you’re looking for a relaxing way to end the day, just press play, breathe deeply, and let your thoughts soften as you learn and rest. Happy sleeping!

Transcript

Welcome to the I Can't Sleep Podcast,

Where I help you drift off one fact at a time.

I'm your host,

Benjamin Boster,

And today's episode is about pillows.

A pillow is the support of the body at rest for comfort,

Therapy,

Or decoration.

Pillows are used in different variations by many species,

Including humans.

Some types of pillows include throw pillows,

Body pillows,

Decorative pillows,

And many more.

Pillows that aid sleeping are a form of bedding that supports the head and neck.

Other types of pillows are designed to support the body when lying down or sitting.

There are also pillows that consider human body shape for increased comfort during sleep.

Decorative pillows used on beds,

Couches,

Or chairs are sometimes referred to as cushions.

In contemporary Western culture,

Pillows consist of a plain or patterned fabric envelope,

Known as a pillowcase,

Which contains a soft stuffing,

Typically synthetic and typically standardized in sizes and shape.

Pillows have been historically made of a variety of natural materials,

And many cultures continue to use pillows made from natural materials in the world.

The word pillow comes from Middle English pilwi,

From Old English pile akin to Old High German phulwi,

And from Latin pulvinus.

The first known use of the word pillow was before the 12th century.

Use of pillows evolved in animals well into prehistory.

Reptiles and mammals use bodies as pillows,

Either rest their heads on themselves and one another,

To support the head and neck.

Use for pillows for comfort is evident in arboreal mammals,

Particularly members of Panthera and Hominidia,

With several species observed selecting specific parts of tree branches for this purpose.

Natural resting postures,

Such as the use of a laterally rotated arm or leg,

May be superior to artificially created pillows in the reduction of stiffness and pain in the joints,

And allows an animal to stay more alert to danger by keeping both ears open.

Pillow or cushion making is not exclusive to humans.

Nest-building primates sometimes create pillow-like structures.

Tree-dwelling orangutans typically use twigs to create them,

While chimpanzees have been observed making them on the ground from leaves.

It has been observed in other ground-dwelling mammals as well.

For example,

Asian elephants in captivity have been observed creating pillows from straw.

Though the behavior has not been observed in the wild.

Since domestication,

Many animals have also learned to make use of human-made pillows and cushions.

Sometime between 5 and 23 million years ago,

Tree-dwelling great apes began building sleeping platforms,

Including wooden pillows to improve their sleep.

According to studies on chimpanzees that sleep up to 8 to 9 hours a night using specifically selected ironwood pillows,

Sturdy pillows enabled great apes to escape being hunted by night predators,

And not fall out of trees while asleep.

It is likely that this was necessitated by the evolution of large,

Energy-consuming brains.

Though it may also have led to longer periods of REM sleep that in turn increased their cognitive capacity.

Humans began making beds 227,

000 years ago in Africa made from ash and grass.

Recent evidence from 185,

000 years ago at Misliya Cave shows that Neanderthals did similar.

Prior to this discovery,

The earliest were believed to be 77,

000 years old.

Much later humans began switching to use of separate stone and wood to craft pillows for increased comfort.

The earliest recorded use of the modern human device dates back to the civilizations of Mesopotamia around 7000 BC.

During this time,

Only the wealthy used pillows.

The number of pillows symbolized status,

So the more pillows one owned,

The more affluence they held.

Pillows have long been produced around the world in order to help solve the reoccurring problem of neck,

Back,

And shoulder pain while sleeping.

Besides for comfort,

The pillow was also used for keeping bugs and insects out of people's hair,

Mouth,

Nose,

And ears while sleeping.

Pillow use has been associated with the mummies and tombs of ancient Egypt during the 11th dynasty,

Dating to 2055-1985 BC.

Ancient Egyptian pillows were wooden or stone headrests.

These pillows were mostly used by placing them under the heads of the deceased because the head of a human was considered to be the essence of life and sacred.

The Romans and Greeks of ancient Europe mastered the creation of the softer type pillow.

These pillows were stuffed with reeds,

Feathers,

And straw in order to make them softer and more comfortable.

Only upper class people typically owned these softer pillows.

However,

All classes of people were allowed to use some type of pillow while sleeping,

Lying down,

Or sitting in order to give them support.

People in ancient Europe started to use pillows when going to church in order to kneel on while praying and to place holy books on.

This is a tradition that still lives on today.

