How to Sleep Comfortably In the Backseat of a Car

Imagine you have driven for hours, exhausted, and don’t have a place to sleep overnight or take a nap. The only option you have left is your car.

However, getting some good sleep in a car can be tricky. You can sleep and wake up more exhausted than before. In this regard, sleeping in the backseat of your vehicle can be more comfortable than reclining the front seat.

Therefore, there is a need to understand how to sleep comfortably in the backseat of your car.

Are you wondering how to go about it?

Here is a guide with all the details on how to sleep comfortably in the backseat of your car.

Why Sleep in The Backseat of Your Car?

If you’ve had an experience of sleeping in your car, you can tell it is not easy. Imagine folding yourself to fit in the reclined seats and waking up to the imprints of seatbelt buckle on your body.

Whether sleeping in the car is a good experience or not, sometimes it can be the only option.

Some of the reasons you can find yourself sleeping in the car include;

• The vehicle breaks down in the middle of nowhere.
• You are tired because the journey is longer than expected, and you struggle to stay awake.
• You are on a tight budget and don’t have extra dollars for a hotel room.
• In case your car runs out of gas in the course of your journey.
• You are taking an afternoon nap to refresh before embarking on working.

As seen above, unavoidable circumstances can make you sleep in your car, and resting across the backseat of your vehicle can be more comfortable than reclining the front seat. Therefore, there is a need to understand how to sleep comfortably in the backseat of your car.

How to Sleep Comfortably In the Backseat of a Car

How comfortable you sleep in your car depends on your vehicle’s size and how well you can sleep in uncomfortable circumstances.

However, it should not only be about your comfort but also about your safety and health.

Here are the tips to help you sleep comfortably in the backseat of your car.

1. Be Prepared

Before you start your drive, carefully select loose, comfortable sleeping clothes. The clothes should have a breathable material like linen and cotton.

When sleeping in uncomfortable areas, wearing tight clothes prevents blood circulation and can lead to a health concern.

In addition, wear comfortable pair of shoes, possibly with laces, because they will be easy to loosen and slip off. However, if you decide to wear sandals, carry along an extra pair of socks to help in regulating body temperature and keep your feet warm.

You should also invest in beddings of high quality; a pillow, a blanket, and a backseat mattress. A soft pillow will hold your neck upright and prevent the sore feeling when you wake up. However, the blanket you carry will depend on the weather outside.

If it’s warm, carry a comfortable blanket, but you can bring more than one blanket if it is freezing.

I will also recommend you get yourself a backseat mattress.

Backseat mattresses fit nicely on the back seat, preventing back pains on waking up and helping you sleep comfortably. The good thing about this mattress is that you can inflate and deflate when needed so that they do not occupy a vast space in your car.

2. Look for a Good Parking Space

A crucial thing to consider is a good, quiet place to park. If you want to sleep comfortably, park in an area with no restrictions and zero disturbances. A good option can be a chain store, a pharmacy or car park of a superstore.

However, if you are parking overnight, make sure you do some background research on traffic regulations; since some locations restrict overnight parking, and you can pay a fine or have your vehicle towed.

Do not just pull over your car and sleep; your safety should be optimum. If you park somewhere and feel uncomfortable, move to a different spot.

Before drifting to sleep, ensure you avoid the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning by turning off the engine. Therefore, always turn off the engine before sleeping, no matter how cold it is. Be safe and avoid danger.

3. Cover Your Windows

Covering your car with window shades is crucial even if you plan to sleep at night and not in the daylight.

For instance, if you park your car in a parking lot, street lights and others vehicles’ headlights driving around will shine in your car and cause you discomfort.

Therefore, cover your window if you do not want to wake up in the middle of the night. You can use a foam sheet, a towel, or a blanket to cover your windows provided it blocks light from shining into your vehicle.

4. Get Some Ventilation

You do not have to leave your windows completely open, however hot it is. Opening your windows completely can be dangerous and cause you more harm since anyone can get into your vehicle.

Instead, you can break the windows to get a small opening to allow some air.

It will also be better if you have a top window for the sun since it is safer to leave it opened rather than opening the side windows.

Another option for good ventilation is a rechargeable fan since you don’t need to plug it into a power source to work. Most rechargeable fans can be charged in the day and used at night for adequate time and allow you to sleep comfortably.

5. Block Every Distraction

If you want to comfortably sleep in your car, block everything that can distract your sleep.

To avoid distractions, use sleep masks and devices that cancel noise.

You can go for masks made of silk because they adapt to your face’s shape and cover your eyes hence helping to block light.

To prevent auditory distractions, I recommend you use earplugs to help you sleep comfortably. It will block the honking of vehicles, talking, and other noises.

However, if you park in a quiet remote area, you will not need earplugs.

6. Take Sleeping Supplements

If you have difficulties falling asleep, get sleeping supplements.

Please note that you should not take any medicine over the counter without consulting a physician.

You can also take natural supplements like melatonin, herbs, and essential oils, or you can also drink peppermint tea or chamomile because they help the body relax.

Note that you should reduce your coffee intake because the more caffeine you have in your system, the longer it will take you to sleep, even in your bed. It would help if you avoided it more because you want to sleep comfortably in your car.

On How to Sleep Comfortably In the Backseat of a Car

As you can see, it is possible to sleep comfortably in the backseat of your car.

You can try the above tips and see how it goes.

Before sleeping in your car, ensure you park in a safe place and avoid any form of danger.

It is not only about comfort but also about your health and safety.

Take that nap in your backseat, and you might be amazed to wake up refreshed rather than exhausted.

However, it’s no problem if you don’t get comfortable sleeping in your car. You can never compare sleeping in your vehicle to sleeping in a bedroom in terms of quality and comfort.