Does Foam Mattress Get Hot

Use A Pillow That Doesnt Contribute To The Problem

Something often overlooked by people when considering how to decrease the temperature is their pillow. Your head releases a lot of the bodys heat and if you use a pillow that traps this in, it will keep you unnecessarily warm.

Pillows made out of feathers, natural or synthetic down, cotton, buckwheat, and bamboo are known to sleep the coolest. A gel one can also sleep cooler than most but be careful when choosing this option. They may still retain small amounts of sweat. You can read our reviews on the different types of pillows to learn more.

Change The Temperature In Your Bedroom

If your memory foam too hot,lowering the temperature in your bedroom could bring cooling relief as you sleep. Although as youre walking around your room you may need to adjust to a cooler bedroom when youre in bed under the covers youll feel the cooling benefit of lowering your bedroom temperature.

Drink Water Before Bed

Some say drinking water before bed could provide some relief from sleeping hot and perhaps it does, however, you may find it a nuisance to get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. This will interrupt your sleep cycle and could impede your sleep health. It may be more beneficial to drink water throughout the day.

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What Are The Benefits Of Memory Foam

Could the special properties of memory foam enhance your sleep? Sleep specialist Donna L. Arand, PhD, says that objective studies supporting the claimed benefits of memory foam — or the effects of any particular type of sleeping surface — are lacking.

This is true for a variety of reasons, she says. This type of sleep study can be expensive, if conducted independently. Or it is “chased” by a shadow of bias, if supported by industry.

Also, some sleep technology, such as memory foam, is relatively new, so it hasn’t been well studied. But perhaps one of the more difficult stumbling blocks to testing the health benefits of mattresses such as memory foam is the subjective nature of sleep. It is simply difficult to measure.

Sometimes the brain’s electrical activity, measured with an electroencephalogram , and other findings recorded during a sleep test don’t always match up perfectly with a person’s subjective experience, says Arand, who is the clinical director of the Kettering Sleep Disorders Center in Dayton, Ohio. “They might say, âI had a great night’s sleep,’ but the EEG parameters might not really indicate that.”

Sleep is not only subjective, but preferences for sleep surfaces are individual, Arand says. “There’s quite a bit of variability between individuals in terms of what type of surface — whether it’s firm, hard, or soft — they prefer when they’re sleeping,” she says. “As far as we know, there is no rhyme or reason for that.”

What Is Gel Memory Foam

Gel memory foam is a relatively new product that first became popular in the early 2010s. It is simply memory foam that has small gel particles or beads either infused into it or, less commonly, applied as a layer on top.

Most gel memory foams use either thermal gel, which is cool to the touch, or phase-changing gel, which transitions from a solid to a liquid when the temperature of the mattress rises. Both of these gels are designed to draw heat away from the sleeper, resulting in a more comfortable surface temperature.

These same cooling beads can also be infused into other types of foam, including latex and polyfoam. You will see it most often in memory foam, however, simply because memory foam often struggles to maintain a cool temperature.

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Additional Cooling Down Tips

You should also pay attention to the overall room temperature. Simply opening your window or adjusting the thermostat can do wonders for the temperature of your mattress.

Another excellent idea is to switch up your bed linen. Again, you want a fabric that does not overheat, and can absorb moisture while remaining cool. It is the same as with sleepwear, so cotton and bamboo are ideal.

If Your Preference Fluctuates:

• Natural wool mattress pads, covers and toppers can help keep you cool in the summer while wicking away moisture, and can also help keep you warm during winter.
• Natural silk also excels at balancing temperatures and wicking moisture.
• You can also use a couple layers of bedding, like a thicker top cover and lighter blanket, so that if you get too warm you can just peel the thicker layer back without having to remake the whole bed.

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Latex Mattress Is Too Hot28 Feb 2013 0: 50#5

Why Do Memory Foam Mattresses Sleep Hot

Memory foam beds are well-known for their conforming abilities and alleviation of pressure points. Memory foam is dense and filled with disconnected air bubbles, limiting airflow. When the foam is compressed, air bubbles are displaced, which limits space for airflow.

The bodys ability to self-regulate temperature relies on body-to-air contact. Because high-density materials have limited airflow, overheating while lying on a foam mattress is normal.

Twenty years ago, foam mattresses were very dense with low resilience, resulting in heat and moisture retention. Modern foams are made to enhance breathability and wick moisture.

Hot sleepers also need to be aware of mattress firmness, since a too-soft bed can sleep hot. Firm foam beds dont encourage sinkage therefore, the foam materials dont compress excessively beneath you. Plush materials increase sinkage, causing a hugging feeling. Non-cooling foams can cause the hug sensation to become unbearably hot instead of comfortable.