In addition,

The Romans and Greeks used their pillows by placing them under the head of those deceased,

Just like the ancient Egyptians did.

Chinese pillows were traditionally solid,

Though sometimes used with a softer fabric over them.

Over many Chinese dynasties,

Pillows were made from a wide range of materials,

Including bamboo,

Jade,

Porcelain,

Wood,

And bronze.

Ceramic pillows became the most popular.

The use of the ceramic pillow first appeared in the Sui dynasty between 581 and 618,

While mass production appeared in the Tang dynasty between 618 and 907.

The Chinese decorated their pillows by making them different shapes and by painting pictures of animals,

Humans,

And plants on them.

One common type of pottery used was Tujou ware.

Chinese ceramic pillows reached their peak in terms of production and use during the Song,

Jin,

And Yuan dynasties between the 10th and 14th century,

But slowly phased out during the Ming and Qing dynasties between 1368 and 1911,

With the emergence of better pillow-making materials.

Pillows consist of a filler material enclosed in a fabric cover or shell.

Covers are made of cloth,

Such as silk,

Known as the pillow case or pillow slip.

Some pillows have a fancier cover called a sham,

Which is closed on all sides,

And usually has a slit in the back through which the pillow is placed.

Rectangular standard bed pillow cases usually do not have zippers,

But instead have one side open all the time.

Often a zippered pillow protector is placed around standard pillows,

With the case in turn covering the protector.

Fillers are chosen on the basis of comfort,

Resilience,

Thermal properties,

Cost,

And also for medical and ethical reasons.

The most common synthetic fillers are materials derived from polymer fibers,

Such as polyester and memory foam.

Synthetic fillers in general are inexpensive,

And in the case of memory foam can retain their form longer.

Natural fillers have been used since antiquity.

The most common are feathers,

Down,

Wool,

Latex,

Cotton,

Particularly in India,

And buckwheat.

More exotic materials have also been used,

Including straw,

Wood,

Or stone.

Down is usually the softer filler and offer good insulation,

But is more expensive due to its relative scarcity.

Down has been known to be plucked from live geese,

But there are already cruelty-free certifications for down products.

In India,

Traditional pillows are made with kapok,

The fluffy,

Glossy fruit fibers of the trees Saba Pentandra and Bombak Saba.

The normal lifespan of a typical western pillow is two to four years.

The condition of the pillow can be determined by checking for lumps or folding it in order to see if it stays in that shape.

Replacement is recommended for sanitary reasons.

All types of pillow covers should be laundered periodically,

Since they are the part that is in contact with a person's body.

Pillows accumulate dust and microbes among the fill,

Even when washable pillows are washed.

Manufacturers recommend tumble drying for 15 minutes every week to freshen them up,

And for the heat to kill dust mites.

Charities in most countries will not accept used pillows due to hygiene regulations.

While some animal shelters accept forms of bedding,

Most reject donation of used pillows due to the mess they can cause.

Recycling of pillows,

Like most textile and bedding items,

Is expensive and has poor yield.

As such,

Few are recycled and most end up in landfills.

Their light weight means that they make up a low proportion of household waste by mass.

Most of the few pillows collected for recycling are sent to India and Pakistan and used as low-cost bedding,

Or in Southeast Asia,

Co-mingled with other textiles,

To manufacture cheap bedding.

A pillow is designed to provide support and comfort to the body and head.

There are three main types of pillows,

Bed pillows,

Orthopedic pillows,

And decorative pillows,

With some overlapping of use between these.

The appropriate size of a bed pillow depends on the size of the bed.

Larger pillows than standard are available for queen and king-sized beds.

The choice of bed pillow depends,

To some extent,

Upon sleeping positions.

One manufacturer recommends a thinner and softer pillow for sleeping face-down,

Medium support for sleeping on one's back,

And a thicker and firmer pillow for sleeping on the side.

The classic bed pillow shape is usually a square or rectangle,

In the U.

S.

,

They are common in these three sizes,

In inches.

Standard,

20 by 26 inches,

Queen,

20 by 30 inches,

And King,

20 by 36 inches.

In the U.

S.

,

A less common size is jumbo,

20 by 28 inches,

Which is larger than the standard size,

But smaller than the queen size.

Pillows are generally covered with a removable pillowcase,

Which facilitates laundering.

Apart from the color and from the material of which they are made,

Pillowcases have three contrasting characteristics.

Size,

Features,

Opening or closing.

