As we enter the summer months it can be a little too warm to cuddle your loved one at night, but is cuddling important for the relationship?

Some evidence shows that couples who sleep together not only stay together but stay happier and  healthier too.  Sharing a bed is the ultimate intimacy and research suggests that sleeping close and cuddling increases oxytocin (the ‘love’ hormone) which helps to lower stress hormones, making you feel calmer and encourages feelings of safety and security – leading to less interrupted sleep.

When your stress levels are down, your blood pressure is lower too which is good for heart health. Cuddles also releases serotonin – the happy hormone. Serotonin carries messages between neurones and other cells, and when levels are decreased, individuals can feel anxious, depressed and crave carbohydrates. At nighttime, serotonin undergoes metabolic changes to become melatonin, the chemical that induces sleep. There are a few different cuddling positions from the spoon, half spoon to the bum-touching, the full embrace and the hug at arm’s length!

But…

We’re not all cuddly sleepers but did you know there are some surprising benefits of cuddling in bed? It may sound romantic to fall asleep wrapped in the arms of a loved one, but did you know around 50% of sleep disturbance comes from sharing a bed? If you find your sleep is disrupted on a regular basis by a snoring partner, a duvet hogger or a bed companion who frequently tosses and turns it may be worth considering a bigger bed. A bigger bed guarantees that you get to sleep well throughout the night without any disturbance from your partner. A wider bed means you can spread out without complaints or restrictions from your partner.

Sometimes nothing beats curling up in bed cuddling your partner – before kicking them out to go to sleep in the spare bedroom!