Cuddling before bed could produce benefits, such as oxytocin release. Sometimes called the “love hormone,” oxytocin is associated with bonding and trust. Higher levels of oxytocin have also been linked to falling asleep more quickly and staying asleep overnight, according to Penn Medicine.
Research certainly leans toward the conclusion that cuddling helps people sleep better. However, oxytocin affects people differently, so it can be difficult to predict in individual cases whether or not cuddling will help someone sleep better.
While this cuddling position might seem reserved for the honeymoon stage, Greer says hugging while you sleep means you're "really into each other," and that doesn't necessarily have to fade away.
The release of oxytocin makes you feel good because it is the love hormone. A touch or skin to skin contact slows down our heart rate and relaxes our muscles. This action is mostly due to the hormone oxytocin. As oxytocin levels are often higher in girls; hence, cuddling seems to be more beneficial for women.
If you're in a romantic relationship with a guy and he cuddles you, it's likely a sign that he feels close to you and enjoys being physically intimate with you. Cuddling can be a way to express love, tenderness, and intimacy without necessarily engaging in sexual activity.
If the guy you like is willing to stay around and cuddle all night, you can bet that he wants to be close. He's looking for intimacy from your connection. Guys, on the whole, appreciate and are interested in cuddling and usually won't spend the night doing it unless they have an interest in you.
Bedtime couple intimate activities include cuddling, massaging, kissing, and making love. Sleeping habits are also essential for couples, and couples should lie down together whenever possible.
The physical contact of hugging a pillow offers reassurance and reduces anxiety, promoting a sense of safety and allowing us to let go of our worries. Hugging a pillow during sleep can fulfill our innate need for physical closeness, even when a human touch isn't available.
In the few reported studies on cuddling in committed romantic relationships, the average amount of time spent cuddling is about 30-40 minutes and occurs 3 to 5 times a week. Couples will typically cuddle in bed pre- and post-sex, as well as in the mornings.
When we touch – cuddle, hug, or holding hands – our bodies release “feel good” hormones. These hormones include oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin. Once the hormones are released into our bodies we experience feelings of happiness, relaxation, improve mood, and lower levels of depression.
Spooning. A common sleep position for couples, the spooning position is when each person lies on their side and faces the same direction. The back of one partner, called the little spoon, nestles into the front of the other, called the big spoon.
Cuddling, like all touch, can be a form of intimacy. “Cuddling is an excellent way to express physical intimacy and affection in a relationship,” says St. John. “It can help create a sense of closeness and security and can be a very intimate experience.”
Crook of the arm (aka "half-spooning")
How to: One partner lies on their back, and the other partner lies on their side. The partner on their side nestles their head into the crook of their partner's arm and rests their arm over the partner's chest.
A guy might be holding your hand when those emotions are surging through his body. He probably feels afresh in the relationship, and holding your hands might be his way of communicating this. Also, another holding hands meaning could be he wants to feel closer to you.
Pillow hugging has a similar effect on the body as hugging a significant other. It triggers the release of oxytocin in the brain, which in turn can relieve pain, boost your immune system and alleviate stress.
Sleeping on your side offers several benefits. It promotes healthy spinal alignment and is the sleep position least likely to result in back pain, especially when supported with pillows. Side sleeping also may reduce heartburn.
Spooning. Spooning, in which both partners sleep on their sides, with one facing the back of the other partner, is a classic sleeping position for romantic partners. A reported 18% of couples sleep in a spooning position at night.
It's all about touching, talking and incredible foreplay. Couples often make mistakes when it comes to intimacy in bed. Some either try to rush it, some go mum during sex and others just opt for the same old missionary position.
The marriage first night is about creating memories and not what was done. There's no rule that you need to be intimate on your first night together. Rather, break the ice and get to know each other first. That's what you would anyways remember about this day years down the line.
Touch each other gently and sensually, paying close attention to how that feels. Speak softly to one another and let your emotions show through in your words. Once you've gotten a hand on how to be romantic in bed, experiment! There are many ways to express yourself sexually without saying a word.
"Cuddling, especially with someone you like, gives you a sense of closeness and relaxed intimacy that's difficult to find in other activities. If you feel comfortable with the other person, it kind of just let's you relax and not have to do much physically.
So do guys get attached after cuddling? They might. But even if they do, they're unlikely to show it if you play too hard to get. This is why guys distance themselves after intimacy.
Don't Cuddle
Cuddling encourages intimacy, which is a no-no with your FWB. You want to keep things simple, and spooning can complicate them.
His desire to cuddle with you certainly indicates that he may like you romantically. Some people would say that it is an excellent sign that he is interested in you in a romantic nature.