What Do You Wear to Bed? It Might Matter More Than You Think!

When you get ready to turn in for the night, what you’re wearing probably doesn’t even cross your mind. But according to a group of certified sleep experts and educators based in Washington, D.C., it should. The survey that they recently conducted regarding how the fit and feel of your sleepwear can affect the quality of your sleep has proven that it’s not just comfort that comes into play with what you wear to bed – it’s also about the psychological response (or the lack thereof) that your chosen pajamas brings about. It was shown that if you roll into bed wearing the same comfy “lounge around the house watching Netflix” outfit that you wore all day, your body can have some trouble transitioning itself into sleep. And it was also proven that sleep quality is greatly affected by heat or cold, indicating that you want to choose sleepwear that will help you keep your temperature regulated throughout the night. So what’s the best nightwear option when it comes to getting a good night’s rest? Here are the facts you need to know about the top 5 most popular PJ materials:

Cotton

It’s been around for ages, making it one of the most common sleepwear materials – people know it and are comfortable with it, since most of us have slept in cotton PJs since before we were out of diapers. But if you tend to get overheated during the night and wake up sweaty, it might be time for a change. Cotton is super absorbent and sucks up moisture in just moments (that’s why we dry off with cotton towels after a bath or shower, right?), which means wet sleepwear for those that sweat in the night – getting up to change your PJs could be causing sweaty sleepers to lose out on some quality sack time.

Silk

While this swanky and smooth material is great for thermoregulation (keeping you cool when you’re hot and warm when you’re cold), it comes with a high price point and the need for delicate handling, making it impractical for most sleepers. Silk also tends to slip and slide against satin-style sheets, causing friction during typical position changes during sleep, and ending up in the loss of a full night of sleep.

Flannel

This material is both soft and strong, and along with its breathability and warmth, it can help you feel cozy without leaving you overheated. Flannel also blends well with other materials, including polyester, to give it a wider range of uses and price points. If you find yourself on the chilly side when trying to drift off to Dream Land, flannel could be just what the sleep doctor ordered! Just be aware that the addition of heavy covers could take you from comfy to sweaty in the blink of an eye.

Bamboo

Sleepers that suffer from allergies have been turning to this hypoallergenic material for their sleepwear needs for quite a while – with good reason! Bamboo is soft and silk-like, wicks moisture away from the body (helping you to keep cool you sleep), and is also 100% biodegradable, making it a smart choice for many sleepers and the environment.

Polyester

Although once thought of as cheap and itchy, new textile technology has made polyester a much more popular choice for sleepers, especially when blended with another material, such as rayon or cotton to up durability and softness factors. And polyester (and all of its blends) also excels at wicking moisture away from sweaty sleepers.

Birthday Suit

Many scientists and sleep experts have proven that we sleep better when our bodies are cool, making sleeping in the buff a smart choice for sleepers that like to keep their skin in contact with the sheets. Sleeping without PJs at all can be an easy and effective way to keep your body temperature down and your comfort levels up, making your birthday suit the perfect gift for sleepers – a great night’s sleep!