Sleeping Together

For health reasons experts suggest it is better to sleep on ones back or right side, rather than on ones left side. This is especially true for larger or obese people as sleeping on ones left side can put added weight on top of their heart, compressing it somewhat. So in sleeping arrangements one has to decide do they want to be the cuddler, or the one who gets cuddled, then pick the sides accordingly.

If children are involved the decision is often made regarding who is more likely to hear their cries and respond. That person usually takes the side of the bed closest to the door. In the dark it is hard to get up without bumping around so for that person being able to make a straight line to the door is very handy. If a pregnancy is planned most parents find keeping the new baby in their room for the first while is far easier on the mother who will probably have to feed it part way through the night. Again this should be planned so the person, usually the mom, who will be getting up for the child, is sleeping on the side of the bed where the crib will be.

If one person is more prone to needing to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, again, that person should sleep on the side closest to the loo. This is not a time to be getting up in the dark and rushing for a room you cannot find.

Another very important consideration is previous relationships. A person should never sleep on the same side of the bed as they did in their last relationship. This is critical for allowing the mind to start fresh with the new person. It may even help protect against an embarrassing use of the wrong name, but mostly it helps the subconscious mind not to associate any of the past experiences with the new person. The best way of handling this is when first moving in together the person who had the most recent relationship should step forward and claim their side of the bed.

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Separate Beds?

Some people find sleeping apart to be a better arrangement. Perhaps one person snores or squirms around too much and it bothers the other person. It is better to get a good nights sleep in many relationships than to wake up weary, miserable, and angry at the other person for causing a lack of sleep.

Sleeping apart might even improve some relationship sexually. All too often, once dating is over, couples fall into a pattern where the woman is no longer being wooed and then feels that sex has become a chore in the relationship. Sleeping apart puts the couple back into the position of flirting with each other and in many cases this is what stimulates a better sexual relationship. While it may not work for everyone, sleeping in separate beds is not always a sign of an unhealthy relationship.

Pets?

Pets might be another consideration, if you have them chances are they will want to sleep with you, and often in the middle. If you do let your pet sleep in your bed with you, do not let them dictate where they sleep. You need to remember you are their owner, if a pet disallows you to cuddle with your spouse, (some dogs will defend one partner aggressively in bed) the pet is asserting its dominance and should be removed from the room.