We all know the pain of trying to sleep through a sweaty night. The National Center for Health Statistics found that 14.5% of American adults had trouble falling asleep, and 17.8% had trouble staying asleep. These are two common symptoms of it being too hot at night, so if you want to know how to stay cool while sleeping, you're certainly not alone. But don’t sweat it! We’ve got some sleep tips for hot sleepers to help you stay cool while sleeping.
Why You Might Be Getting Hot at Night
Humans have an internal 24-hour cycle called the circadian rhythm, which tells your body when it’s time to wake up or go to sleep. Describing this cycle as "internal" is a bit misleading because external factors heavily influence your circadian rhythm. As the time for sleep nears, your body temperature naturally drops. This acts as a clue to your body that it’s time for sleep. When your body doesn't get this message, you inevitably have difficulty sleeping.
A rise in body temperature during the night often wakes us up because our bodies interpret it as a circadian clue that it's morning. The typical things that can cause your body to overheat at night are:
Sharing your bed: If you share your bed with pets or a partner, their body heat can contribute to your own and disturb your sleep.
Hormonal changes: Changes such as those that occur during pregnancy and at the onset of menopause are common causes of a sudden onset of night sweats.
An underlying medical condition: This may be something relatively harmless like hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) or something more serious, such as low blood sugar. It's important to see a physician if you think a medical issue may be causing you to overheat at night.
A side effect of medication: Some prescribed and over-the-counter medications can raise your body temperature as a side effect.
Illness: High body temperature, which is a common symptom of many illnesses.
Your sleeping environment: If your bedroom is too hot or there's a lack of air circulation during the night, you may find it hard to fall asleep or wake up sweating well before morning.
Your bed: The materials your mattress is made from—foam, latex, innerspring—have an impact on how hot you get when you are sleeping. Traditional memory foam is comfy but can also trap heat, causing you to overheat. But, with a Leesa mattress, you’ll never have this problem. We’ve created premium foam mattresses and luxury hybrid foam and pocket spring mattresses that are supportive and breathable.
How to Stay Cool While Sleeping
Experts recommend keeping your bedroom temperature between 60°F and 69°F for the best night's sleep, and ideally as close to a steady 66°F as possible. Achieving this with air conditioning is easy, but when this isn't an option, here's how to stay cool while sleeping:
1. Wear breathable pajamas.
There's a good reason why leather PJs have never been a trend! The fabrics you wear to bed can make a dramatic difference in how hot you get while sleeping. If you're a hot sleeper—someone who regularly wakes up in the middle of the night feeling overheated or sweaty—the material in your pajamas is even more important.
Choose breathable fabrics such as natural cotton, linen, and bamboo over less breathable synthetic materials. While silk pajamas are comfy, they might not be the best choice for hot sleepers as silk is a natural insulator.
2. Use an electric fan to your advantage.
Setting up a box fan in a window can keep your room cool throughout the night. However, this only works when it's colder outside than in your bedroom. This is because a box fan in a window pulls some of the warm indoor air out, and pulls the cooler outdoor air in. Another option is to use a standing fan to cool you as you sleep. Direct the fan toward your bed so the air moves over your body, producing a cooling effect. You may be able to get a colder breeze by putting a bowl of ice behind it.
3. Use an ice pack.
If you’re hot, hold an ice pack anywhere you can feel your pulse—your wrists, neck, the crook of your arm, the back of your knees, etc. Cooling these pulse points before sleep can help your body’s temperature cool faster.
This works because your veins and blood run close to the surface in these places. Holding an ice pack here cools your blood, which then goes on to help cool the rest of your body as it continues to circulate.
4. Choose a cooler pillow.
We’ve all been there—when your head and neck are overheated, you can’t sleep. That’s why your pillow is such an important consideration if you’re a hot sleeper. How a pillow is constructed can have a surprising impact on how cool you stay through the night. Some fabrics, fibers, and weaves are more breathable than others and help regulate your body temperature. Very hot sleepers may find they get the best night's sleep using a pillow designed with cooling in mind, such as those that contain a gel.