Using a mattress infused with copper, graphite, or gel can prevent heat retention and sleeping hot.

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Buy A Cooling Mattress Topper

If your memory foam mattress seems to have a significant problem with heat retention, you might even be tempted to buy a new mattress. However, before you start throwing away your whole bed, consider using a topper to make your mattress cooler.

So, its 9:30 am and Im still in bed. I put a memory foam cool gel mattress topper on my bed last night and its highly unlikely that I will leave the bedroom today. #illwritefromhere#amwriting#rainysaturday

Kris Bryant has a new book out SCENT #wlw

Mattress toppers are an excellent way to make all kinds of mattress designs last longer. A gel-infused mattress topper can help to regulate your body heat and reduce night sweats while offering a higher level of pressure relief too.

Because gel-infused toppers are designed to ensure you stay cool, you dont have to worry about the gel beads in the material soaking up heat too quickly. Just remember that gel memory foam toppers can have a higher price point than standard wool protectors.

Choose The Right Sheets

Breathing bedding made from the right material can make your sleeping environment more breathable versus insulating.

Look for natural materials with high breathability, like bamboo and cotton. Natural fibers wick away moisture and help you stay cool. Avoid polyester bed sheets, like flannel, as they have a habit of insulating heat.

Choosing sheets with a thread count that promotes airflow is just as important as choosing the right fabric. Natural, breathable materials can retain heat if they are thickly woven, although a weave that is too loose wont be durable. For example, cotton sheets are most breathable and durable between a 200 to 350 thread count range.

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Does Gel Memory Foam Work

While there are no science-backed studies that show whether or not the gel does indeed keep you cool, the idea behind using gel to cool a dense foam

mattress is quasi-scientific: gel is a semi-liquid, and liquid can be an effective way to cool a surface. When its included in memory foam it can help to draw heat away from the body.

But heres the catch: a liquid that isnt able to evaporate just stays at the temperature of its surroundings. In a gel foam mattress, the encased gel will naturally take on the temperature of the foam around it. It may warm more slowly than the foam, which conducts heat easily, but not slowly enough to stay cool for the length of a nights sleep.

Use Natural Fiber Bedding

Sometimes the problem isnt your mattress its your bedding. Polyester sheets and pillows can stop airflow and make your bed feel stuffy. Non-synthetic bedding will encourage air to circulate around your body, decreasing the temperature.

Bed Sheets and Blankets

Bed sheets and covers can cause temperature issues. A heavy down comforter can act as an insulator for you and the entire mattress. Conversely, natural fabric sheets and blankets can improve air circulation and wick away moisture for a cool sleep experience.

During the summer months, linen and Egyptian or Peruvian Pima cotton sheets can improve your electric bill by providing breathability and reducing sweating.

Thread count will affect your bedding breathability largely. And, the count changes depending on the type of fabric you choose. For instance, Linen doesnt need a high thread count. Between 100 and 200 is all you need for cool and airy sheets. Meanwhile, Egyptian cotton needs a count between 200 and 350 to have great durability and cooling properties.

Pillows

Mattresses play a large part in your comfort level, but pillows are just as important. When your head gets hot, your body will naturally raise its temperature to match. A heat-retaining pillow can raise your temperature by a whole degree. Natural fiber-filled pillows will keep your head cool and, therefore, lower your body temperature.

These pillow fillings sleep the coolest:

• Bamboo

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Choose An Appropriate Bed Frame

Even the savviest sleeper might not realize how important their bed frame is to their sleep experience. To decrease heat retention, choose an open, supportive bed frame such as a slatted bed frame. The slats allow for air circulation through the mattresss base layer, reducing the overall heat that could get trapped in the mattresss foam layers.

But, what about the presence of a box spring? You may be wondering, does a memory foam mattress need a box spring or does a bed frame offer enough support? If heat retention is a concern, its important to note that box springs may impact the level of airflow required of cooling memory foam mattresses to perform at its finest, especially if placed directly on the ground.

Are Memory Foam Mattresses Hot

Lower temperatures are one of the most important factors for a good nights sleep, signaling to our body that its time to restrest which is well-earned and well-deserved.1

As far as mattresses go, traditional memory foam structures do retain more heat than some other types because of how their foam material is designed. But if youve ever had the pleasure of snoozing your alarm from the cozy embrace of your memory foam mattress, youll know theyre about as soft and fluffy as a cloud.

But, just how hot is the average memory foam mattress? And are there memory foam mattresses that have the cool factor?

There certainly are. There are a wide variety of solutions available if you crave the comfort of a memory foam mattress but dont want to compromise on a cool sleeping experience. Youll never have to ask are memory foam mattresses hot again because, while the average memory foam mattress might be, yours definitely wont be.

