Since we spend one-third of our lives sleeping, the way and how we sleep has a big impact on most aspects of our life - including productivity and health for example. While some people enjoy spooning with a partner the whole night, others prefer their own space and sleeping like a starfish. Did you know that only two-thirds (66%) of Americans actually want to share a bed with their partner according to a YouGov survey?

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Co-sleeping is an intimate experience that can lead to deeper bonding and communication. By sharing a sleep schedule, you and your partner can have more time to spend together awake. But is sharing your bed with someone always a good idea? That is the topic we will look into in this article. Let's take a look at the pros and cons of sharing a bed with someone.

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Benefits of Sharing a Bed

Sharing your bed with someone can have some great benefits. Most people swear by the improved communication and intimacy that sharing a bedroom and bed creates, saying it deepens their connection and syncs their circadian rhythms with the person they share their bed with. Here are some other benefits of co-sleeping with your partner:

Improves Communication

One of the benefits of sharing a bed with a partner is the improved communication. When sharing a bed with your partner, you have a great opportunity to communicate more effectively than you might otherwise. This is because that relaxed time at the end of the day provides a more intimate setting, which encourages open and honest communication. And we all know that communication is essential in any relationship, it's the key to resolving conflicts, understanding each other's needs, and building trust. So if you want to have a healthy and strong relationship with a deep connection, sharing a bed is the way!

There's a reason why it's said that you shouldn't go to sleep before you resolve a conflict. Sometimes the only time to do that is as soon as you get into bed. Better late then never!

Cuddling Enhances Deep Sleep

Cuddling is a wonderful way to connect with your partner and show them you care about them. It can actually also help you to get a better night's sleep.

When you cuddle with your partner, it releases oxytocin, which is sometimes called the "cuddle hormone." Oxytocin is associated with happiness, stress relief, and calming sensations. And due to its characteristics, oxytocin has been shown to promote deep sleep and enhance sleep quality. When you cuddle with your partner, it helps you fall asleep faster and stay asleep for a longer period.

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Reduces Stress Levels

Sharing a bed with someone, like your partner, can also help reduce stress and anxiety levels, due to the releases of oxytocin. So sharing a bed, is in fact a great way to relax and de-stress after a long day because co-sleeping creates a sense of relaxation and security. Studies have actually shown that people who share a bed with someone else are less likely to report feeling stressed.

The intimate setting of sharing your bed with a partner creates a feeling of safety and security, and when we feel safe, we feel less stressed!

This is because sharing a bed lowers cortisol levels. Cortisol is a hormone that is released in response to stress. It's known as the "stress hormone" because it's responsible for the body's stress response. 

High levels of cortisol can lead to inflammation, so sharing your bed can help reduce inflammation by reducing cortisol levels.

Increases Intimacy and Closeness

When two people sleep in the same bed, they are sharing more than just a space. They are sharing an intimate experience that can help to strengthen their relationship. In fact, co-sleeping can increase feelings of intimacy and closeness between people. 

This is because sharing beds allows for more physical contact (unless you have a massive bed like an Alaskan King Bed or Emperor Bed). When you're sharing your bed with someone, you're likely to be touching each other more than if you were sleeping in separate beds. This can help create a feeling of connection and intimacy.

And let's be honest, sharing a bed isn't just about sleeping ;)

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Reduces Inflammation

This might sound a bit strange, but sharing your bed with your partner can have some major health benefits. One of these benefits is that it could reduce inflammation. An inflammation is a natural process that occurs in the body in response to injury or infection. It's responsible for the swelling and redness that often accompanies injury.

However, inflammation can also occur when the body is constantly exposed to stressors. This can lead to a wide range of health problems, including heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes. And due to the fact that co-sleeping does reduce stress, which we talked about before, it automatically can also help to reduce inflammation!

Disadvantages of Sharing a Bed

While co-sleeping has many benefits and can be great, it isn't always sunshine and rainbows. There are actually some disadvantages of sharing a bed that you should be aware of before you make the decision to share your bed with someone else.

You May Not Get a Good Night's Sleep

When you share a bed with someone else, there is a chance that you won't get a good night's sleep. This is because the quality of your sleep is partly depending on someone else’s sleep routine, style, and pattern. So, it is safe to say co-sleeping can lead to sleep problems, ultimately leading to disrupted sleep.

