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Why Are Foam Mattresses Hot

The Density Of Foam Support Layers

Best Memory Foam Mattress For Hot Sleepers 2022 (Top 5 Beds!)

High-quality memory foam mattresses are manufactured with multiple layers of different foam. So far, weve been discussing the memory foam layer, which is the denser layer that the sleeper comes in direct contact with. However, there are also support layers that you should take into account. High-density, high-quality support layers fall within the range of 1.5 to 2.5 lb/ft³.² These layers help to cushion the high-density memory foam layers and also provide a solid foundation.

Best Cooling Mattressbrooklyn Bedding Aurora

Highlights

The Aurora mattress by Brooklyn Bedding is built with temperature regulation in mind. The hybrid mattress has a cover made from phase-change material, which is designed to absorb heat until the body reaches the ideal temperature. The top layer of foam also incorporates copper, which further aids in temperature regulation by helping improve blood flow.

In addition to its cooling properties, the mattress is highly comfortable and supportive. Pocket coils are reinforced by a base layer of high-density foam that adds stability and edge support. The Aurora also comes in three different firmness options: Soft, Medium and Firm.

Is A Tempur Mattress Hot

One of those things that seems to be circulating around everywhere is that memory foam mattresses are really hot to sleep in and cause overheating.

We have used a Tempur mattress now for nearly 3 years, and one of those years was the blistering heat wave of 2018!Have we ever found it hotter than using a regular mattress? Absolutely no.

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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.

Choosing The Best Mattress

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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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Purchase A Cooling Pad Or Topper For Your Mattress

A mattress topper is like a thick sheet that provides extra padding while allowing proper airflow and circulation. Mattress toppers made specifically for memory foam are available that are constructed out of natural materials like wool and cotton. They are designed to be breathable and facilitate extra circulation throughout your entire mattress.

A wool cover may seem a bit counterintuitive but it actually works very well as a memory foam cover. Just like a pair of wool socks in the winter, they wick sweat away from your skin if, or when it starts to overheat.

Gel foam toppers are also available. They incorporate foam with gel infused throughout the material to help them create a cooling sensation against the skin. This new type of foam does not overheat or retain heat like standard memory foam.

Another benefit of using a cover is that many of them can easily be removed and machine washed. This helps to keep your mattress clean, even if you sweat. It also keeps your mattress in a near mint condition

On the high end of the topper spectrum are electronic cooling pads. They have precise temperature control that is accessed through physical dials and in some cases, an app on your phone or other smart devices. Electronic pads also allow you to warm a mattress if you desire.

Solutions For Hot Mattresses

Invest in a mattress that does not get too hot

As mentioned earlier, some mattresses naturally sleep hot. You want to avoid this kind and opt for the cooler ones. For example, rather than going for a dense memory foam mattress, go for a gel-infused one instead. The cooling gel makes the mattress sleep cooler.

Create space for airflow

The structure of a mattress is solid. Therefore, you cant change the airflow of the mattress. Your best bet would be to ensure there is enough space under the mattress for free movement of air. Not having enough space under your mattress will trap air under your mattress and cause it to heat up.

So, go for a bed that has equally spaced wooden boards. This ensures that there is enough space for air to move around, so the mattress does not heat up during sleeping. Beds made of solid plywood are not ideal as you will be sleeping hot every night.

Invest in cooling mattress toppers

If you love your memory foam mattress, but hate the heat, then cooling mattress toppers can be a great way to keep heat at bay. In this case, you want to find a mattress topper that doesnt retain heat.

Cover the mattress with a mattress protector

Mattress protectors made from breathable materials play a significant role in ensuring that the temperature of your mattress is at a comfortable level. Other than that, they protect the mattress from stains and keep the odors away, as you can wash the protector often. Go for mattress protectors made of natural fibers.

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Does Memory Foam Sleep Hot

Explore whether or not memory foam really sleeps hot.

Helpful Resources

At Mattress Advisor, youll find comprehensive, unbiased reviews on the best mattresses and bedding products and thoroughly researched tips for getting your best sleep.

Memory foam is one of the most popular materials for sleep, whether it be a mattress, topper, or pillow. Being one of the most affordable mattress types, sleepers love the motion isolation, spinal alignment, pressure point relief, and cloud-like sleep experience that memory foam offers. But, there is always one rumor that gives memory foam a bad repit sleeps hot. Lets explore that claim, and see whether or not this reputation is deserved.

What Is The Best Temperature For Sleep

Will my memory foam mattress sag and make me hot at night?

