Why Am I Overheating in Bed?

After many years of speaking to customers about their various sleep issues, the main cause of restless nights is overheating. Overheating can be very disruptive to sleep quality as it will often lead to waking up more during the night. Based on feedback when talking to customers, we’ve listed below the most common causes of overheating at night.

Some medical conditions can cause overheating

This includes the well-known ‘night sweats’ when experiencing peri menopause and menopause - and can continue for a few years after menopause. Other medical conditions can include stress, infections and cancer. It may be worth seeking advice from your GP if you are suddenly or consistently overheating at night.

Check your room temperature

We all lose moisture at night, and it is natural to sweat a little. However, research has shown that a warm bedroom can lead to overheating, and humidity can magnify this by reducing your sweat’s ability to evaporate. To fall asleep, your body temperature needs to drop slightly, so try keeping your bedroom a little cooler than the rest of the house and an open or ventilated window can help.

Memory foam mattresses can trap heat

These are very popular mattresses and are well-known for their comfort. However, they can be very solid and dense. The result is that warm air can build up throughout the night and is unable to escape as it is trapped between your body and the mattress. This can lead to overheating, especially in the warmer months. A wool mattress topper can help to dissipate the heat, especially if it is 100% natural wool and encased in 100% cotton. You can find out more about our individually handcrafted wool mattress toppers here.

Try to avoid synthetic fibres in your duvets, pillows and bedlinen

Synthetic fibres are generally not breathable, and this includes polyester and poly/cotton blends. If you are already a ‘hot’ sleeper, polyester will make you even hotter as it can’t release heat. Polyester isn’t moisture wicking either and so your sweat can’t evaporate. Opt for duvets or pillows made from natural fibres, such as wool, which is breathable, temperature regulating and moisture wicking. Wool is also naturally resistant to dust mites, so is perfect for those who have trouble with asthma caused by dust mites and their droppings. Also try to use bedlinen that is made from natural fibres such as cotton, linen, bamboo or other 100% plant-based fibres.

Heavy sleepwear can make you overheat

Thick PJs and nighties, especially those made from synthetic fibres, are likely to make you hot and sweaty. Again, opt for natural fibres, such as 100% cotton, which is breathable.

Is your duvet tog too high?

When we have been discussing duvets with our customers, we were surprised to find how many were sleeping under a duvet that is just too hot for them - but they’ve put up with it for years! Although it may seem obvious to get a lighter duvet, there is so much choice available that it can be difficult to decide what to do. In the first instance, try to choose a duvet made from natural fibres and as mentioned above, wool is a great choice. The reason for this is that wool is temperature regulating and so does not have a fixed tog rating. A good wool duvet will have a fluctuating tog equivalency, as it works with your core body temperature to keep it balanced whist you sleep, and it will also react to the ambient temperature of your bedroom. For example, our award-winning lightweight British wool duvets have a tog equivalency of 4 – 7 togs.  This means it will behave like a 7 tog duvet when you need a bit of warmth but it will also release heat and perform like a 4 tog duvet if you need to cool down. For more information about togs and wool duvets read our blog. If you would like to know more about our British wool filled soft bedding products, then please get in touch and the team will be happy to help.