The way a couple shares a bed speaks volumes about their connection. Unconscious body language reveals the feelings you two have towards each other, and these insights can do wonders for developing a stable, loving partnership.
However, if you only recently moved in together, you might not be used to bedtime for two. That’s normal, and you’ll get accustomed to it as time goes by, but getting informed can’t hurt.
Let’s explore the significance of various sleeping positions and how they promote healthy relationships.
Meaning Behind Sleeping Positions
Body language doesn’t stop while we rest. Your sleeping position can explain how you’re feeling, physically and emotionally, and even provide some understanding of your character.
Of course, this information is quite fluid, especially since we shift multiple times during the night. Studies can’t do more than speculate about the meanings of various preferences, but there are some general trends worth considering.
For example, if you don’t feel safe in your bed or home, you’re much more likely to fold your body into a tight ball or even hug your pillow. More dominant personalities tend to splay across the mattress, while more submissive ones take up less space.
There’s also the potential impact on your health. Putting too much pressure on one body part takes its toll, even with enough exercise and stretching. Negotiating a healthy position makes you well-rested, happy, and healthy in the long-run.
The Importance of Sharing a Bed
If you only started living with your partner a short while ago, you could find yourself waking up a bit more tired than usual, and not just because of the late-night pillow talks. It takes a while to adapt to another body breathing next to you.
Still, as long as you have a healthy relationship, good communication, and a mattress for couples that accommodates both sleeping preferences, you can yield various health benefits from sleeping with the person you love. Notably:
- Oxytocin release. Known as the ‘love hormone,’ oxytocin promotes happiness and tranquility. A large body of research shows that dozing near a loved one triggers the release of this magic substance.
- Improved relationship. Sharing a bed strengthens the bond between partners, making you both feel more intimate and safe with one another during the waking hours.
- Mood boost. This resting arrangement reduces your stress levels and helps you get better rest, making you more relaxed and carefree during the day.
Sleep is essential for your overall well-being. These effects might not seem like much by themselves, but they soon add up, and you see yourself becoming a healthier person with each passing day. 
Best Sleeping Positions for Couples
Of course, no two couples are identical. The bedtime positioning depends on many factors, such as:
- Individual habits
- Snoring and sleep apnea
- Injuries and chronic joint pain
- The proportion of your size and weight
- How tired you are on any given day
What works in your case might not work for another couple and vice-versa. Still, people generally prefer some positions. These are an excellent place to start if you’re finding it hard to get used to the new setup.
Spooning
This arrangement is intimate and comforting, providing emotional support through skin-to-skin contact. In this case, the big spoon is likely protective and giving, while the little spoon relaxes in a nurturing, safe, and stable environment.
This arrangement usually indicates that you two feel secure in bed together. It doesn’t put pressure on the back and the hips, either, creating a sustainable long-term setup.
Back-to-Back
Lying back-to-back exhibits a bit more independence in the relationship while offering the same air of stability as spooning.
There’s still some skin contact, but each sleeper gets to enjoy extra space to get comfortable. It’s frequent among longer-term relationships, but it’s also a great solution if you’re craving some intimacy but can’t fall asleep while facing another person.
Intertwined
This full-blown embrace is familiar among new couples who can’t take their hands off each other. It’s a sign of great passion, but it can lead to joint pain. It might be a good idea to separate a bit once you start dozing off to get the best of both worlds.
Front-to-Front
Front-to-front resembles the intertwined position but provides much more breathing room – literally and figuratively – to both partners.
It shows that you are happy together, and there’s still passion burning between you. You might’ve even fallen asleep intertwined. Still, there isn’t a need to keep touching to ensure intimacy.
Leg Hug
The leg hug leaves a lot of room to get cozy to those who find it difficult to fall asleep when they’re intertwined.
Like back-to-back, though, it reveals a desire for physical intimacy, showing that both partners find comfort in sharing a bed.
Head on Shoulder/Chest
If one partner lays their head on the other’s chest or shoulder, it showcases the need for support and protection.
There’s a healthy balance of giving and receiving, providing care, and accepting help. However, like the intertwined option, it can get uncomfortable after a few hours.
Tetherball
This one is ideal for sleepers with very different preferences who still want to maintain contact throughout the night. For example, one could be cuddled up in a fetal position while the other starfishes across the bed, placing their hand on their partner’s back.
Tetherball tends to be a good sign for a new relationship. It displays a willingness to compromise and find the setup that feels good for both of you while providing all your preferred solo pose health benefits.
In a Nutshell
Finally, remember that these positions are only suggestions, and their meanings are nothing more than interpretations.
If you’re worried that there’s something wrong with your relationship, talk to your partner. Try and test different setups until you find the one that works for you. After all, the plan is to spend the rest of your days sharing a bed – why not make it as comfortable as possible?