What is the best sleeping position?

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15 Apr 2024

Sleep: we all do it and we love it. We spend about a third of our lives sleeping, that's quite a lot! Sleep is also very important for our mind and body; We recharge, so to speak. Therefore, sleep deprivation can have unpleasant consequences; It affects memory, ability to concentrate, reaction speed, decision-making skills, emotions, and physical health. But not only is sleep good for your health, the way you sleep can also have advantages and disadvantages for physical discomfort.

But what is the best sleeping position? Sleepers can be roughly divided into three categories: back sleepers, abdominal sleepers, and side sleepers. The position in which you sleep can be very good or very bad for certain body complaints.

Always try to sleep at least 6 hours. Research has shown that people who sleep for six hours or less have more physical and emotional problems than those who sleep more than 6. Try not to develop chronic sleep deprivation. Your body begins to notice a lack of sleep when you sleep less than six hours every night for two weeks. You think you are still functioning well, but in reality this is not the case.

Sleeping on your back is good for your spine. The only downside is that you snore faster. Are you a side sleeper? Then you are certainly not the only one, this is the most common sleeping position. As a side sleeper, you may develop problems with your arms and legs because you are continually lying on one side. Lying on your right side is also harmful to your digestion and stomach acid. Face down: Young children are unlucky: this sleeping position is the worst for health. You develop neck discomfort (your head is completely turned away) and back problems.

Sleep enough? Your age reveals how much sleep you really need. Many people underestimate the amount of sleep they need to function optimally. Some say they can function well on five hours of sleep, while others really can't get out of bed on less than eight hours of sleep. However, everyone needs a certain amount of sleep, and your age can tell you exactly how much that is for you.

Lack of sleep is far from ideal. It can even have very unpleasant consequences for your body. It can cause stress, depression and bad mood. Lack of sleep is also associated with heart failure, hypertension, arrhythmia, stroke, diabetes and obesity. These are things we definitely don't want, so getting enough sleep is important, but how much is really enough? There are differences in the amount of sleep for each stage of life. For example, a baby needs much more sleep than an adult.

Can you catch up on sleep? Yes, but not like many people think. Going to bed late, for example, makes no sense. You can only make up for lost sleep by going to bed early. So your mother was right when she said that the hours before 12 count double.

How many hours of sleep does she need? The average amount of sleep you need depends on your age. Each stage of life has different sleep needs. So take a good look at your age and what sleep rhythm best suits it.

Baby

1 – 4 weeks: 15 – 17 hours of sleep per day/hour
1 – 4 months: 14 – 15 hours of sleep per day
4 – 12 months: 14 – 15 hours of sleep a day.

Babies sleep most of the day. Their sleep-wake rhythm is not yet developed, so they sleep when they are tired, even during the day. As they grow, daytime naps decrease and the sleep-wake rhythm begins to develop.

Toddler, toddler, preschool

1 – 3 years: 12 – 14 hours of sleep per day/hour
3 – 6 years: 10 – 12 hours of sleep per day/hour.

Toddlers and preschoolers typically nap during the day, which gets shorter and shorter as they get older. On average, they go to bed around 7 and wake up around 8. They sleep more than 11 hours a night. So they sleep more than 11 hours a night.

Schoolchildren

6 – 12 years: 10 – 11 hours of sleep per day/hour.

School-age children have to process a lot of impressions. They play with their friends, go to school and do homework. Sleeping well is important to process all impressions and relax.

Teenagers

12 – 18 years: 8 – 10 hours of sleep per day/daily.

Teenagers need a lot of sleep, about 9 hours a night. This is good for their school performance and growth process.

Adult

From 18 years old: 7 – 8 hours of sleep per day/daily.

Adults need an average of 8 hours of sleep. Some adults only need 6 hours of sleep, while others really need 10.

Seniors

From 60 years old: 6-7 hours of sleep per day/hour.

As one ages, one tends to need to process fewer impressions. The growth process has stopped and life slows down a bit. Therefore, older people can get by with about 6 hours of sleep on average.