What does spooning do?

Answer 1

Imagine person one is laying down on their side, person two lays down behind and holds person one close, so their body is pressed against the back of the other. Like two "spoons" in the silverware drawer.

Answer 2

It can provide warmth, and close contact with a loved one often provokes a feeling of comfort and emotional well-being.

If the couple are lovers, the side-by-side spooning position provides the ability to engage in lovemaking with a minimum of strain: both are lying down, while neither one is lying on top of the other. This could be important if either or both parties are injured, tired, or otherwise unable to withstand the rigors of normal sexual activity.