What is the best mattress for hot sleepers? Cooling mattresses for hot sleepers

Many people experience discomfort when sleeping throughout the night. Quite often, this discomfort is caused by overheating. If you are a hot sleeper, you probably know how uncomfortable it is to wake up during the night with night sweats.

In the UK many people experience a restless night’s sleep as a result of overheating, which normally gets worse during the summer months. For many people, however, discomfort does not ease with the season.

What is the best mattress for hot sleepers? How can you choose a cooling mattress with breathable components that helps you sleep better if you tend to overheat?

We have created this guide for you to present the materials to look for that allow airflow between you and your mattress.

What causes overheating in bed?

Even if your bedroom temperature is perfect for you, you may still feel too warm during the night. Many people do not feel hot when they fall asleep. However, your body temperature drops during sleep, and this releases heat to your sleeping environment.

Sleeping hot can be caused by different factors. Seasonal changes, age, hormonal changes, anxiety, room temperature, medications, or underlying health conditions can all lead to excess heat at night.

When it comes to the causes of overheating, one of the major factors is the type of mattress you are sleeping on. Your mattress may lack a cooling system or breathability while absorbing and trapping heat. If you’re a hot sleeper, it’s important to get a mattress with cooling properties.

You also need to pay attention to the type of bedding used. Many kinds of sheets, pillowcases, or blankets will not allow airflow, regardless of the mattress type you use. For the best result and most comfortable sleeping surroundings, try to invest in breathable or cooling sheets that absorb moisture.

 

 

What is a cooling mattress?

A cooling mattress will keep you comfortable even during warm summer nights. Cooling mattress technology utilizes different types of materials to draw away heat. Gel-infused memory foam or wrapped wire coils are all designed to increase air circulation.

The key here is breathability. Breathable materials will be able to keep you cool, while dense and synthetic materials are warmer.

However, it’s important to note that mattresses will not keep you cool actively. It is the construction and materials used in the mattress that matter.

Mattresses and body temperature

Your mattress can affect your body temperature while you are asleep since certain mattress materials can induce overheating.

The texture of your mattress also plays an important role here. Softer mattresses let you sink in more and the material is pressed against your skin more tightly. As a result, you restrict airflow – the mattress conforms around the body and it basically ‘cannot breathe’.

With a firmer type, you are not surrounded tightly by your mattress. You sleep rather on the surface and your body is less likely to overheat.

As a result, mattresses can cause night sweats. Though night sweats can be brought about by many factors including weather and your physical condition, a non-breathable mattress makes the situation worse. If the heat around your body gets trapped, you can overheat and experience night sweats.

Are cooling mattresses effective?

Cooling mattresses will help you sleep at a more comfortable temperature during the night. They have several benefits that make them very effective:

• Since heat prevents a solid sleep cycle, a cooler sleeping environment facilitates deeper sleep

• A cooler mattress will relieve some of your night sweats

• It draws the heat away from your partner

Of course, if you suffer from any condition that causes night sweats, a cooling mattress will not make it disappear completely. However, it can certainly bring you some relief.

If you’re a hot sleeper, what should you be looking for in a cooling mattress? What mattress is best for hot sleepers? It’s important to think about the materials in the mattress. Some materials are better for hot sleepers as in the case of latex and hybrid mattresses, some materials, such as memory foam, are less beneficial.

Let’s get into more details about the best mattress types for hot sleepers.

What type of mattress is best for hot sleepers?

Mattresses are constructed from a wide variety of materials. Many mattresses were designed to retain heat to keep you warm during the night. But if you are a hot sleeper and tend to overheat, a new cooling mattress is something you might need to consider. If you’re about to choose your new mattress to ensure a comfortable sleeping environment, the following materials tend to enhance cooler surroundings at night.

Latex

The open-cell design of latex mattresses makes them an excellent choice for hot sleepers since it allows for proper ventilation. Latex is a naturally breathable material, and it’s becoming one of the most popular mattress types available on the market due to all the benefits it provides.

It’s essential to choose a 100% natural latex mattress. Its synthetic version is far less breathable and tends to retain heat as well.

Memory foam

Traditionally, memory foam mattresses are made of polyurethane. They conform to the shape of your body. Unfortunately, this type of mattress is famous for retaining heat. As a result, hot sleepers find it rather uncomfortable.

However, an advanced type of memory foam has been developed recently that is more breathable. For that reason, it’s more favourable for hot sleepers. This new version of memory foam was constructed with clusters of small holes that ensure better airflow.

Though you are still more likely to get a comfortable night’s sleep on different types of mattress materials (for example on latex mattresses), with the advanced memory foam you may find a good option with a great deal of temperature regulation.

Innerspring

Innerspring mattresses may also be good options for hot sleepers. Air can flow freely between the coils. Therefore, you will feel more comfortable sleeping on innerspring mattresses than on memory foam mattresses.

Hybrid

Hybrid mattresses are also beneficial to people who tend to overheat. You can enjoy the airflow of traditional innerspring with the comfort of memory foam. However, you might want to make sure that instead of the traditional type of memory foam, your mattress is constructed using the advanced type. Thus, you can avoid getting too hot while you are asleep. (You may check with the company if they use the modern type of memory foam.)

Polyfoam

Like memory foam, polyfoam is made of polyurethane. Basic polyfoam is not as conforming as memory foam but traps heat just as much. Recently an advanced form of polyfoam has been developed containing small cells that reduce its heat retention ability and increase its breathability.

We know exactly that mattress comfort is subjective and people may have a different experience with the same type of mattress. However, many companies offer home trial periods. Consequently, if you’re not happy with your newly purchased mattress, you can return it and get a full refund.

Milam Mattress offers you a 30-day trial with latex mattresses. You may check all the details here.

 

 

What mattress is best for hot sleepers – Factors to consider

If you are a hot sleeper, your main aim is to pick a mattress type that allows airflow. You need to focus on the mattress material, its heat retention ability, your weight, and other components in the mattress.

Mattress firmness

As we have discussed above, the firmer your mattress the better. Though soft mattresses are praised for their pressure relieving qualities, they restrict air circulation. Firm mattresses keep your body  on the surface and allow airflow. For this reason, firmer mattresses provide a cooler sleeping environment.

Heat retention

Some mattresses, like polyfoam and memory foam, are known for their heat retention quality. Meanwhile, mattresses such as innerspring and natural latex are famous for providing better air circulation that will keep you cooler.

Your weight

Your weight is also an important factor when choosing the right cooling mattress. Heavier people tend to sleep warmer. They also sink deeper in the mattress and as a result retain more heat.

Other components

Other components you need to focus on when choosing your new mattress include pillows, blankets, and mattress protectors.

• If a traditional pillow doesn’t feel cool enough, you may try a cooling pillow that is made of latex or memory foam made with advanced technology.

• Lighter and thinner blankets are usually better for hot sleepers. If you prefer a naturally cool blanket, lightweight cotton and linen are excellent choices.

• The mattress topper will change your mattress’s feel. Cooling mattress toppers include naturally breathable materials such as wool.

Closing thoughts

Mattresses are important factors when it comes to overheating while sleeping. If your mattress’s material does not allow air to circulate, the temperature is not regulated. As a result, your body will overheat due to trapped hot air.

It’s important to note that mattresses, like memory foam, tend to retain heat, while materials like natural latex allow more airflow.

Overall, what is the best mattress type for hot sleepers? Natural latex mattresses and innerspring mattresses are considered good options for people who tend to overheat during the night. If you’re worried about whether a mattress will really help you with overheating, remember to check the brand’s trial period.

You may contact us here if we can be of any assistance.