The Best Sleeping Positions

Back Sleeping

One of the most important things to consider for sleep posture is spinal alignment, and health experts say sleeping on your back is the best position for your spine^[1], as this is the most neutral posture. Back sleeping should help evenly distribute weight throughout the body and avoid uncomfortable or unnatural curves in the spine. While some individuals struggle with snoring in this position, it’s generally considered to be safe and even preferred by chiropractors.

Some individuals find they’re more comfortable in this position with the help of a small cylindrical pillow behind their neck to support the spine. When choosing a head pillow, keep in mind, while you want something fluffy, it shouldn’t be overly stuffed, otherwise, this can put excess pressure on the spine.

Who Shouldn’t Sleep on Their Back?

Pregnant people – Sleeping on your back when pregnant may put pressure on your vena cava^[2], which is the main vein carrying blood from your heart to the rest of the body. This can result in all sorts of problems, including backaches, trouble breathing, digestive issues, and even a decrease in circulation to your heart and baby. Most experts advise that pregnant people sleep on their side with their knees bent, which we’ll go into more detail about in our Side Sleeping Section below.

People who struggle with sleep apnea – Your tongue and soft tissue may fall back and obstruct the airway when sleeping on your back. This leads to less oxygen flowing to the brain, forcing you to wake up gasping for air.

People prone to lower back pain – This sleeping position can lead to a sore lower back. The best way to avoid discomfort is by placing a pillow under your knees or sleeping on your side.

Who Should Sleep on Their Back?

As mentioned, back-sleeping tends to be the recommended position for most people, but for some people, in particular, it can be especially important. 

People with neck pain –  If you have neck pain^[3], sleeping on your back or side is going to be your best position. If you feel comfortable on your back, be sure you’re using a pillow that won’t interfere with your neck’s natural curve and will be higher under your neck than your head. 

People with hip pain –  Sleeping on your back should help take the pressure off your hips. However, make sure your mattress is firm enough to prevent the hips from sinking in. Explore our top picks for the best mattresses for hip pain.

People with kyphosis – While it’s natural for the spine to have a small curve, kyphosis^[4] refers to when the top of the spine appears to be more rounded than normal. This can result from age, abnormal vertebrae, improper spine development in the womb, and poor posture. Symptoms associated with kyphosis include back pain, stiffness, spine tenderness, and tiredness.

Since kyphosis is directly correlated to the spine, you’ll want to sleep in a spine-friendly position, such as on the back with a pillow beneath your knees or lying on your side.

People with nasal congestion – When dealing with a stuffy nose, you’ll want to use gravity to your advantage. In this case, you should sleep on your back and use pillows to prop up the top half of your body. The incline should help drain your nasal passages.

Those with sciatica pain – For those dealing with pain in their sciatic nerve^[5], which reaches from your pelvis down to your leg, experts say the first step is to diagnose what specifically is causing the pain. This can help determine the right sleep position for you. Check out our best mattresses for sciatica for some great options. 

Next, you should try to lie on your back in a neutral position and adjust to what feels good. You may find that sleeping on your side alleviates pain better or arching your back while sleeping on your stomach feels good, but you should always start by lying on your back.

Tips for Back Sleepers

Dedicated back sleepers and those who are just getting used to sleeping in this position should try the following tips.

• Use a supportive mattress – Sleeping on your back requires a firm mattress that supports your spine and keeps it aligned all night. Sleeping on a soft mattress will lead to sinkage, throwing your spine off the alignment and causing back pain. If you suffer from spinal stenosis, check out our Best Mattresses for Spinal Stenosis. 
• Use the right pillows – Back sleepers should benefit from a few pillows strategically placed under the head, lower back, and knees. Ensure your pillows aren’t too soft or too elevated, allowing your head and neck to stay in a neutral position. Pillows under your knees and lower back can also help keep your body in alignment.
• Try stretching and breathing techniques – Stretch for about 20 minutes before bed, focusing on your neck, back, and legs. You may also want to try breathing methods such as the 4-7-8 method^[6], which is a great way to relax if you’re trying to get used to back sleeping.

Get More Info: How to Sleep Properly on Your Back or find the best mattresses for back sleepers.

Stomach Sleeping

Many people prefer a stomach sleeping position. Who doesn’t love to cuddle into their mattress after a long day? However, in this position, your head is forced to rest to one side while the rest of your body lies flat on the mattress. Cleveland Clinic officials say this strain could eventually cause neck pain7 from the poor spinal alignment.

Another challenge with snoozing on your stomach is the position it forces your spine to take. While comfortable for many people, this often places unnatural pressure on the lower back, leaving it vulnerable to strain or discomfort^[7]. Remember, you ideally want the spine to be in a neutral position so as not to over-extend it.

Given the length of time we spend in bed, it’s wise to be sensitive to any back pain and adjust accordingly if necessary.

Who Shouldn’t Sleep on Their Stomach?

People prone to back pain – Sleeping on your stomach allows your torso to sink deep into the mattress due to the weight. This may result in an arched back and stretched spine that’s no longer in proper alignment, which almost always leads to back pain.

Related: Best Mattress for Back Pain

People with hip pain – Your midsection and hip area carry the most weight while lying down, and when you’re in the prone position, the pressure from your body weight can push your hips into the mattress. As a result, this could exacerbate any hip pain you might have, particularly if your mattress is firmer. 