5. Buy more breathable sheets.
Like PJs, your bedsheets (and pillowcase) remain in contact with your skin for the duration of your sleep, so it’s important to choose thin and breathable materials. Once again, cotton is your best bet. To help you out on those hot nights, choose a breathable weave.
Organic cotton is also a good choice for people with sensitive skin or who are prone to contact dermatitis. This is because producing organic materials doesn't use pesticides and fertilizers, which may leave skin-irritating trace elements.
6. Freeze your sheets before bed.
If you’re sunburned (or just hot), put your sheets in a plastic bag and stick them in the freezer for a while before you put them back on your bed. They won’t stay cool all night, but they’ll be nice and cold when you climb into bed. This trick can be a lifesaver on those sticky, hot summer nights!
7. Keep your blinds closed during the day.
Keeping your bedroom curtains or blinds shut blocks your room from direct sunlight. Preventing your bedroom from heating up during the day may keep it cool enough to sleep or at least make it easier to cool at night.
8. Take a cold shower before bed.
Taking a cool shower or bath before bed can be an effective way to cool your body. Lowering your body temperature may also help you fall asleep, as it mimics the natural drop in temperature that's part of your circadian rhythm. Make sure the water's not too cold—you don't want to wake yourself up!
9. Wait at least three hours after you’ve eaten to go to bed.
This links back to your circadian rhythm, metabolism, and nutrition. Studies indicate a connection between mealtimes and human circadian clocks. While more research is needed on the exact impact of mealtimes, It's believed that eating some foods close to bedtime makes it harder to stay cool during the night.
10. Limit alcohol consumption before bed.
Alcohol is deceptive. While there's no doubt that alcohol can encourage sleep, drinking alcohol doesn't give you quality sleep. When people fall asleep after drinking alcohol, they miss out on REM sleep—this is bad because this type of deep sleep is the most restorative type of sleep. Alcohol also increases your body temperature, making it harder to stay cool during the night.
11. Create cross-ventilation in your room.
Creating a cross-ventilation in your room is a great way to stay cool while sleeping. You can do this naturally by opening windows directly across from each other. This gets the air flowing which can produce a cooling effect. If your room has only one window, you can position a fan opposite it to achieve a similar effect. If it's unsafe to open your windows, you could use multiple fans instead.
12. Buy a cooling mattress.
Invest in a new, sleep-promoting mattress. 93% of Americans agree that a comfortable mattress is important for good sleep. The materials your mattress is made from—foam, latex, innerspring—have an impact on your sleeping temperature. Look for a mattress with cooling features, such as stay-cool foam, superior support, and breathable fabrics, to ensure you stay cool and comfortable all night.
Is your bed making you hot while you sleep?
If you've eliminated medical causes, your sleeping environment, or any bed buddies as the cause of your overheating, it's likely that your bed is to blame. Don't underestimate the importance of a mattress and the right bedding, especially for hot sleepers. If you're a hot sleeper or have been struggling with staying cool while sleeping, you want every part of your bed to encourage a cool night's sleep.
Ready to get a cooler night’s sleep?
With Leesa mattresses, you’ll never have the problem of being too hot to sleep. We’ve created a range of premium mattresses built using various combinations of advanced foams, quality fabrics, and supportive and responsive pocket springs that won't leave you sweating in the middle of the night.
You'll also want to adapt the makeup of your bed throughout the year. The summer months may call for a lighter, more breathable, lightweight duvet comforter—but it can even be difficult to get the right balance of warmth without overheating in winter! Sometimes it's easier to achieve this by using a mattress topper rather than a heavy duvet. Layering your bedding is also great for regulating your sleeping temperature year-round. Check out our bedding collection for ideas on how you can create your perfect sleep setup.
We're so confident you'll love our mattress that we give everyone a 100-night trial! If you've not fallen in love with your Leesa within the first 100 nights, we'll give you a full refund—it's that simple. We also ship them for free to all 50 states, so you don't need to worry about that. Take our quick mattress quiz right now to find the right mattress for you.
