What Is Your Preferred Sleep Position?

While you may have spent quite a lot of your life sleeping, you may not have spent much time thinking about how you sleep. Most people are a bit too groggy in the morning to remember what position they fell asleep or woke up in, but the position you sleep in can be crucial to your health and a night of sound sleep.

Why is your sleep position important? The truth is that mattresses are not all built the same way, and particular mattresses can be better or worse for your body depending on how they support you. Mattresses are supposed to provide good, sound sleep, and getting the wrong one is a considerable inconvenience.

With that in mind, we’ve decided to help you figure out which sleep position is yours, what the most common sleep positions are, and how you can find the best mattress set up to support your sleep position.

Furniture Fair has been the provider of top quality mattresses for over 50 years, and we don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Our mattress department experts have years of training and experience in the mattress industry, and we’ve taken some of their expertise for this article.

After reading this article, you will understand why your sleep position is essential, and you will know what to look for when shopping for a mattress that fits your sleep style. Read on to find your preferred sleep style.

Children tend to sleep in whatever position suits their fancy during the night, from the back, side, and stomach, to the way that Sid fromToy Story slept, which looked downright uncomfy, to be honest. Adults, however, don’t quite sleep the same way that children do.

As we humans age, our bones transform from the less-flexible cartilage to solid bone, which gives us more excellent protection and support, but less overall flexibility. This is a crucial contributing factor to choosing your sleep position.

Your adult body is a creature of comfort and habit and prefers to find the best sleep position and then stay that way. As a general rule, most people sleep in their desired position, and any tossing and turning are usually due to indigestion or inability to find a comfortable sleeping position.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the three most common sleep positions. Remember, if you don’t sleep in one of these three positions, you are a weirdo, and society will shun you... just kidding, everyone is different, and your sleep position is only essential for a good, restful night’s sleep.

Look at you fitting in with the majority of sleepers! If you are a side sleeper, you are in the majority of the sleep population. About 80% of the modern world are side sleepers, with about 70% within that group sleeping on the left side.

Sleeping on your side can prevent snoring and sleep apnea in some cases, so if you or your significant other tends to sound like a chainsaw at night, switching sleeping positions may be an excellent way to alleviate the need for earplugs.

Sleeping on the left side is better for your health in many cases. For anyone suffering from acid reflux or heartburn from indigestion, sleeping on the left side helps aid digestion and keep your body processing food in the right direction.

On the other side of things, (literally) people with a history of heart failure tend to sleep on the right side to avoid discomfort and shortness of breath. If you have heart issues, consider whether or not you are sleeping in the best position.

One other variation of the side sleeper is the fetal position. Sleeping with your knees pulled up toward your chest and your back slightly curved inward is another popular sleeping position and can help lower back pains and help with nighttime aches during pregnancy.

However, sleeping in the fetal position can make your joints stiff if you don’t take precautions. Keeping a pillow between your knees can help keep your joints from becoming stiff after a long night’s sleep.

You aren’t like those other lame side sleepers. You get to be different from the standard majority of sleepers because you want to sleep on your back. You embrace the night of slumber openly and keep your back to the mattress along with about 15% of sleepers today.

Sleeping on your back is one of the healthiest ways to sleep since it supports your spine and relieves hip and knee pressure. Sleeping on your back makes gravity work in your favor by helping to keep your body aligned properly and your joints pain-free.

If you sleep on your back, consider putting a pillow under your legs. Elevating your legs while you sleep on your back can help to support your spine more naturally. An adequately supported spine could help save you from lower back pains.

If you have sleep apnea or snoring issues, sleeping on your back could make these problems worse, so consider changing sleep positions if dealing with any of these issues. Sometimes a simple position change can mean a better, more restful sleep.

You just have to be different, don’t you? You and all 5% of the population like to be unique and sleep on the stomach like a lizard on a hot rock. Us back-and-side sleepers won’t judge you… much.

As it turns out, sleeping on your stomach is also a great way to prevent snoring and sleep apnea. Unfortunately, quieter sleep is about the only real benefit to sleeping on your stomach, unless, of course, your back is sunburned from that beach vacation you swore you didn’t need sunscreen for.

If you sleep on your stomach, make sure that you have a thinner pillow. Sleeping on your stomach on a thick pillow can cause uncomfortable strain and lead to neck pains. Using a thinner pad will help to keep your body in proper alignment.

Another way to help keep your body appropriately aligned when sleeping on your stomach is to sleep with a pillow under your stomach, keeping the spine in alignment. This method can help prevent lower back pain.

Now that you are aware of the three most common sleep positions, you should figure out which category you fall into (hopefully with a mattress to break the fall). Are you a back sleeper, a side sleeper, or a stomach sleeper?

Pay attention to how you wake up in the morning since that is most likely the way your body is most comfortable while you sleep. If you have rustled covers from tossing and turning all night, you could be sleeping too hot, or you might not have the best mattress for your sleep style.

