How to keep a steady temperature at night in bed?

I quite often wake up at night after a few hours' sleep because I'm too cold (especially at the moment).

The solution doesn't seem to be to pile on more blankets because I'd be too hot to start with. I'd rather go to sleep and stay a comfortable temperature all night and not wake up at all until the morning.

But how to manage it?

I saw that @Ryan31337 is planning a thermostat-controlled heated bedsheet (?) but that kind of thing is technologically way beyond me and I don't like the idea of Bed + electricity = fire risk.

Is there some kind of secret of comfortable sleep that I don't know?

 

Without getting to personal @Sasha but what are you wearing?

Would thermal pjs, bedsocks and even a neck snood thingy help?

I found I was getting far too hot and then cold etc. So I've got a few tees made of bamboo that I wear as pj tops & seem very comfortable temperature -wise.

However, if it's PEM related coldness, or hypothyroidism then I've not found much that can help.

 

Personally, I love MicroModal.

https://blog.pzizz.com/the-best-fabrics-for-bedding-and-sleepwear-6716453367ac

New rayons (lycocell, Tencel, Modal, MicroModal, etc.)
Like bamboo, Tencel and MicroModal are made of cellulose fibers and are considered something between a natural and synthetic fabric. Tencel, the branded name of lyocell fiber, and Modal, another rayon fabric, are derived from wood pulp and considered great cotton alternatives. These new rayon fabrics are becoming more mainstream in the fashion industry because they are soft, breathable, naturally wrinkle-resistant, biodegradable and environmentally sustainable. A study published in the Dermatitis journal reported that for patients with sensitive skin caused by atopic dermatitis, lyocell was preferred over cotton for clothing, sleepwear, and bedding because of its softness, temperature control, and wrinkle-resistance. A fabric that feels like silk with great sweat-wicking properties? Yes, this may be an excellent choice for nighttime sleepwear.

 

I had the same problem a couple of years ago, @Sasha. I found the solution was an electric under blanket with 9 built in temp settings and a timer. I found if I set it to come on on the lowest setting at 3am, I stayed asleep. The lowest setting was virtually nothing, so I didn't overheat, but it was enough to stop the cold waking me up.

It also had a 'turbo' setting, which got hot very quickly, which was great when my core temp fell and I couldn't get warm. And two zones, so each half of a double bed could be set independently.

Edit D'oh! Just re-read your post and realised you are concerned about fire risk, so ignore me, brain fogged! Will leave the post here in case it helps someone else

 

Electric blankets (or mattress covers) are extremely safe now, unless they're very old or they've been damaged.

 

Thick, brushed-cotton pyjama trousers plus a long-sleeved cotton t-shirt.

My problem is starting out at the right temperature, falling asleep, then waking up cold, so I think if I piled more clothes on, I'd have to chuck more bedding off to begin with - and then I'd fall asleep and wake up too cold.

I've been wondering if there are any materials that help cool you down if you're too hot and keep you warm when you're too cold. Is bamboo such a thing?

No, it isn't, fortunately.

 

Interesting info!

 

People keep telling me that but I don't think I'm ever going to feel safe with one.

 

@Sasha . . . I forgot to mention. I buy the mens size for the longer sleeves so that I can cover my hands when I get chilled. Covering my hands helps keep me warmer, and then when I heat up again I just roll the sleeves a bit.

 

My hack for this is to keep a cozy throw-sized blanket under the sheets with me. This way it is really easy to push or kick it aside when any part of me is too hot, or gather it back when I get cold. SO much better than sitting up to fuss with extra blankets on top, plus acts as a draft barrier if the covers have a gap. Highly recommend this personal cocoon practice

 

I have this problem, basically I found that I don't get on with a duvet, or anything else too thick. Instead I use several thin layers. A sheet as a minimum and then depending on the season I add one or more fairly thin comforters - they get called different things in different places really. Anyway, I find this works quite well and it's easy to add or remove a layer in the middle of the night if you're too hot or too cold.

It's difficult though isn't it, as I get the same thing as you where I sometimes wake up more cold than when I went to sleep.

 

I've been sleeping in a hoodie with the hood up, that's stopped me losing too much heat from my head which has helped big time during this cold snap.
I'm also sleeping in a t-shirt, a long sleeved t- shirt, fluffy pjs and 3 pairs of socks. I have a light weight duvet, 2 quilts, 2 blankets, an eiderdown, 3 cats and 1 husband!

It's been -6 here without the wind chill factor. We've not had running water since Wednesday, the toilet froze on Tuesday (Mr S has spent most of today trying to defrost it). We had ice on the inside of the windows for 2 days and the farmer asked if we wanted anything bringing down in their tractor because there was no way we'd be getting out until the thaw.
I love snow, but this is just silly!

 

This is the thing, though - how to avoid waking up! I have ways to solve the problem if I do wake up - what I need is something that will help my body stay at a steady temperature.

 

Oh yes, Mrs S reminds me that I also drape a pashmina over my head (and eyes, for the light) as head covering is essential for temp regulation. Quite the elegant sleeper, I am

 

@Sasha, I think the core temperature shifts during various phases of sleep, at least in my direct experience this seems so.
That's why I've devised the least-sleep-interrupting scheme for self-regulating, bc it seems to have more to do with internal temperature than external. But of course, we're all so different.

 

This may be so obvious that no one has bothered to mention it, but... If the problem is overheating after you've been in bed for a while, one way to regulate this is to... get one or both feet out from under the covers.

Like your head, your feet dissipate a lot of heat, so you'll cool down and so will the bed. I've come to do this unconsciously, but sometimes I'll wake up overheated and will have to do it consciously. It gives you finer control than, say, throwing off an entire blanket. It may not work so well in a really cold climate. I've always lived in a pretty temperate area (usually above freezing in winter).

As I say, I almost feel silly for suggesting this - but maybe it will help someone.