# Side sleepers - How many times do you rotate? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 25, 2004, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-sleepers-how-many-times-do-you-rotate/256849 "2004-07-25T22:19:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2004, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-sleepers-how-many-times-do-you-rotate/256849/1 "2004-07-25T22:19:04Z")
In a single night, I’ll switch sides 5 - 6 times per night. What about you? I’m trying to determine if this is a high number and if I should consider a different type of bed. Springaire, memory foam etc. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2004, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-sleepers-how-many-times-do-you-rotate/256849/2 "2004-07-25T22:28:26Z")
Well, I used to turn over six or so times a night (alternating right side, left side, tummy). Every time I turn over, I’m aware of it, because it requires rearranging my pillows. Then, about six months ago, hubby and I bought a memory foam mattress topper. Now, I _still_ turn over half a dozen times per night, but I sleep more soundly between roll-overs. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![saramamalana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@saramamalana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saramamalana)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2004, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-sleepers-how-many-times-do-you-rotate/256849/3 "2004-07-25T23:40:19Z")
I start out on my back and eventually I’ll tun on my left side. If I have to rotate to my belly and then my right side then I know I won’t be falling asleep. So if I’m gonna fall right asleep, one turn. ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2004, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-sleepers-how-many-times-do-you-rotate/256849/4 "2004-07-26T02:36:32Z")
I have no idea. I guess I sleep right through it. ---
**Author:** ![lost\_hiker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6a8cbe/32.png) [@lost\_hiker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost_hiker)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2004, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-sleepers-how-many-times-do-you-rotate/256849/5 "2004-07-26T03:41:00Z")
I can only sleep on my side, and I always wake up to turn. 5-6 times a night sounds pretty low to me, as I easily turn twice that often. Sometimes I get really fidgety (maybe I have that “restless leg syndrome”) and turn 5 times in an hour. Having had a variety of mattresses over the years, I’ve never noticed any change in this pattern. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2004, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-sleepers-how-many-times-do-you-rotate/256849/6 "2004-07-26T04:12:59Z")
I don’t think 5 or 6 times is too many. I have a standard pillow-top mattress and turn at least that many times. ---
**Author:** ![Cosmopolitan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/94ad74/32.png) [@Cosmopolitan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cosmopolitan)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2004, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-sleepers-how-many-times-do-you-rotate/256849/7 "2004-07-26T04:16:42Z")
I turn maybe three times a night - sometimes more often. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2004, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-sleepers-how-many-times-do-you-rotate/256849/8 "2004-07-26T04:43:33Z")
I’m not sure, but I’m sure it’s many more than 5 or 6. It’s 5 or 6 before I get close to dropping off, and I don’t always wake up in the same position I fall asleep in, so who knows how many more? ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2004, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-sleepers-how-many-times-do-you-rotate/256849/9 "2004-07-26T23:31:15Z")
What, do you people film yourselves sleeping? How do you _know_? Personally, I have no clue. Because I’m _sleeping_. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2004, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-sleepers-how-many-times-do-you-rotate/256849/10 "2004-07-26T23:51:34Z")
> [@KRM](#): > > In a single night, I’ll switch sides 5 - 6 times per night. What about you? I’m trying to determine if this is a high number and if I should consider a different type of bed. Springaire, memory foam etc. I’m sure I usually turn twice that many times before I fall asleep, and more before I wake up, given how torn up my bed always is by morning. I’m a restless sleeper. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-sleepers-how-many-times-do-you-rotate/256849/11 "2004-07-27T00:16:35Z")
Some nights just once, other nights 3-4, occasionally many, many times. Depends on how well I’m sleeping. If I wake up in the middle of the night, no matter how briefly, I’ll usually turn over. ---
**Author:** ![flamingbananas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f4b2a3/32.png) [@flamingbananas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flamingbananas)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-sleepers-how-many-times-do-you-rotate/256849/12 "2004-07-27T00:19:25Z")
Never. If I start on my left side I will wake up on my left side. If I start on my back, I will stay on my back. Maybe one turn a night. Most. I sleep like a rock, only not moving as much.