Size conforms to the pillow the case is to contain.

They are typically described as,

Standard,

16 inches by 16 inches square,

Square,

26 inches by 26 inches,

Standard,

20 inches by 26 inches,

Queen,

20 inches by 30 inches,

King,

20 inches by 36 inches,

Squared is called continental in the U.

K.

German pillow sizes are 80 by 80 centimeters,

Older,

Or 40 by 80 centimeters,

Newer.

When considered as a subset of bed pillows,

Euro pillows finish 26 by 26 inches,

And older style travel pillows commonly finished 12 by 16 inches.

The main distinguishing feature is whether the pillowcase is plain,

Or with a valance around the edge.

In the former case,

This is described as plain style,

And in the latter as Oxford style.

The Oxford pillowcase is usually described as having a decorative border of about 5 to 10 centimeters around all four sides,

Giving it a framed look.

The opening or closure of pillowcases ranges from the straightforward bag style common in the United States,

To the housewife style more common in Europe.

With a pocket inside the open end to fully contain the pillow.

The housewife pillowcase is designed with an internal flap at the open end,

Which tucks over the pillow to hold it securely inside.

Other methods of closure are ties,

Or buttons,

Or buttonholes.

Body pillows are as long as a full adult body,

Providing support to the head and neck at the top,

And to the knees and legs lower down.

This type of pillow can be especially useful in providing support for those who sleep on their sides,

And for pregnant women.

Size is 40 by 140 centimeters.

Neck pillows support the neck by providing a deep area for the head to rest,

And a supportive area to keep the neck in alignment with the spine while sleeping.

These can also be known as cervical pillows.

Cervical pillows help patients to maintain comfort,

Positioning after therapeutic,

Orthopedic,

And surgical measures.

Travel pillows provide support for the neck in a sitting position.

Their U-shape fits around the back of the neck,

And keeps the head from slipping into an uncomfortable,

And possibly harmful,

Position during sleep.

However,

U-shaped pillows can sometimes force the head forward,

Creating neck stiffness.

Donut pillows are firm pillows shaped like a torus,

With a space in the middle to alleviate pressure on the tailbone area while sitting.

These pillows are used primarily by individuals who have suffered an injury to the tailbone area.

Lumbar pillows are designed to support the inward curve of the lower back,

Filling the space created between the lower back and the back of the chair when in a sitting position.

These pillows are generally used to support the lower back while driving or sitting,

Such as in an office chair.

Orthopedic pillows are similar to memory foam pillows.

Decorative pillows serve a dual purpose.

They often have fancy cover material,

Which serves to decorate the room where they are found.

Since decorative textiles are commonly 54 inches in width,

Many decorative pillows finish about 17 by 17 inches.

When used to decorate a fully made-up bed,

Decorative pillows are likely thrown aside at bedtime,

Since they are not covered with a washable pillowcase.

Thus,

While found on the bed,

They are primarily there for decoration,

Hence they fall under this category.

These pillows may be custom made,

As well as made by freelancers.

Decorative pillows are also found on furnishings in more public parts of the home,

Such as sofas,

Chairs,

And window seats.

Here,

Their common use may overlap both orthopedic and bed pillows.

For example,

Unless a person has some particular medical condition,

They will likely use a handy decorative pillow for lumbar support as needed,

While seated on a sofa.

Likewise,

For the occasional nap,

Decorative pillows are handy for supporting the head or neck.

Even though they may not be covered with a pillowcase,

As are bed pillows.

There are five common synonyms for decorative pillows,

Which are descriptive of their use in the home.

Accent pillows emphasize or accent some other part of the home decor.

The terms sofa pillow and couch pillow refer to the place these decorative pillows are likely found.

The terms toss pillow and throw pillow may refer to the way they generally arrive in their places.

Novelty pillows are shaped like humorous objects and are meant to brighten up and add humor to a room or lounge area.

Tent flap pillows are placed at the front of a stack of pillows decorating a bed.

This pillow has a separate flap of fabric that is attached to the top of the pillow and folds down over the face.

The tent flap can be loose or tacked down.

If the flap is loose,

A decorative tassel or bead is usually used.

To weigh the flap down so it hangs properly.

Floor pillows are another subset of decorative pillows.

These pillows often finish 26 by 26 inches,

One half of the width of the textile,

Less seam allowance.

A combination pillow is a pillow which is for those sleepers which are sleeping in a combination of positions and would like to use their pillow to hug or play.