Experiment with different sleep positions if you aren’t sure which one you prefer. Perhaps you’ve been sleeping on your side, but your back is a bit comfier for your sleep experience. Once you find out your best sleep position, you are ready to find the best fit for your sleep position.

So now that you’ve figured out what your best possible sleeping position is to take some time in your better sleep journey to figure out how to improve your sleep. Here are a few basic things that you can do to help make your sleep better.

Contrary to what that shifty salesman in the fancy suit might tell you, the highest-priced bed you can afford isn’t necessarily the right bed for your sleep needs. Mattresses have come a long way since their inception, and they now have a wide variety of options for sleep preferences.

Some mattresses are better for side sleepers, and others are better for back sleepers. Mattresses come in various designs, from memory foam to innerspring, and there is a wide range of styles in between.

Finding the best mattress for your sleeping position will require you to test out a few mattresses. You may also consider using sleep technology like the bedMATCH Rest Test to help narrow down your search and adequately test your body for the best possible mattress.

Don’t let shady salespeople lead you down the garden path to a mattress that isn’t right for you. Do your research, and find your best fit for a new mattress. Your body will thank you, and your sleep will be much more restful.

Adjustable bases are rapidly becoming an essential part of many people’s sleep setup, and more and more of these bases are making their way into homes.

Here at Furniture Fair, roughly 45% of all customers who purchase a mattress also leave with an adjustable base with that number growing rapidly as more customers experience the benefits.

Adjustable bases are best for back sleepers, especially if they are prone to snoring or sleep apnea. And the adjustable base uses powered mechanics to raise and lower different parts of the bed. Elevating other parts of the body can help you create a better sleep experience.

An adjustable base bed reclines into positions that will help encourage better blood flow while also making you comfortable. You can use the adjustable base to raise your legs slightly higher than the rest of your body, which will encourage better blood flow to your other extremities.

An adjustable base can also combat snoring and sleep apnea. Elevated positions can help manage you or your significant other’s obnoxious (and potentially dangerous) snoring. A good night’s sleep that is free of snoring could be within reach of your bed’s remote.

If you would like a more in-depth look at the features and benefits of an adjustable base, check out this review of adjustable base beds and how they can elevate your sleep.

We all know that it can be hard to keep up with cleaning things regularly. However, your bedsheets and pillowcases should be a big priority for your cleaning habits. Neglecting to wash your sheets and pillowcases is unsanitary and harmful for your skin.

Clean sheets and pillowcases are vital for stomach and side sleepers. Since parts of your face will be pressed against the fabric during your (hopefully) seven-to-eight-hour sleep schedule.

Dirt and oils can build up on your bedsheets and pillowcases over time. Regular cleaning of your sheets and pillowcases will help keep your face clean and free of breakouts and ensure that you can still sleep in your preferred sleep position.

This topic might seem a bit vague, and that is intentionally so. There is no one perfect formula for getting the best sleep possible. Your body is the ultimate determining factor to a good night’s sleep, and you will need to rely on it to let you know what steps to take for better sleep.

Many brands can claim to have the key to the best sleep ever, but the truth is that a one-size-fits-all sleep program does not exist. In reality, you will need to find the right sleeping setup for your individual needs.

Finding the tools for better sleep could take a bit of research, be rather time-consuming, and could put a little hurting on your wallet. However, an investment in better sleep will save you decades of unnecessary aches and pains.

Humans spend almost a third of their lives sleeping even though we might not notice (you could say we sleep right through it), and anything involving a third of your lifespan should be prepared for and invested in.

Take the time to find your perfect setup, and don’t hesitate to test out products and seek professional help. Many stores, including Furniture Fair, offer mattress matching systems such as the bedMATCH Rest Test, where you can lie down and find the perfect mattress to fit your sleeping position.

Remember that high prices do not always reflect quality. If you want the best quality-for-price, you need to invest some time researching and finding out what is best for your body and your sleep position.

Research, test, and explore all the bedding options that you may be able to benefit from, whether they be better bedding linens, cooling mattress technologies, mattress protectors, or adjustable bases. Your best sleep is worth the invested time and resources.

Now you have the information you need to find your preferred sleep position; you will be ready for a better night’s sleep. Make sure to find out if you are a back, side, or stomach sleeper, and find out and don’t be afraid to invest in a better sleep experience.

If you would like to find the best mattress for your sleep experience, Furniture Fair would like to offer you a free bedMATCH Rest Test to help you determine the perfect mattress for your sleep needs.

Our bedMATCH program uses scientific methods to assess your sleep profile and recommend the best mattress for your needs. Come into any of our 11 locations throughout the Cincinnati, Dayton, and Louisville area and get tested for your perfect bed.

Visit in-store or online to look at our mattress selection and any other bedroom furniture needs you may have.