Having your sleep disrupted by someone else can be caused my many different things. However, the most common ones are snoring (obviously), your partners sleep movement and perhaps and uncomfortable sleeping environment.

Snoring is a common problem that can disrupt sleep for both the snorer and their partner. However, there are many aids and tricks out there today which could reduce the snoring, and therefore improve the sleep! But make sure you present this idea to your partner in the nicest possible way, no one likes to be told they are a snorer!

But when it comes to snoring, please bear in mind that it could be a sign of bigger problems like obstructive sleep apnea.

Disrupted sleep due to sleep movement is also common when people share a bed. This is because when one person moves and kicks around in their sleep, it often disturbs the partner's sleep.

Do you always end up on the corner of the bed with just a tiny bit of duvet due to your partners sleep movements? Well, that is an uncomfortable sleeping environment which definitely will lead to bad and disrupted sleep. However, rather than considering separate beds, start with separate duvets!

Claustrophobia

Claustrophobia, the fear of being confined in a small space is in fact something that some people have to different extents. Sharing a bed and being claustrophobic can actually be a major problem for some people. When you share a bed, you are sharing a small space with someone else, (again unless you have a massive bed like an Alaskan King Bed or Emperor Bed), and this can cause feelings of claustrophobia in some people.

Claustrophobia can lead to many problems, including anxiety, stress, and insomnia. It can also lead to problems in relationships, as couples often feel cramped and uncomfortable when sharing beds, thus being unable to fall asleep.

If you suffer from claustrophobia, it's important to find a bed that provides enough space for both you and your partner. You may also want to consider sleeping in separate beds to avoid feelings of claustrophobia. 

Remember, you can also feel claustrophobic and cramped if your sleepwear is too tight. Always make sure that the pyjamas you wear in bed is the right fit and size for you!

Reduced Privacy

Sharing a bed can and probably will led to a loss of privacy, because at the end of the day you are sharing your bed, as well as your privacy with them. This can be a problem for people who are uncomfortable sharing personal space and information with their partners.

No More Starfishing

Starfishing (sleeping with arms and legs outstretched, like a starfish) is arguably one of the best sleeping positions. However, if you share a bed with someone, you may have to say goodbye to starfishing. Because if you do not, it can lead to one person being too crowded or cramped. If you can’t live without sleeping in the starfish position, you may want to consider sleeping in a larger bed or in separate beds?

Fights Over the Duvet

Fighting over the duvet at 3am is not good for you, your sleep, or the relationship with whomever you are sharing your bed with. Duvet fights (not to be confused with pillow fights, which is a completely different thing) can be a major problem for couples who share a bed. They can often lead to arguments, disagreements, disrupted sleep and actually even sleep deprivation!

You may want to consider investing in separate duvets for each person, because having separate duvets is actually more common than you might think. This way, you can avoid fights over the blanket and keep your relationship harmonious.

Also, seeing as men and women prefer different temperatures for example, this might also help you customise the duvet for these different needs!

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How to Sleep Through the Night Whеn Co-Sleeping

If you love sharing your bed with someone, but you did recognise some of the cons we mentioned, there are a few things you can do to ensure you get a good night's sleep. Here are a few tips that can make a big difference for co-sleepers:

Choose the Right Bed

When you co-sleep, it's important that you have the right bed. This means choosing a bed that is big enough for both you and your partner, a single bed will not do!

If you share a bed and you're finding that you're not getting enough sleep, perhaps you are feeling squeezed in, it may be time to invest in a new mattress or a bigger bed.

Use Separate Duvets

Lastly, if you don't want to fight with your partner over the duvet, consider using separate duvets. This way, each person can control their own blanket, and you won't have to fight over who gets to use them. This is also a great way to get duvets that works best for you and your sleep. Perhaps one of you want a heavy down duvet, while the your partner want a think summer duvet?

Finally...

If you looking at other way to improve your sleep, we would highly recommend to consider what you wear in bed! At the end of the day (the night) you want to be comfortable when you sleep, and Drift Sleepwear has the perfect solution for you. With our pyjama shorts for men, you'll be able to sleep comfortably through the night like a night owl without worrying about your partner's snoring or tossing and turning.

And, if you're looking for the perfect gift for your partner, Drift Sleepwear's organic pyjamas make a great present. They'll love the soft material and the fact that they're helping to protect the environment!

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We hope that you found this article interesting and helpful. If you would like to read more about sleeping and/or sleepwear for men, then head over to our blog and check out our other articles!