What Do I Do If A Tempur-Pedic Pillow Is Too Thick?

People are picky about pillows. If a new pillow doesn't feel quite right, you may want to throw it in the closet and leave it there. Certain pillows, however, require a breaking-in period. Tempur-Pedic pillows feature a pressure-absorbing material that may feel too thick under your head at first. Once you understand the construction of these pillows and their breaking-in process, however, patience on your part will likely fix the problem.

All Tempur-Pedic pillows contain the company's Tempur material. This proprietary material proves sensitive to body pressure and temperature, allowing it to adjust to the shape of your head and neck and to distribute their weight evenly for optimal support. Tempur material was developed from a pressure-absorbing substance invented in the early 1970s by NASA scientists as a way to cushion and support astronauts during lift-off. Tempur-Pedic now uses its version of the material in beds, mattress toppers, pillows and even slippers.

Tempur-Pedic makes contoured and filled bed pillows. The contoured pillows essentially consist of the Tempur material formed into different shapes for different sleeping styles. There are five different shapes, with support ranging from medium-soft to firm. The company offers six different types of filled pillows, including a body pillow. These pillows feature a Tempur-material sleeve that holds micro-cushions made of the material, which are softer than their contoured counterparts.

Tempur-Pedic also notes on its website, "If you're used to a traditional pillow, your new Tempur-Pedic pillow may feel different at first, typically more firm than what you're used to." If you have one of the company's contoured pillows, this will be particularly true. Each pillow has a two-week breaking-in period, during which the Tempur cells are fully opening; be patient and allow them to optimally adjust to your weight and body temperature.

If your Tempur-Pedic pillow still feels too thick after the two-week breaking-in period, try swapping pillows with a housemate for whom it might be a better fit. Or you can place it inside a sham as a decorative pillow on your bed. Don't try to alter the Tempur-Pedic pillow in any way, as doing so will void the pillow's 3-year warranty and potentially leave you with an expensive, unusable pillow that no one wants to sleep on.