In many parts of the world,

Pillows have cultural significance and references have extended to a wide variety of other uses,

Forms,

And activities.

A pillow fight is a common game mostly played by young children but also by teens and adults in which they engage in mock physical conflict using pillows as weapons.

Pillow fights are known to occasionally occur during children's sleepovers.

Since pillows are usually soft,

Injuries rarely occur.

The heft of a pillow can still knock a young person off balance,

Especially on a soft surface such as a bed,

Which is a common venue.

In earlier eras,

Pillows would often break,

Shedding feathers throughout a room.

Modern pillows tend to be stronger and are often filled with a solid block of artificial filling,

So breakage occurs far less frequently.

Chinese rock pillows played an important role in ancient China.

Made from jade,

They were believed to translate the energy from the stone to the human brain.

Originating in the Ming Dynasty,

This piece of material was trusted to cure headaches or depression or simply to better the intelligence of those who use it.

It was more common among royalty because it was expensive and rare.

Families often married off children based on the quality and intricacy of these pillows.

Today,

Rock pillows are still commonly used during the hot summer months in China.

Cushioning designed for specific parts of the body are sometimes called pillows.

An example is eye pillows,

Which are designed to comfort the eyes.

Some mouse mats feature wrist rests that,

While not generally called pillows,

Are another example.

A pillow menu is a list of available pillows provided by a hotel to guests,

Usually free of charge.

It allows guests to make an alternative pillow choice.

Some common pillow alternatives are memory foam,

Buckwheat hull,

And hypoallergenic.

Some hotels offer pillows to treat specific conditions,

Such as headaches or stress.

An orthopedic pillow is a pillow designed to correct body positioning in bed or while lying on any other surface.

Its design conforms to orthopedic guidelines to ensure the right placement and support of one or more specific parts of the body to provide safe and healthy rest to the sleeper.

Pillows have been traditionally made of foam and fiber,

But other types now exist,

Such as pillows made of memory foam,

A heat-sensitive material that can acquire the shape of the body lying upon it.

It may or may not recover its original shape immediately when the body is removed from the pillow.

Orthopedic pillows are regarded as therapeutic pillows,

Based on claims that they can help relieve various conditions,

Including sleep apnea,

Snoring,

Insomnia,

Breathing difficulty,

Blood circulation problems,

Acid reflux,

Gastroesophageal reflux disease,

Lower back pain,

Sciatica pain,

Neck pain,

Whiplash,

And rotator cuff injury,

Amongst others.

There are many types of orthopedic pillows for almost every part of the human body,

As well as orthopedic beds,

Mattresses,

Top mattresses,

Supports,

And cushions for different orthopedic problems.

Some of them have multi-purpose and multi-position designs for different physical ailments and sleep disorders.

The most common sleep positions people adopt in bed are side sleeping,

Which is the most common of the three.

According to the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service,

Two out of three people sleep on their sides.

This position is considered the most suitable because it reduces the incidences of snoring,

Sleep apnea,

And obstructive sleep apnea.

It helps release breathing airways,

And it is the most helpful position for pregnant women to reduce the pressure of their wombs.

It is twice as common in women as in men.

The inconvenience of this position is that most of the body's pressure lies over arms and shoulders,

Which produce neck stiffness and frozen shoulder.

This can be solved with a side sleeper pillow that allows the correct placement of neck,

Arms,

And shoulders.

Back sleeping.

Unlike side sleeping,

This position may favor episodes of snoring and sinusitis,

As well as back pain.

This position requires a soft but firm support for three critical curves of the body,

Behind the neck,

In the middle of the back,

And lower back.

For this,

An orthopedic pillow with neck contour and a wedge under knees can allow the back sleeper to lie with safety and comfort.

Stomach sleeping.

More common in infants and small children than in adults.

This sleep position is considered harmful for the neck.

Orthopedic pillows are sometimes used during massages to cushion the face when clients lie face down.

The pillow is usually placed over a hole in the massage table,

So people can comfortably lie on their stomach,

With their face comfortably cushioned by the pillow,

Able to breathe through the hole.

Reviews

Perfect for bed time. Asleep whilst grateful for my own pillow. Bliss. Will listen again.

I'm rating this the next morning but I honestly can't even remember what the topic was because I fell right asleep lol

Asleep 😴 as soon as my head hit this pillow I think 🤔 you were talking about 🤭🙏🏼