# Does anyone here sleep at night in a recliner instead of in your bed, either routinely or occasionally? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 10, 2025, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-sleep-at-night-in-a-recliner-instead-of-in-your-bed-either-routinely-or-occasionally/1021898 "2025-08-10T02:50:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-sleep-at-night-in-a-recliner-instead-of-in-your-bed-either-routinely-or-occasionally/1021898/21 "2025-08-10T14:20:18Z")
I do sleep in a recliner if my shoulder pains are too severe. Fortunately this is not necessary 99% of nights, but when it is, the recliner is a godsend. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-sleep-at-night-in-a-recliner-instead-of-in-your-bed-either-routinely-or-occasionally/1021898/22 "2025-08-10T14:30:42Z")
Sometimes I doze off a little, but some years ago I slept in a recliner for about six months. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-sleep-at-night-in-a-recliner-instead-of-in-your-bed-either-routinely-or-occasionally/1021898/23 "2025-08-10T14:31:45Z")
I sleep wherever I feel comfortable at a given moment. I regularly sleep in a bed, in a recliner, on a couch, on a rug on the floor. It’s not unusual for me to fall asleep at one location, then after a midnight pee, pick a different spot to continue sleeping. The worst place for me to sleep is on a soft mattress. One vacation, the hotel bed was too soft (and the floor too narrow) and it injured my hip. Took me three weeks to walk without pain. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-sleep-at-night-in-a-recliner-instead-of-in-your-bed-either-routinely-or-occasionally/1021898/24 "2025-08-10T14:36:26Z")
When my sciatica is acting up, I’ve slept in our recliner for several weeks straight. I’d much rather sleep in bed, but I find it’s just easier to get somewhat more comfortable in the recliner. I’ve also taken some great naps in it. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-sleep-at-night-in-a-recliner-instead-of-in-your-bed-either-routinely-or-occasionally/1021898/25 "2025-08-10T14:48:03Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > Get a Kindle e reader. They make a stand to hold the reader in a position for comfortable reading without you having to hold it. I have a Kindle already, and use it almost exclusively. I didn’t know about the stand, though. I’ll look into it, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-sleep-at-night-in-a-recliner-instead-of-in-your-bed-either-routinely-or-occasionally/1021898/26 "2025-08-10T14:50:28Z")
I hope you find something that you like. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-sleep-at-night-in-a-recliner-instead-of-in-your-bed-either-routinely-or-occasionally/1021898/27 "2025-08-10T15:02:26Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I do sleep in a recliner if my shoulder pains are too severe. Fortunately this is not necessary 99% of nights, but when it is, the recliner is a godsend. Sounds like what my dad went through. He also slept in the recliner for a few nights after his shoulder replacement surgery, but was more comfortable in bed. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-sleep-at-night-in-a-recliner-instead-of-in-your-bed-either-routinely-or-occasionally/1021898/28 "2025-08-10T15:02:45Z")
A note of caution on sleeping in a recliner regularly— my dad started doing that in his later years. He developed a large open sore on his leg that never quite healed despite treatment, due to bad veins in his leg. He was told that sleeping in a sitting position was exacerbating the problem, but I’m pretty sure he continued to do it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-sleep-at-night-in-a-recliner-instead-of-in-your-bed-either-routinely-or-occasionally/1021898/29 "2025-08-10T15:21:07Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > always wake up with a sore neck from inadequate neck support. > [@Ellecram](#): > > About 7 years ago it became increasingly problematic on my neck to sleep through the night in the recliner. I would definitely need a bolster pillow for my neck or a fat travel pillow. [[Album] imgur.com ![](https://i.imgur.com/OwJ5fp3.jpeg?fb "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/a/payweXs) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-sleep-at-night-in-a-recliner-instead-of-in-your-bed-either-routinely-or-occasionally/1021898/30 "2025-08-10T16:42:41Z")
You need to go to a furniture store and try some out. Some are better for your neck. Have thicker headrests. The ones at my manicurist have those low arm rests. No padding. To me, that is very uncomfortable. I think they’re meant to be _gaming_ chairs or something. Oh, and the swivel rocker is dangerous if you have any difficulty getting up. It’s not a stable push off. ---