Those struggling with neck and shoulder pain – Stomach sleeping is likely to increase the risk of shoulder and neck pain. You’ll have to turn your head to one side, twist your neck, and move it out of alignment. This also leads to arm and shoulder pain.

Related: Best Mattress for Hip and Shoulder Pain

People with sensitive skin – Stomach sleepers press their face into the pillow. This can often lead to stretching, pulling, and compressing of the skin, causing premature wrinkles and other conditions.

Elderly people – Since stomach sleeping is generally considered to be the hardest on the body, people who are elderly should avoid this position. 

Who Should Sleep on Their Stomach?

As we covered, stomach sleeping is not recommended often. For one group of people, though, stomach sleeping is one of the best positions. 

People with sleep apnea – When someone has sleep apnea, their airways collapse and become restricted while they’re asleep. This causes pauses in breathing, which could lead to disruptive noises such as gasping for air or snoring. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine^[8] frequent snorers or those with sleep apnea should rest on their side or stomach to help the airways stay more open.

Tips for Stomach Sleepers

Stomach sleepers should find the position more comfortable after implementing a few tips.

• Use a thin pillow – Stomach sleepers should try sleeping with a thin pillow or no pillow at all. Thick pillows strain your neck while sleeping with no pillow helps keep the spine aligned. In addition, you can also add a pillow beneath your pelvis to prevent the hips from sinking into the mattress.
• Try a firmer mattress – If you like sleeping on your stomach but experience lower back pain upon waking up, it may be time to invest in a firmer bed. Medium to firm firmness rating works the best, supporting the body and preventing it from sinking in.

Discover our top picks for the best mattresses for stomach sleepers.

Side Sleeping

Side sleeping – or sleeping in the fetal position – is considered the most popular position^[9]. Cleveland Clinic adds that while sleeping on your side, your head should remain in a neutral sleep posture with your chin straight ahead1.

Some people who rest on their side prefer sleeping with a body pillow or head pillow for additional support. You can do this by laying your leg over a head pillow, or tucking it between your legs, which should foster healthy spinal alignment. Body pillows can also be used this way, and can also provide the arm which is facing up more support, so you can avoid letting it flop limp.

Who Shouldn’t Sleep on Their Side?

People with a shoulder injury – Side sleeping can increase shoulder discomfort. Your shoulders can collapse into the mattress, creating misalignment and pain.

Babies – Medical experts^[10] believe that side sleeping might increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome in the first six months. 

Heart failure patients – People who have had a heart condition, such as heart failure, should avoid sleeping on the side. If this is your preferred sleeping position, try to sleep on the right side^[11].

Who Should Sleep on Their Side?

People with anxiety – Side sleeping tends to be the best sleeping position for those with anxiety since it is the most comfortable for most people– and in some ways, the most comforting. 

Try sleeping on your side with a pillow in between your knees and one in between your arms, like you might have held a teddy bear when you were young. This will not only help your spine’s alignment but will feel comforting to that late-night anxiety. 

In addition to your sleep position, find other ways to make your bedroom more comforting, whether it be new sheets, a better mattress, or a more supportive pillow.

People with hip pain – Side sleeping is the best position for those with hip pain. Be sure to put a pillow in between your knees, and keep your legs stretched long. This will alleviate the pressure on your hips and keep everything in good alignment. 

People with heartburn or acid reflux – Side-sleeping is the best position for heartburn and acid reflux – specifically, sleeping on your left side. In fact, research^[12] shows that sleeping on your right side might worsen your symptoms.

Heavier or overweight individuals – People who weigh significantly more typically find that the core of their body tends to sink further into a mattress, which can lead to an awkward spine posture and pain. You are likely to feel the least amount of sinkage by sleeping on your side. Those who are overweight^[13] are also at an increased risk of developing sleep apnea, and a side sleeping position should help open the airways.

Additionally, heavier individuals should invest in a firmer mattress designed to support more weight.

People who are pregnant – According to Stanford Children’s Health^[14], the best sleep position during pregnancy is on your left side, as this provides optimum circulation to the fetus. Further, sleeping on the left side is believed to avoid pressure on the liver. Another major advantage of the side sleeping position is that you can support your belly and legs with pillows to reduce unnecessary strain and pressure.

Also, experts^[15] agree that sleeping with the knees bent is recommended for pregnant women, as this relieves pressure from the belly and fosters blood flow throughout the body, fetus, uterus, heart, and kidneys. If you’re feeling especially tense, you may be able to find relief by tucking pillows under your belly, at the lower curve of your back, and between your legs.

Interested in exploring further? Read our full guide for sleep during pregnancy. 

Tips for Side Sleepers

Side sleepers usually don’t struggle with much more than pressure build-up, but there are ways to achieve better sleep. Here’s what you can do:

• Use the right pillow – Find a pillow that supports your head and neck, preventing them from sinking in. In most cases, the best pillows for side sleeping are on the firmer side.
• Try a body pillow – A body pillow can help if you don’t know where to put your arms when sleeping on the side. It can also provide pressure relief for the knees.
• Try a softer mattress – Side sleepers often struggle with pressure build-up caused by a firm mattress. Consider buying a softer mattress or a mattress topper to adjust how your bed feels.

Need more info? Check out our guide to sleeping on your side here or check out our picks for the best mattresses for side sleepers.

Sleeping Position FAQs