Sleeping cool is essential to a healthy night’s rest. When your body relaxes our body temperature begins to drop to help influence blood flow and body healing and rejuvenation. Supporting a cooler environment allows you to sleep uninterrupted, but when you become overheated it can disrupt your sleep cycle. Because of this, you want a good bed cooling system in place for your comfort.
Certain types of mattresses may provide physical comfort but create heat sinks, and retain body heat which may lead to an uncomfortable rest. Luckily, there are some choices you can take to help influence a cooler rest. Sheets can be helpful, but if you are truly struggling with a solution, you may want to invest in a cooling mattress topper or cooling mattress pad. The best cooling system will be a personal preference, but we’ve taken a look below at a few options to help you determine what might work best for you.
Materials That Retain Heat
There are some mattress materials that retain more heat than others simply due to their cellular makeup. Combine that with a person who already sleeps warm and it may call for an uncomfortable night.
Foams, in particular, are amongst the worst culprits of heat retention simply due to how dense they are. Memory foams have a very tight cellular structure which makes it hard to ‘breathe’ and allow air to flow freely through it. Despite the addition of cooling gels to help offset this issue, they occasionally are still not as comfortable as consumers prefer despite their otherwise comfortable surface.
Sometimes the materials used in the creation of the cover is also problematic. Natural fibers, such as cotton and bamboo blends breathe well, but thicker polyester choices and pillow tops may hold more heat than preferred if you are a hot sleeper.
You may want to read: Best Cooling Mattress Topper for Hot Sleepers
Cooling Mattress Topper Solutions
There are actually quite a few solutions for your mattress if you feel that you need some help achieving the perfect sleeping temperature. No one product is truly the best as each person is wholly unique in their sleep comfort and preferences to what is needed for personal comfort. But these ideas are some of the best choices to consider when you are on the hunt for the best cooling mattress topper solution.
Mattress Pads
Mattress pads are simple mattress coverings that provide a degree of protection against body oils and sweat. They also allow for a degree of comfort that may soften the feel of a firm mattress top. Luckily they also come in cooling options and are often made of highly breathable materials to increase airflow. They also may be infused with cooling gels as well to help draw heat from your body.
Mattress Toppers
Mattress toppers are much thicker than pads and are not designed as much or mattress protection (although they do that as well), as they are for alternative comfort. People who search for a topper are looking to change their overall surface sleep experience and need to soften, firm up, or provide support to their current mattress. Many are made of foams in order to support thicker depths (2 to 6 inches is common) but airflow channels and gels are often found in their makeup to help keep you cool while you sleep.
Mattress Protectors
Mattress protectors are designed to do just that: protect your mattress from body oils, moisture, and even accidents. There is a wide range of options available when it comes to a protector based on the degree of protection you feel you need, but some also work as a cooling choice as well. These tend to have a bit of a pad built into them and maybe thicker than traditional protectors, but this also allows them to be gel-infused to allow for an increase in airflow for a cooler sleep.
Cooling Topper Systems
Temperature control systems can be highly effective. Specialized pads hook into air and water flow systems to provide cooling and heating when needed. These work with existing sheets and are under your control to provide consistent control through the night. Many also work off Bluetooth and can be customized for your own experience.
Other Steps You Can Take For a Cooler Sleep Environment
Not only can you purchase toppers and similar products specifically to help keep you cool, you also may want to consider taking a few other steps to help ensure a cooler night. Setting your room temperature between 60 and 70 degrees is a start as well to keep your environment within a range your body will better equilibrate with.
Fans can also be very effective as they will help circulate air. They also help pull heat sinks away from your body to keep from disrupting you through the night.
Sheet Options
There are many sheets that claim they provide cooling properties. These are made from materials that help provide air circulation and pull heat from your body to better dissipate it into the surrounding environment. Consider using these in tandem with a topper of some sort for the ultimate cooling experience.
Pillow Options
Your head, in particular, allows for quite a bit of heat release so choosing a pillow that allows for airflow and uses cooling materials is important. Be sure to look for those that have breathable air channels, gel infusions, and natural materials in their design.
Cooling Systems
There are also temperature control systems that are not dependent upon pads. These use a forced-air system to help control temperatures, and like other options tie into Bluetooth controls for a personalized experience that you can design for whole night comfort.
Conclusion
Sleeping cool is a crucial part of your sleep cycle and overall health. Nobody wants to be woken through the night due to uncomfortable sleeping temperatures and these options provide some of the best choices for what you might want to consider. Be sure to shop for the products that you feel offer the degree of cooling you feel you need.