**Author:** ![sunacres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@sunacres](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunacres)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-sleep-at-night-in-a-recliner-instead-of-in-your-bed-either-routinely-or-occasionally/1021898/31 "2025-08-10T16:44:43Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > It started because I needed to keep a close watch on my wandering son and the recliner is near the front door. Are you Mike Birbiglia’s mom? He has to sleep in an elaborate locked bag because of his dangerous night wanderings. Similarly, my mom used to sleep in a reclining lawn chair when we went camping because I was a sleep walker. I grew out of it, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-sleep-at-night-in-a-recliner-instead-of-in-your-bed-either-routinely-or-occasionally/1021898/32 "2025-08-10T17:09:18Z")
> [@sunacres](#): > > > [@Ellecram](#): > > > > It started because I needed to keep a close watch on my wandering son and the recliner is near the front door. > > Are you Mike Birbiglia’s mom? He has to sleep in an elaborate locked bag because of his dangerous night wanderings. > > Similarly, my mom used to sleep in a reclining lawn chair when we went camping because I was a sleep walker. I grew out of it, I think. My son used to sneak out at night when he was a teenager and get into all kinds of trouble. Not a medical issue - behavioral. I did what I could. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-sleep-at-night-in-a-recliner-instead-of-in-your-bed-either-routinely-or-occasionally/1021898/33 "2025-08-10T17:37:20Z")
I used to ha e an amazingly comfortable recliner; I slept it it all the time, would sit it, fall asleep, then wake up at some point overnight & realize to go to bed i had to do things like stand up, go upstairs, brush teeth, get undressed, & then get into bed…or i could just close my eyes again & spend the night right where I was. With my current rotator cuff issue i _wish_ i had one to sleep in now. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-sleep-at-night-in-a-recliner-instead-of-in-your-bed-either-routinely-or-occasionally/1021898/34 "2025-08-10T19:37:03Z")
For a bunch of people an obstacle to good sleep is they’ve developed an elaborate prep routine with 17 steps. So they decide based on clock or sleepiness that it’s time for bed, then go spend 20+ minutes in the brightly-lit bathroom thoroughly waking themselves up, then lay down in bed and wonder why they’re now staring at the ceiling not sleeping. Conversely if they’re in the recliner or on the couch, they skip the 20 minute prep and drift off whenever their body is ready. And they sleep very well. Pro tip: ditch the 20+ minute ritual. Cut it back to 5 minutes tops. and 3 is even better. I do most of my multi-step process we all need _before_ settling into my chair for the last round of TV or Doping or whatever. So when my eyes get heavy, it’s walk over to the bed, put my teeth guard in, and laydown. No re-awakening = quickly to sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-sleep-at-night-in-a-recliner-instead-of-in-your-bed-either-routinely-or-occasionally/1021898/35 "2025-08-10T19:53:17Z")
My adjustable bed frame has ‘zero gravity’ setting. I do like it, however I often sleep on my side . ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-sleep-at-night-in-a-recliner-instead-of-in-your-bed-either-routinely-or-occasionally/1021898/36 "2025-08-10T20:02:44Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I do most of my multi-step process we all need _before_ settling into my chair for the last round of TV or… This. I start my ablutions and pre-bedtime routine around 8:00. Besides the personal hygiene, this includes feeding cats, locking up the apartment, putting the butter out on the counter so it’ll be soft in the morning, turning down the lights with an Alexa command, closing the blinds/curtains, getting into the equivalent of jammies, everything that has to be completed right before I go to bed. Then I do Wordle, Connections, and the New York Times Mini Crossword (the crossword drops at 9:00 p.m. Don’t do the big one, just the mini. Takes anywhere from 30 seconds to 5 minutes.) At this point, I’m ready for bed and I read or watch a non-stimulating TV show (Father Brown, America’s Test Kitchen, Jamie Oliver, etc.) so when I do get sleepy around 10:30 or later, I can just go and fall into bed. No _Person of Interest_ right before bed. That would not be a good idea. When I actually do get into my bed, I lie on a pointy acupuncture meditation mat with YouTube playing ocean waves or an uncomplicated piano melody _very softly_ on the TV in my bedroom. I lie there doing some light stretching and deep breathing until I actually feel myself begin to drop off to sleep. Then I put the mat aside and crawl under the covers. At this point usually both cats have joined me in bed and with any luck they will stay put most of the night. And somewhat in contradiction to the statement I made in my OP, I usually do sleep pretty well. My Fitbit generally gives me a score in the 80s. I go through periods, _and this seems to be one of them,_ when I wake in the wee hours in a very agitated state, sometimes directly into a full-blown panic attack. That has happened about three times in the last week. I think some of my recent distress is because this is the 2-year anniversary of my traumatic move here. I’m pretty sensitive to anniversaries of events. I also have several _yahrzeits_ (anniversaries of people’s deaths) at this time of year. But I’m still fantasizing about the recliner. 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-sleep-at-night-in-a-recliner-instead-of-in-your-bed-either-routinely-or-occasionally/1021898/37 "2025-08-10T20:12:10Z")
