# How do I learn to sleep on my back? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 14, 2002, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-learn-to-sleep-on-my-back/114067 "2002-06-14T18:26:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chekmate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@Chekmate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chekmate)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-learn-to-sleep-on-my-back/114067/1 "2002-06-14T18:26:16Z")
I have been a stomach sleeper for my whole life so far. I think I have only slept on my back maybe 3-4 times, ever. sometimes though, it’s just so comfortable to just lay there, on my back, but if I try to go to sleep, I end up just laying there, not sleeping. I can only seem to sleep on my stomach, no matter what, and I want to change that. How do I train myself to sleep on my back? ---
**Author:** ![Natural-J-Bankie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/59ef9b/32.png) [@Natural-J-Bankie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Natural-J-Bankie)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-learn-to-sleep-on-my-back/114067/2 "2002-06-14T18:56:57Z")
That’s just like me. I can’t fall asleep on my back unless it’s not in my bed. I can sleep on chairs sometimes on my back, but beds, couches and floors I have to sleep on my stomach. I’ve tried a few times to sleep on my back, but I just get really, really tired and it just makes it feel so much better when I finally do turn over. Sorry, but I’ve haven’t figured out a good way to sleep on my back. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-learn-to-sleep-on-my-back/114067/3 "2002-06-14T19:12:58Z")
Why in the world do you want to change how you sleep? ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-learn-to-sleep-on-my-back/114067/4 "2002-06-14T19:14:15Z")
I can’t sleep on either my stomach or back, it has to be on my side and to go to sleep it has to be on my left side. Funny thing is that when I’ve been in the hospital there was no trouble sleeping on my back. Sleeping on my sides hurts my hips and so I would welcome the answer to this question (if there is one0. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-learn-to-sleep-on-my-back/114067/5 "2002-06-14T19:18:09Z")
You could electrify your bed, and tape aluminum foil to your chest. I bet that would help. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-learn-to-sleep-on-my-back/114067/6 "2002-06-14T22:31:49Z")
Ooh, don’t do that! Don’t you know how many people try not to sleep on their backs, to avoid snoring? Ann Landers’ remedy- sew a tennis ball into the back of your pyjamas. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2002, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-learn-to-sleep-on-my-back/114067/7 "2002-06-15T00:24:45Z")
Here’s a surefire way: dislocate a kneecap. Until I did that, I couldn’t sleep on my back. Then I was forced to for months. Now I can if I want to. I don’t really recommend it, because it **HURTS LIKE HELL!** Anyway, there’s my $.02. -brianjedi ---
**Author:** ![ookpik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c68b51/32.png) [@ookpik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ookpik)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2002, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-learn-to-sleep-on-my-back/114067/8 "2002-06-15T00:32:14Z")
Here’s a surefire cure: I too, as far as I know always slept face down…Then one day I thought it would be cool to work the graveyard shift. Not being accustomed to the schedule, I didn’t sleep for the first 72 hours. When my system finally shut down, I slept on my back, and probably could have slept standing upright! ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2002, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-learn-to-sleep-on-my-back/114067/9 "2002-06-15T01:29:06Z")
I would also caution about the possibility of increased risk of apnea and snoring. I do not know how large the risk increases, but perhaps, if you are a comfortable stomach sleeper, you might re-think wanting to sleep on your back… But in answer to your question, I think the best way is to get an adjustable bed, and start out by sleeping at a reclined position, and reduce the angle slowly over a period of weeks, until you reach horizontal. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2002, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-learn-to-sleep-on-my-back/114067/10 "2002-06-15T01:35:06Z")
I would also caution about the possibility of increased risk of apnea and snoring. I do not know how large the risk increases, but perhaps, if you are a comfortable stomach sleeper, you might re-think wanting to sleep on your back… But in answer to your question, I think the best way is to get an adjustable bed, and start out by sleeping at a reclined position, and reduce the angle slowly over a period of weeks, until you reach horizontal. ---
**Author:** ![Com2Kid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Com2Kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Com2Kid)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2002, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-learn-to-sleep-on-my-back/114067/11 "2002-06-15T05:04:11Z")
I can fall asleep in the middle of the day on my back but not at night. . . . ::sighs:: Try falling asleep to some nice relaxing music, float into sleep rather then fall. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mkmiller99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@mkmiller99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkmiller99)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2002, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-learn-to-sleep-on-my-back/114067/12 "2002-06-15T05:45:20Z")
I was hoping, upon entering this thread, that there would be a solution here! I also sleep on my stomach and would like to stop, it is horrible for your face (wrinkle wise). As terribly self-defeating this may sound, the only time I can fall asleep on my back is in my tanning bed (wrinkle enhancer). ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2002, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-learn-to-sleep-on-my-back/114067/13 "2002-06-15T06:04:30Z")
heres what I did, first find a cute chick (note not trying to be offensive here) second screw like rabits til she passes out in orgasmic bliss third fall asleep with her head resting on your shoulder/chest the only time I ever sleep on my back is when the gf is over, but I can with no problems under those circumstances.