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12 Couple Sleeping Positions To Try With Your Partner

Medically reviewed by Jezreel Esguerra, MD · General Practitioner


Written by Hello Doctor Medical Panel · Updated Feb 13, 2023

    12 Couple Sleeping Positions To Try With Your Partner

    Tired of your usual couple sleeping positions? The following might be worth trying to keep the intimacy between you and your partner while you snooze!

    Spoon

    One of the most well-known couple sleeping positions is spooning, which involves the “big spoon” encircling the other person in a side hug.

    Having a protective instinct toward their spouse, the “big spoon” may use their body to create a secure environment.

    On top of the “protective” factor, snoozing on one’s side can be better for your health. It can be better for breathing because it doesn’t clog the airways as much as other positions, which is a lifesaver for anyone who snores. It may also ease morning aches and pains because it gives your back some pressure-free time.

    However, there are some drawbacks. The possibility exists that hunching your shoulders and knees will harm your joints. Squeezing your face into the pillow may not be ideal for a plump, wrinkle free skin.  Then there’s the comfort factor to take into account. There isn’t much space to move around or stretch. And for some people, it can seem cramped.

    Following Spoon

    The pursuing spoon is a posture when one person has gone to one side of the bed and the other looks to be “chasing” them, as opposed to placing the spoon in the middle of the bed.

    This one is said to have a couple of meanings: either one party desires the other’s attention, or the other party requires some time apart from the other.

    This has all the same ups and downs as the standard spooning posture, with the exception of a potential fall to the ground.

    Face-to-face With Touching

    This one of the relatively self-explanatory couple sleeping positions. Both persons are facing each other, their heads are at the same level, and their bodies are in contact.

    The fact that the two are sleeping together shows they are very close and typically content with one another.

    But, of course, there are drawbacks. The most apparent is when you sleep face to face, you can actually “feel” your partner’s breath. And that is probably not the best situation for a good night’s sleep.

    Therefore, it makes sense that just 4% of couples reported spending the night facing each other. This was found in a 2014 poll conducted by the University of Hertfordshire in the UK.

    Face-to-face But Without Touching

    Some people think there may be a problem in the relationship if you sleep next to each other but don’t touch. It’s possible that both partners want to give each other attention but aren’t doing so.

    Experts advise prioritizing listening to one another and being open and honest about your feelings in order to combat this.

    However, it can also be seen as a different stance known as “pillow talk,” which indicates that you two are close and willing to share things.

    Back-to-back, In Contact

    Sleeping back-to-back while maintaining touch with each other is known as “back kissing” and is considered to be a very calm couple sleeping position.

    Despite the possibility that it indicates closeness, newlywed couples are more likely to exhibit it.

    Considering that this is a sort of side sleeping, your joints may suffer while your back feels better in the morning.

    Overlapping But Not Touching

    This couples sleeping position also has a cute alternative name: lovers of liberty.

    It often indicates independence and connectedness within the partnership by sleeping back-to-back with space in between. This may encourage comfort while sleeping, too, as you won’t feel crowded. 

    However, if you’ve abruptly changed positions from one that was more intimate to this, you might want to talk to your partner about the new area.

    The posture of a liberty lover can be beneficial to the body since it releases strain on internal organs, but it can also be bad for the lower back and shoulders.

    Cradle

    This virtually cherubic couple sleeping position, also known as the nuzzle, involves one person lying flat on their back. The other then puts their head on the first person’s chest. Legs and arms are frequently “hugged” by the sleeping partner.

    This is a protective posture with a dash of desire, similar to spooning.

    The possible downside is that it isn’t particularly comfortable. And a person may get stiff or numb limbs as a result. Having said that, its strong reliance on skin-to-skin contact may release oxytocin, the love hormone.

    Cliffhanger

    If a foot protrudes over the edge when both people are resting on opposite sides of the bed far apart from one another, it counts as a cliffhanger.

    Most individuals would interpret this as an indication that there’s trouble in a relationship.

    But if done subtly, it might truly mean that both parties are content with their spouse and with themselves.

    Cloth Dolls

    What does it seem like when you’re lying on your back next to your spouse, holding hands or softly touching their arm or leg?

    Be aware that one or both of you may wind up snoring, turning a tranquil night into an inconvenient one, even though it may benefit people who experience back discomfort and circulation issues.

    Tetherball

    Try the tetherball if you both want to sleep in completely different positions but want to be in close proximity at night.

    Simple, one person sleeps on their back with a hand resting on their partner’s hip. The other person curls up into a ball-like position.

    A UK survey found that even the slightest touch can have an impact on a relationship.

    In fact, 94 percent of couples who touched while they slept said they were content with their union, as opposed to 68 percent of those who didn’t.

    Knee Embrace

    The leg hug is a passionate position that begs for intimacy. It is true whether your legs entirely intertwine with your partner’s, or only sometimes touching.

    The leg hug gives both parties the opportunity to choose which position is most comfortable for them. It does so by allowing them to sleep on their backs, sides, or in the front.

    Shingles

    Shingles may sound strange, we know. yYet it’s one of the couple sleeping positions that may be cozy.

    In this position, both of you are flat on their backs with one person’s head resting on the other’s shoulder.

    Experts on sleep say it’s a sign of trust and understanding when one person is ready and willing to serve as the protector.

    Key Takeaways

    Couple sleeping positions can reveal details about their relationship. Sleeping together in a relationship is crucial because it enables you to be open and vulnerable with your partner. If you and your partner can’t sleep in the same position, spend some time figuring out what to do.

    Disclaimer

    Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

    Medically reviewed by

    Jezreel Esguerra, MD

    General Practitioner


    Written by Hello Doctor Medical Panel · Updated Feb 13, 2023

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