> [@Dereknocue67](#): > > miserably congested and unable to sleep lying down. I like to sleep propped up or in a recliner if I’m even mildly congested. (I’m a baby about congestion; I tolerate a lot of pain and discomfort like a good sport, but any closure of my nasal passages makes me whiny and self-pitying.) ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-sleep-at-night-in-a-recliner-instead-of-in-your-bed-either-routinely-or-occasionally/1021898/38 "2025-08-10T20:21:50Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I am a troubled and inconsistent sleeper, and sometimes I dread going to bed, like tonight. You have to read a bit for background, but I get to the point-- it’s not really a hijack. I am an inveterate insomniac, and it takes several medications (none of them sedating or narcotic-- they all work on the brain in various ways that rearrange my brainwaves when I’m sleeping to something more normal, although I do have zolpidem as a “sometimes” med for **really** bad night, or when I have to change time zones) to get me to sleep. I also need a strict to-bed/get-up schedule; sleep sounds; a weighted blanket; and to my consternation, because I avoided it for years as woo-adjacent, a 20 minute yoga routine. Because of my blood sugar issues, I need to eat my last meal at more of less the same time, and then not eat again until I eat the bedtime snack I need to keep my sugar from dropping dangerously overnight. Also need the room at exactly 68F. [And I need a device that keeps my pillow cool](https://www.nosleeplessnights.com/moona-review/), which you can’t get anymore, so mine better last forever. I have tried sleeping on a recliner when congested, and it never worked, even with the whole routine, including the pillow cooler and the weighted blanket, and even a dose of zolpidem. The zolpidem got me a few hours sleep, but I felt awful, and it didn’t help my congestion. Something weird that did happen recently, which helped with back pain, was this: In the living room, I have a yoga mat (a nice one, so it’s wider and thicker than most), with a pretty thick rug on top that does not have a pile-- it’s flat, but about 1cm thick. I woke up about 1am, which I do a lot, and felt “up,” plus, my lower back hurt, for about the third night in a row. So I went into the living room, but it was cold, so I brought a throw and the weighted blanket. Cut to the chase, I fell back asleep on the yoga mat-rug-throw blanket, with the weighted blanket over me, and slept **really** well. Slept about 4 hours (to me usual get up time), and woke up feeling GREAT! (and no back pain.) The next time I wake up in the middle of the night, sore back or not, if I feel like I can’t go back to sleep, I’m going to try the floor again. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-sleep-at-night-in-a-recliner-instead-of-in-your-bed-either-routinely-or-occasionally/1021898/39 "2025-08-10T21:48:54Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > You have to read a bit for background, but I get to the point-- it’s not really a hijack. I like to read other people’s stories. No problem. * * * > [@RivkahChaya](#): > > consternation, because I avoided it for years as woo-adjacent, a 20 minute yoga routine. Yoga has been around for thousands of years-- hardly “woo”-- 🙄 * * * > [@RivkahChaya](#): > > woke up feeling GREAT! (and no back pain.) > > The next time I wake up in the middle of the night, sore back or not, if I feel like I can’t go back to sleep, I’m going to try the floor again. Fabulous that you stumbled upon this solution! * * * If you want to talk about woo, I lie on a mat like this right before I go to sleep, and have been doing so for the last 15 years. When you first lie down on it it is excruciatingly painful. But if you can last for about 5 minutes, you get this rush of endorphins that catapult you into sort of a euphoric state. I’ve been doing it for so long, that it doesn’t hurt anymore. But it’s a habit now and I’m kind of superstitious about it. I’m afraid if I don’t do it I’ll really have trouble sleeping. I don’t use the pillow thing it’s too sharp to put my head on it. Even after all these years. > **[Amazon.com: XiaoMaGe Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set with Bag - Large Size 28.7 X...](https://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Acupressure-Mat-Pillow-Set/dp/B08FR8MPCW)** > > Buy XiaoMaGe Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set with Bag - Large Size 28.7 X 16.5 inch Acupuncture Mat for Neck & Back Pain, Muscle Relaxation Stress Relief, Sciatica Pain Relief Pillow (Black) on Amazon.com ✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-sleep-at-night-in-a-recliner-instead-of-in-your-bed-either-routinely-or-occasionally/1021898/40 "2025-08-10T22:21:29Z")
I gave up fighting insomnia many years ago. I just get up and do something. It’s not the best idea, but it’s all I got. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-sleep-at-night-in-a-recliner-instead-of-in-your-bed-either-routinely-or-occasionally/1021898.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-here-sleep-at-night-in-a-recliner-instead-of-in-your-bed-either-routinely-or-occasionally/1021898.md?page=3)