Coping with a cover snatcher

Stop playing tug-of-war with your partner and get a better night’s sleep.

Many couples cherish bedtime. At the end of the day, there’s something incredibly comforting about snuggling up in bed with your partner and drifting off together. 

Sharing a bed can also help you sleep better. A recent survey of Australian adults found that people living with long-term partners – ones they’ve habitually fallen asleep next to for extended periods of time – tend to fall asleep faster. It’s not yet clear why, but researchers think it might have something to do with the feelings of physical and emotional security our partners provide, which “can reduce physiological arousal and improve sleep”.

Of course, all that security and comfort goes straight out the window if your partner is a cover snatcher. Sharing a bed with a sheet thief can turn even the most reasonable person into a doona desperado. 

If your night-time ritual has become more of a tug-of-war than a relaxing ritual, we’ve got some strategies to ensure you and your partner both get a proper night’s sleep. 

Partner by day, thief by night

No one sets out to steal the covers. It happens unconsciously, but it does happen for a reason. In extreme cases, people can have sleep disorders like restless legs syndrome or periodic limb movement disorder, which can cause them to toss the blankets about during the night. 

The position you and your partner sleep in can also be a factor. If one of you likes to sprawl out across the bed on your tummy or curl up in the foetal position, you may end up yanking the covers this way and that. 

But often, it comes down to temperature regulation. Over the course of the night, our body temperature drops. When this happens, we tend to reach for the blankets and snuggle up to our partners for warmth – but for some, it’s when cover snatching kicks off. 

It’s not a fun affair. One of you reaches for the blankets and pulls them up over you, the other gets cold, wakes up, and tries to pull them back. It’s a recipe for a bad night’s sleep. 

What to do with a blanket bandit

One of the simplest solutions to this problem is to double up on doonas. That’s right – in the same way that you and your partner probably have your own separate pillow, you can purchase an individual doona for each of you as well. It’s called the Scandinavian sleep method, and it helps ensure everyone stays warm throughout the night.

It’s an easy process to replicate. First, purchase a moisture-wicking, temperature-controlling set of sheets like the Moonshadow Pure Balance Sheet Set. Then, pop two separate doonas on top so there’s no struggle for square inches in the middle of the night. Lastly, if you’re concerned about the aesthetic of having two doonas on the bed, simply throw a bedspread over the top when you make your bed in the morning. 

The bigger, the better

Looking for an even simpler fix? Consider purchasing a bed cover that’s one size larger than your mattress. For example, if you have a queen-size bed, you may wish to get a king-size doona.

Or, if you struggle to keep your partner away from your side of the mattress, you could upgrade to a bigger bed. A standard queen-size mattress, for example, is 153cm wide, but upgrading to a king-size mattress extends the width to 183cm. This means you’ll have more room to snuggle under the sheets and settle down for a good night’s sleep.  Of course, the best supporter of peaceful sleep in your relationship could come from bedMATCH®. Our patented diagnostic system, bedMATCH® uses over 1000 scientific calculations and 18 statistical body measurements to match your body type and sleep needs to the best mattress. Then, once you and your partner know which mattress suits you best, you can customise your side of the mattress using MySide – and start getting a better night’s sleep.

Find out how you can personalise your side of the bed here.