Recent research suggests that the ideal temperature for sleep is 18°C, but it can be hard to maintain that temperature at night especially if your bed is close to your radiator or heating system during the winter. Yes, even during the winter, Canadians find themselves tossing, turning, and hoping that they will uncover sleep when their head hits the ‘cool side of the pillow’. Having a mattress that doesn’t suit your body temperature is common and can interfere with much-needed sleep. Check out these solutions to help you stay cool while you sleep.
Manage Your Sleep Environment
Try to keep your heat turned down, adjust the vents in forced air HVAC, and even consider moving your mattress away from radiant heat sources if your bed is close by. Hang heavy curtains to block out the sun and keep the cold winter air from encroaching while you’re sleeping.
Materials Matter
Switch your bedding to natural, breathable fabrics such as cotton or bamboo. Heavier or synthetic fabrics such as flannel, polyester or satin tend to trap heat, keeping you overly warm. While these might seem like good ideas for winter use, if you have a tendency to overheat at night, eschew them and go for lightweight cotton linens and bed clothes.
Fans are Friends
Ceiling fans can help you to stay cool and also save you loads on energy costs when they are used wisely. When they run counter-clockwise, they will pull up the hot air rather than just pushing it around the room. You can also reverse this to push warm air towards you. Keeping your bedroom door open will improve circulation even further.
Get a Breathable Sealy Mattress
If you’ve tried the two previous suggestions and you’re still waking up at night drenched in sweat, then it’s time to take a leap and invest in a new, breathable mattress. Consider Sealy's Hybrid line of mattresses; equipped with Sealy Cool Fabric technology, your body temperature will be regulated while you sleep. In addition, the innerspring makes the memory foam breathable.
Finding a mattress that keeps you cool at night can be a struggle. Stop by your local mattress store to get advice on Sealy mattresses.