Pillow Talk

A pillow is a pillow, right?

Wrong.

Eileen McGill, who has worked for two years as a sleep concierge for Manhattan's Benjamin Hotel, drops by The Saturday Early Show with some tips on how to choose the right pillow for your good night's sleep.

As a sleep concierge, she helps the guests of the hotel with their sleep complaints, and she arranges anything that might help — a massage, aromatherapy, white noise machines, warm milk and, of course, the right pillows.

Americans sleep about 6.9 hours every weeknight, according to a 2002 poll by the National Sleep Foundation. That number continues to fall -- and complaints about sleepless nights and tired mornings continue to rise.

To combat sleeplessness, Americans are using more prescription and over-the-counter sleep aids. But a simple change in the sleep environment may help the sleep-deprived. The right pillow can make sleep more enjoyable.

To avoid neck strain, a good pillow should fill the distance between head and mattress. McGill says that neck, shoulder and lower back pain/tension often is a result of sitting at a desk or a computer for hours at a time. However, sleeping on a pillow that straightens and supports the spine can help ease those feelings. When it comes down to it, people should use what feels best to them.

Different pillows provide for different needs. McGill lists the following headrests that range from $35 to $50:

Jelly Neckroll Pillow
Good for anyone with headaches or neck pain; may especially appeal to anyone who spends time balancing a phone between ear and shoulder. It looks like a typical, rectangular pillow with a neck roll pillow attached on one side. The roll supports your neck and your head rests on the pillow. Inside the roll is a gel core which can be removed and placed in a freezer or microwave. Hot therapy is recommended for chronic conditions of the neck: arthritis, muscle spasms and upper back tension. Cold therapy is recommended for tension headaches or migraines, muscle spasms and inflamed upper back and neck joints. The gel core holds its temperature for two to four hours. People can sleep on their back or side with this pillow.

Buckwheat Pillow
This pillow has been around for hundreds of years and actually has a cult following, according to McGill. Devotees call themselves "buckies." Although it may seem like a hard, heavy beanbag to some, others swear by the buckwheat hull filling. It's good for anyone looking for firm support. The pillow conforms to the head and neck, providing even amounts of support in all areas. Other pillow fillings which compress try to recover their original shape, and this puts unnecessary stress on the neck. Also, the natural filling helps keep users warm in winter, cool in summer.

Swedish Memory Pillow
This is a technologically advanced version of the buckwheat pillow. The pillow feels a little bit like those foam rafts you see at the swimming pool but with less give. Foam cushioning designed by NASA molds to the shape of neck and head by reacting to body temperature; this indentation remains in the pillow for a few minutes after you sit up. Softer than the buckwheat pillow, the Swedish memory is still quite firm. Again, it distributes weight evenly for maximum support. The design also allows for ventilation. The Swedish Memory pillow is significantly more expensive than most pillows and cost around $175. Some companies make whole beds out of this material.

Body Cushion
Measuring in at five feet, this full-length pillows provides total comfort from head to toe. Filled with polyester fiber, it aligns the spine for better sleeping posture while reducing neck, back and joint pain. This is great for a variety of people because it can be positioned to fit and support many curves. Ease lower back pain by placing it between or under your knees. Pregnant women often like this pillow too. McGill says some pregnant women sleep with two body cushions, one supporting their belly and one supporting their back.

Upper Body Pillow
Perfect for those who sleep on their sides. This pillow is a variation on the body cushion. About half the size, it's shaped like a candy cane. The head rests along the cane's curve while allowing a slumber seeker to hug the bottom portion. Filled with hype-allergenic material, McGill says this is one of the hotel's most popular pillows.

Snore-No-More Pillow
This one is a help to the user and his (or her) bedmate. In the National Sleep Foundation poll, 37 percent of respondents said they snored at least a few nights a week. The group also found that men are more likely to snore than women. Designed by a physician, the pillow is shaped like a wedge and has proven to reduce snoring. The contoured foam elevates the chin from the chest, keeping the jaw forward and airways open which makes snoring less likely. Like the upper body pillow, this one is hypo-allergenic.

If consumers want to buy a traditional foam or down pillow, McGill advises that, in general, a side sleeper requires a firm pillow, a back sleeper a medium pillow, and a stomach sleeper should use a soft, flatter pillow.