How to Start Sleeping on Your Back, According to Sleep Experts

written by

BETH KRIETSCH

@BUFFY 

It's hard to beat the blissful feeling of laying down in bed after a long, tiring day. Ah, sweet rest at last. But if you were to hear that some sleep positions may be healthier than others, that might throw a bit of stress in the mix. After all, no one wants to sleep in a position that's going to leave them feeling achy or unrested the next day. The National Sleep Foundation ranks sleeping on your back as the best sleep position since it allows your spine, neck, and head to stay in a neutral position and keeps unwanted pressure off of those areas as you rest. But sleeping on your back isn't actually recommended for everyone—there are some important considerations to keep in mind, like comfort and whether you suffer from certain health conditions.

The Benefits of Sleeping on Your Back

To learn more about the benefits and drawbacks of sleeping on your back, we reached out to a few of the top sleep experts. Here's what they had to say:

Kaliq Chang, a physician and interventional pain management specialist at the Atlantic Spine Center, says sleeping on your back can be an optimal position as long as your spine is aligned in a neutral position. Since alignment is important here, you'll need to keep your neck in a neutral position rather than allowing it to tilt to one side or the other. "The key to restful sleep is keeping the spine in natural alignment," Chang says.

Who Shouldn't Sleep on Their Back?

Before you start making a huge effort to try sleeping on your back, it's important to understand that this sleep position isn't recommended for all people, particularly those with sleep apnea. If you haven't heard of sleep apnea, this is a condition where a person's breathing is interrupted, often repeatedly, while sleeping.

"Back sleeping may worsen snoring or sleep apnea, says Terry Cralle, a registered nurse and sleep expert with the Better Sleep Council. "In people with mild obstructive sleep apnea, symptomatic improvement may be achieved simply by avoiding back sleeping." She adds that people with positional apnea experience the majority of their breathing abnormalities while sleeping on their backs. So if you suffer from positional sleep apnea, back sleeping most likely isn't for you.

Comfort plays a role in deciding which sleep position is best for you, too. Our experts agree that sleeping on your side can be just as healthy as sleeping on your back. Put simply, sleep experts recommend sleep in whatever position is comfortable for you. Though they do advise against sleeping on your stomach, which can lead to neck and back pain. "Stomach sleeping is generally not recommended, as the low back is hyperextended without an easy way to correct it, and the neck is forced to the side," Chang said.

If you're looking to start sleeping on your back, here are some tips and guidance that may help:

01of 08

Focus on Making Your Body a Straight Line

The most important thing to remember when training yourself to sleep on your back is to focus on alignment. If you find sleep props like pillows and blankets distracting, just make sure your "head, neck and spinal column stay in one straight line," adds Robbins. For extra motivation, back sleeping may reduce fine lines, as your face isn't pressing into your pillow, allowing for greater absorption of your night cream.

02of 08

Use a Firm Matress

Erin Rossi, a Certified Sleep Science Coach and contributor to the Simply Rest blog underscores the importance of finding a fab mattress with the proper amount of density. "If you want to train yourself to sleep on your back, you first have to find the right mattress. If you try to lay flat on a mattress that is too soft, your hips will sink too far down, making it difficult to get comfortable without rolling to your side."

You may find it much easier to sleep on your back if you have a firm mattress rather than a soft one. "On a soft bed, the lower spine can sink unsupported into the bed and cause hyperextension of the lumbar spine," Chang says. The unfortunate result? Lower back pain. Soft mattresses may feel dreamy at first, but you might be surprised to find out how much better you feel after sleeping on a more firm mattress.

03of 08

Choose the Right Pillow... It Matters

PAUL STROWGER / GETTY IMAGES

When it comes to pillows, you want to make sure you're keeping your body in proper alignment while adding the right amount of support. "A back sleeper would do well with a pillow that has a concave area for the head to rest," says Robbins. "Also look for a vertical thicker compartment on both lengths of the pillow to support the cervical spine."

On that note, Cralle urges you to think beyond the sleep surface alone. "Pillows and toppers factor in and can augment and enhance comfort and help support your preferred sleep position," she says.

04of 08

Sleep With a Pillow Under Your Knees

Ever wake up with a sore lower back after sleeping on your back? This isn't uncommon—some people experience lower back pain after sleeping on their back. To reduce pressure and stress on your spine, Chang recommends sleeping with a pillow beneath your knees. The University of Rochester Medical Center explains that this can also help support the natural curve in your lower back.

05of 08

Use an Adjustable Bed Frame

Using an adjustable bed frame may help keep you on your back, by helping to keep your head or feet elevated throughout the night. "Beds now come with zoned support and lumbar support, which can be very helpful when people are trying to stay on their backs all night," says Carolyn Burke, a certified sleep coach and editor for The Sleep Advisor.

06of 08

Build a PIllow Fort, Seriously

"My position is: the more pillows the better," says Robbins. "Make a pillow fort around you, placing a pillow under your legs." Finally if you’re trying to switch to back sleeping, she advises you look for a pillow with support for the nape of your neck, or your cervical spine.

If you're short a few pillows for making a fort, you can try this crescent-shaped pillow by Moon Pod.