Talk with a healthcare professional if you regularly experience:

• Loud or persistent snoring
• Gasping or choking during sleep
• Witnessed pauses in breathing
• Severe daytime sleepiness
• Repeated morning headaches
• Persistent neck or back pain
• Frequent nighttime awakenings

These symptoms can sometimes be associated with underlying sleep or health conditions that deserve evaluation.

Final Thoughts

The “right” sleeping position depends on the person.

For many adults, side sleeping or well-supported back sleeping can be comfortable choices, while stomach sleeping may cause neck or back discomfort in some people.

But there is one rule that should never be overlooked:

For babies under 1 year old, always place them on their backs to sleep.

An infant’s sleeping position and sleep environment can make a real difference in the risk of sleep-related death. A firm, flat sleep surface, no loose bedding, and a separate infant sleep space are key parts of safer sleep.

A good night’s sleep isn’t only about how long you sleep. It’s also about how safely and comfortably you sleep.