Tips for changing from side/stomach sleeper to back sleeper?

I’ve seen ads for pillows that help side sleepers. Maybe look at the reviews for those. If I find it, I’ll post a link.

ETA- Google “side sleeper pillows”. There will lots of ads and some comparison reviews. Good luck! I like to sleep side and it bothers one shoulder.

I switched over to back sleeping due to hip & knee pain. I started off sleeping with a wedge pillow then ended up getting a temperpedic bed. It has been a life saver! It did take me about 2 weeks to fully adjust to back sleeping though.

I cant imagine sleeping on my back! Even pregnant, I slept on my stomach until about 6 or 7 months!

Wedge pillow.  But even those I need a physical reminder while asleep.

Try a pillow tucked right up at your side/s, or roll a towel at your side/s as a sub-conscious reminder.

A hip replacement! 

Following surgery was told to sleep my back for 6 weeks. Ha Ha - me - I had been a side sleeper in a tight foetal position. 

No the hip had to be as stable as possible so back sleeping it was. I ended up sleeping with a low pillow under my knees as that reduced the pressure on my lower back and have been sleeping like that since (Sept 2019). Now I don't even think about it and I am sleeping reasonably well. 

I’m having trouble too. I like sleeping on my right side, or at least being able to switch from left to right, but my right shoulder has something going on where it now makes my thumb numb and tingly when I sleep on that side after even a few minutes.   Now the left side of my head is perennially congested because I have to sleep on only that side. It’s driving me nuts.

4 pillows. That was my answer. I had hip pain, nerve issues in my arm, etc., because of sleeping like that. I used a pillow under my head, one tucked on my left side, one tucked on my right side, and one under my knees. Worked like a charm, and now it's the only way I can sleep. I am SO thankful I did it last year before I knew I was going to end up with back surgery 2 1/2 weeks ago because it's been the only way I could sleep now since surgery. And we tried the Tempurpedic to the tune of $4,000, and it was awful for us. We gave it to one of our daughters. She loves it but it was NOT for us. 

Adjustable base with a zero g setting.

I’ve been a lifelong side sleeper. Never slept on my back ever. Then with the mastectomy and 2 reconstruction surgeries, my plastic surgeon said back sleeping only for 8 weeks after each surgery. My zero g setting saved me. It took a couple of weeks to get used to it, but now it is easier for me to fall asleep on my back than on my side. About half the time I’ll wake sometime later in the night and flatten the mattress and sleep on my side for the rest of the night, but only because I’m cleared for as much side sleeping as I want. But I start out each night on my back using zero g because I fall asleep much more quickly that way.

When I had my bout of sciatica, I wasn't able to sleep on my side, so I just worked at getting as relaxed as I could on my back with a pillow under my knees. I adjusted really quickly. I'm back to going to sleep on my side, but I often end up on my back now.

What turned me into a back sleeper is our oldest cat. Back when she was just a kitten (almost 20 years ago), she insisted on sleeping on my stomach. In turn, I needed to learn to sleep on my back (she was very adamant and persistent ). While I still sometimes prefer to be on my side, I often sleep on my back most of the night.

It was a long time ago, so I don't remember how long before it felt comfortable and natural.

I have been a stomach sleeper my whole life! Left side or stomach, even while pregnant,

Neck pain and headache lead me to acupuncture. He told me that stomach sleeping is really bad and told me to change it immediately.

So.... I put a folded over pillow under my knees and a pillow under my head and go to sleep. I wake up soooo relaxed and in the same position most of the time. It’s great! Not to say I don’t sometimes end up back on my stomach or side but must less than I was that’s for sure!

That's what I do then with the additional pillows at my side too. I love it. I could never use a wedge pillow though. I like to adjust my own pillow the way I like it under my knees. Wedge pillows and too firm and can't be molded as I like.

This is what I had to do too. I have a Sleep Number mattress with an adjustable base, though I keep my feet and head slightly more elevated than the Zero G setting. It keeps me on my back all night.

I’ve been meaning to get a wedge for travel purposes and see if that will work as well.

I bought a contour memory foam pillow that helps me sleep better and elevates my head. I mainly sleep on my back. I tend to do better that way. This may not work for everyone, but it’s something to look at.