by Half of Americans who live with their partner are willing to channel their inner Lucy and Desi… by sleeping in separate beds. A recent survey of 2,000 US adults who live with a partner found that 49% would be willing to try sleeping in a separate bed for better rest, and that may be because the average person who lives in a cohabitation experience less than four good nights sleep a week. But that doesn’t mean couples don’t want their time together. Despite being willing to sleep in separate beds, more than two in five people (42%) prefer to sleep with their partner at the same time and they use the time before closing their eyes to watch TV shows or movies together watch (28%) and chat about their day (24%). And as soon as couples want to go to sleep, 53% of respondents prefer to cuddle with their partner. The survey, conducted by OnePoll for Serta Simmons Bedding to mark National Sleep Awareness Month, also looked at what co-sleepers see as their biggest sleep disruptors. Respondents said they are most annoyed when their partner steals the covers (35%), wakes them up by tossing and turning (35%), sleeps with the TV on (28%), snores (28%) or with light on (27%). The survey also revealed a rift over the age-old question — do you shower before bed? Almost two-thirds (64%) gave a resounding “yes” and 58% confirmed they would be bothered if their partner didn’t wash before bed. Parents can also struggle with more than just their partner’s sleeping habits. More than a third reported that their child snuck into their bed two nights a week (37%), while one in five (20%) reported being woken up three nights a week by a small child getting into their bed . “Relaxing sleep is based on maintaining a strong sleep routine, whether you sleep alone or sleep together,” said JD Velilla, Head of Sleep Experience at Serta Simmons Bedding. “For those looking to optimize co-sleeping, it’s important to work with your partner to commit to good sleep habits, including regular sleep and waking times and minimizing lights before bed. I also suggest removing unnecessary distractions from the bedroom and turning it into a sleep paradise.” Humans are creatures of habit and 40% of respondents continue to sleep on their own side of the bed when their partner is away. When sleeping out with their partner, 45% said the same rules apply. Sleep habits can start as early as childhood. More than half of respondents (56%) grew up sharing their room with a family member, such as their partner. And many adults don’t let go of their blanket. 52% of respondents grew up sleeping with a comforter or cuddly toy, and 77% of this group said they continue to do so, even when sharing a bed with their partner. Finally, when asked what might contribute to a better night’s sleep, beyond sleeping in separate beds, respondents cited the following solutions: a new/better mattress (36%), new/better pillows (34%), or a larger bed ( 29%). “A lot of people sleep together, and with that comes a number of natural sleep disruptors,” Velilla added. “People who sleep together can look to solutions that minimize this disruption, from features that address motion transmission to avoid waking up in the middle of the night, to cooling technology, which becomes all the more important when sharing a bed .” Poll Methodology: This randomized, double-opt-in survey of 2,000 Americans living with their partner was commissioned by Serta Simmons Bedding between February 16 and February 20, 2023. It was conducted by market research firm OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and are members of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).
