Are Cooling Mattresses a Myth? Hot Sleepers Need to Know!

Ever woken up drenched in sweat, despite sleeping with only a light cotton sheet? Dark room, damp PJs and bedding, exhausted – it’s no way to live. When your body feels too hot to sleep, it can be truly miserable.

Considering the many risks of sleep deprivation, sleeping hot isn’t just annoying. It’s also potentially damaging to your physical and mental well-being. It’s no surprise that hot sleepers are willing to try just about anything, from the age-old “sleep with one leg outside of the covers” trick to spending thousands of dollars on products designed to help you sleep cooler.

In recent years, cooling mattresses have created quite a buzz among those desperate for cool sleep. However, a comfy new mattress is a major purchase, one that will likely be with you for close to a decade, so it’s a good idea to pause and ask: do cooling mattresses really work?

At Naturepedic, we urge you to go one step further, and ask: are “sleep cool” mattresses even necessary in the first place? 

It’s true. Of course, everyone is different, and some people “run hot” in general while others are “freeze babies.” Yet, when it comes to your body’s natural sleep cycle, you’re hardwired for cooler sleep.

Your body’s sleep-wake cycle is controlled by your circadian rhythm, an internal clock that helps regulate the hormones that aid in falling asleep and waking up. As part of your natural process of preparing for sleep, your body loses heat. To conserve energy, your core temperature tends to stay one to two degrees lower when you’re asleep than when you’re awake

If you’re suffering from night sweats, it may just be that you’re exercising too close to bedtime, eating certain (often spicy) foods that can disrupt sleep, or cuddling too close to your partner or pet. It could be hormonal or the result of a medication (prescription or over the counter). Sleeping hot can also be a sign of a wide range of health concerns, such as:

• Thyroid problems
• Diabetes
• Depression and anxiety
• Autoimmune disorders
• Infections
• Heart disease
• Certain cancers

However, your sleep space often plays a big part when your body feels too hot to sleep at night. And, at Naturepedic, we know that improving your sleep environment starts with taking a closer look at your mattress.

The mattress industry sure has been experimenting a lot lately, hasn’t it? You need only listen to few podcasts to hear your favorite podcasters recommending this mattress or that – with all the bells and whistles available to adjust firmness, tailor temperature, track sleep scores and more. But … sleep is a natural process, and one where simpler is typically way better.

Conventional mattresses often rely on petroleum-based materials like polyurethane foam (including memory foam) to provide the desired comfort and support. In addition to being highly flammable (thus requiring chemical flame retardants), memory foam traps heat.

If you want to sleep cooler, avoid sleeping on materials that don’t breathe and are notorious for making people hot and sweaty. (Oh, and the same goes for your sheets and pillows!)

At Naturepedic, we’ve been spearheading the certified organic mattress revolution since 2003. However, we also believe that if a mattress isn’t comfortable, you’re not going to want to sleep on it – certified organic or not.

That’s why we’ve made sure to design ultra-comfy mattresses that even hot sleepers can rest on peacefully. How? By using materials, like:

• Cotton – 100% certified organic, soft and breathable
• Wool – 100% certified organic with natural moisture-wicking properties
• Latex – GOTS-approved, supportive without blocking airflow

We also offer certified organic mattresses featuring individually wrapped steel coils that reduce motion transfer while allowing optimal airflow. Depending on which mattress you select, the coil encasings are either hand stitched or heat sealed – with no glues or adhesives.

Naturepedic offers mattresses in a range of comfort levels, including our customizable EOS series that allows you to tailor each side of the bed, along with vegan options. All of our mattresses are certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), as well as MADE SAFE® certified non-toxic, so you can rest without worry. We can also help you sleep cooler with certified:

• Organic cotton sheet sets
• Organic pillows
• Wooly organic mattress toppers

If you’re already sleeping on an organic mattress – and remember, it’s only truly organic if it’s certified organic – and you’re not sleeping cool, you may want to revisit some of those lifestyle issues we mentioned earlier, such as exercising earlier in the day and avoiding spicy foods for dinner. Simple changes like sleeping without socks or keeping your blinds closed during the day can help, too. You may also want check out this thorough resource on How to Stay Cool at Night While Sleeping published by Mattress Clarity.

When it comes to sleeping hot, don’t sweat the small stuff! One big change – finding the right certified organic mattress – and a few simple lifestyle adjustments should have you sleeping cooler in no time.