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How Bed Composition Influences Sleep Temperatures

Aside from personal factors and room temperature, mattresses play perhaps the biggest role in how cool or warm you will ultimately feel. Each bed type has different materials and properties, and if temperature is a concern for you, it can be helpful to know the differences when choosing a new mattress.

Percentages in our comparisons are from independent review sites like SleepLikeTheDead.com.

Latex Mattresses

• About 7% of latex mattress owners report sleeping too hot.

Latex mattresses have a pretty low rate of heat complaints, but can vary considerably depending on material type and bed composition. Beds with natural latex may sleep cooler, while beds with synthetic latex can feel warmer, and those with thick layers of regular foam on top of the latex may sleep warmest. Latex mattresses with pinholes throughout also perform better on breathability, as can beds with breathable covers made of cotton or wool. Overall owner satisfaction ratings stand at 80% with latex mattresses.

Memory Foam Mattresses

• About 9% of memory foam mattress owners report sleeping too hot.

Overall, memory foam beds have a fairly high rate of heat complaints compared to springs and other non-foam mattress types, but significant differences are present across different brands and types of memory foam. For traditional temperature-sensitive memory foam, complaint rates tend to be around 8-12%, with higher density beds sleeping hotter.

Innerspring or Coil Mattresses

Waterbed Mattresses

Whats The Best Mattress For Sleeping Hot

For someone who is a hot sleeper, cool as the other side of the pillow may seem like an impossible dream. What many people who suffer through hot nights, uneven body temperatures, or night sweats dont know is that it may be as simple as understanding which type of mattress is best for you.

The construction and materials used in different mattresses generally determine how much heat a particular mattress retains. If you tend to sleep hot, visit Mattress World Northwest, Oregons top mattress showroom. Our Sleep Specialists are waiting to assist you in all of our 11 conveniently located stores throughout the Portland areaincluding Wilsonville, Salem, Canby, Clackamas, Gresham, Washington Square and Beaverton.

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Add A Mattress Topper

If youre not ready to invest in a new mattress or bedding, you can always opt for a new mattress topper or mattress pad instead.

Just make sure you select breathable materials such as:

• Latex
• Cotton

These materials help dissipate heat and promote air circulation by adding an additional layer as a barrier between you and your memory foam mattress.

And if you were searching for new ways for how to make a memory foam mattress firmer, look no further than a mattress topper.

Choosing The Best Mattress

Whether you are a hot sleeper or a cold one, you are sure to find a perfect mattress for you. The goal is to choose one that matches your preferences.

For example, if youre a side sleeper who is keen on finding a mattress that relieves pressure points but doesnt sleep hot, you may opt for gel-infused memory foam or plant-based memory foam rather than the usual memory foam mattress. These types of mattresses have lower heat retention abilities. Knowing your options can save you from having to deal with hot, sweaty nights.

As mentioned above, the material your mattress is made from determines how much heat it retains. Here is how different types of mattresses retain heat.

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What To Do If Your Memory Foam Mattress Is Too Hot

No one likes waking up in the middle of the night feeling hot, clammy and sweaty. However, this is often the case for many hot sleepers. Does this sound all too familiar? If it does, did you know that sleeping on a memory foam or gel mattress could be making things worse?

The material in a memory foam mattress can actually make you heat up, leaving you feeling sweaty and increasingly uncomfortable. If you own a memory foam mattress and are concerned about what to do, then weve got some tips to help you keep cool at night.

When Its Time For A New Mattress

If youve tried everything in your power to make your memory foam mattress sleep cooler, and havent found much success, it may be time for a new mattress. Additionally, if your bed is 6-8+ years old, or no longer as comfortable as it once was, its probably time for a new mattress.

If you choose to buy a new bed, look for mattresses with good ratings for temperature neutrality. Innerspring and hybrid beds tend to perform well, as they have better airflow than all-foam designs. If you do choose another memory foam bed, look for one thats made with cooling technology like cooling gel, and be sure to check reviews to gauge the beds cooling abilities.

You can also shop for mattresses that are specifically designed for better temperature regulation. For hot sleepers, purchasing a specialized mattress can make a huge difference in overall sleep quality. For more information, see our guide to the best cooling mattresses.

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Breathability Is One Of The Keys For A Hot Sleeper

The popular memory foam mattresses are known for their distinct advantagesmolded comfort as the foam conforms to your body contours, relief from painful pressure points, and holding your body in place with minimal nighttime movement are all reasons why some of us love our memory foam mattresses. But hot sleepers complain that memory foam retains heat because of the closed construction of the foam cells, resulting for some in a restless sleep as the body tries to find a way to cool itself. However, hot sleepers should know that there are distinctions between high density memory foam mattresses and low density memory foam mattresses, which tend to be cooler.