More than half of co-sleepers have a third wheel in the bedroom: survey

Preparing to move in with your partner soon? You may want to make room for their favorite stuffed animal. According to new data, fifty-two percent of Americans grew up sleeping with a security blanket or stuffed animal, and 77% reported continuing to do so, even when sharing a bed with their partner.

The recent study of 2,000 U.S. adults who live with a partner discovered that, when it comes to being a considerate co-sleeper, some of your current bedtime rituals may need to be re-considered.

Conducted by OnePoll for Serta Simmons Bedding, the survey delved into the sleeping and nighttime habits of cohabiting couples and discovered some of their top sleep disruptors including when their partner steals the covers (35%), wakes them up tossing and turning (35%), sleeps with the television on (28%), snores (28%) or sleeps with the lights on (27%).

Another non-negotiable for many? Showering before bed. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of those polled claimed to always shower before bed, while 58% said they’d be bothered if their partner didn’t.

“Co-sleeping comes with its own set of sleep disruptors. For those looking to achieve higher quality sleep when co-sleeping, it’s important to work with your partner to agree to a sleep routine and environment which could range from regular sleep and wake times to removing unnecessary distractions from the bedroom,” said Laura Brewick, President of Serta, Serta Simmons Bedding. “The right mattress can also help. Individuals who co-sleep should look for sleep products that offer features addressing motion transfer to avoid middle-of-the-night wake ups as well as cooling technology, which becomes more essential when sharing a bed.”

Respondents seem to agree. When asked what could contribute to better sleep, a new/better mattress (36%), new/better pillows (34%), or a bigger bed (29%) topped the list.

But there is another option co-sleeping couples are considering to get better rest – sleeping apart. Nearly half of those surveyed (49%) are willing to try sleeping in a separate bed, and that may be because the average cohabiting person receives less than four good nights of sleep a week.

Survey methodology:

This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 Americans who live with their partner was commissioned by Serta Simmons Bedding between Feb. 16 and Feb. 20, 2023. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).