There is no single sleep temperature thats ideal for all people. Experts suggest that most adults ideal sleep temperature lies is around 65 degrees Fahrenheit. There are, of course, many people who fall outside of the norm.

Some people will find they prefer a warmer room, while others who sleep hot might find they need their bedroom even cooler. Individuals can experiment with different sleep temperatures to see what feels most comfortable to them.

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How Your Bed Gets So Hot

Its strange to think that with all of this technology, we still suffer from extremely warm beds. In order for memory foam to work properly, it has to mold to your body using the heat coming off of you. The level of heat can cause you to feel like youre encased in it, leaving you sweaty and uncomfortable. In a lot of industries, the foam is used as an insulator. In the mattress industry, the foam material needs to be dense enough to support and allow air circulation between your mattress and your body. The higher the density, the higher the heat is going to be. You could always invest in a new mattress, but it can get expensive.

Your overall body heat can be an issue as well. If you sleep with a partner, you may also overheat because now you have two bodies creating heat. So, whats the solution if not a new mattress?

Add A Topper Or Mattress Pad

Mattress pads and cooling mattress toppers are an inexpensive fix and one of the most effective ways to cool down your foam mattress.

Adding a layer of natural material, such as wool, to your mattress can foster air circulation between your skin and the bed. Wool and cotton toppers naturally regulate temperature and wick away moisture.

Gel-infused memory foam can also provide support for sagging mattresses by pulling heat away from the sleeper.

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Start With The Bedroom

When finding ways to cool down your sleep in general, there are a few steps you can take before you settle down to bed that will assist you in sleeping a full, comfortable night.

  • Air flow: Having a consistent source of air flow and circulation in your room will help calm you down to sleep.
  • Breathable clothing: When youre sleeping, breathable clothing will help maintain body temperature throughout the night.
  • Water: Its no surprise that having a glass of water next to your bed and using it to quench your thirst throughout the night will help you sleep more soundly and comfortably.

Should I Purchase A Memory Foam Mattress Or Topper

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If your current mattress is only a couple of years old and it still provides a good level of support, you can buy a memory foam topper to provide your existing mattress with a memory foam feel. If your intention is to replace your bed in the next few years, we recommend purchasing a memory foam mattress.

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Air Cooling Memory Foam

Since one of the biggest complaints about memory foam is the amount of heat accumulation they have. Manufacturers decided to eliminate the heat issue altogether by producing cooling foam. It works by allowing air to flow through the mattress through open cells. Still, there are some mattresses that still retain some amounts of heat.

What Is A Cooling Mattress

Many people tend to sleep hot, or notice themselves wake up in the middle of the night feeling hot and sweaty. Some mattresses exacerbate this problem, while others ease it. Hot sleepers might want to seek out a cooling mattress to help them stay asleep throughout the night.

The term cooling mattress is used by many mattress manufacturers to indicate that there is something about the mattresss construction meant to keep sleepers cool during the night. There are many ways in which a mattress can help you sleep cool. The term cooling mattress doesnt refer to any single particular mattress part or system.

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Freeze Your Pillowcase For A Couple Of Hours Before Bed

This hack is a speciality for those warm summer months when sleeping can become an all too difficult task and it can also be used when acclimatising to a memory foam mattress as well. A very simple solution, all you have to do is pop your pillowcase into the freezer and retrieve it before you head off to bed.

Promote Airflow In Your Bedroom

Best Memory Foam Mattress For Hot Sleepers (Top 5 Beds!)

Fresh air in your bedroom is vital to your sleep health and comfort. Open your bedroom window during the day and another window on the other side of your house to allow a cross breeze. Ensure under your bed is clear from storage items so your mattress will get a good air out too.

Always look for a pressure relieving mattress that is made from breathable materials

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Are Mattress Toppers Hot To Sleep On Generally

The type of material used in manufacturing the mattress topper will usually determine its features, like whether it is a cooler or warmer mattress topper.

Mattress toppers are not generally hot to sleep on but there are certain materials such as memory foam that retain heat more than other materials like down or wool. Additionally, high density mattress toppers retain more heat than low density mattress toppers. Cooling features like gel foam can reduce heat retention.

Most types of foam are tight-structured materials and viscoelasticmeaning that their contouring properties are actually activated through pressure and body heat. So when a person feels pain, the foam cradles the pressure points and gives off more heat to relieve the pain. Read our article about how to fix a mattress pad that sleeps too hot to find out more tips to reduce overheating in bed.

Memory foam is dense, traps more heat, and sleeps warmer. Latex foam sleeps cooler, and polyurethane sleeps somewhere in between. Mattress toppers made of loose natural fibers like wool and cotton sleep cooler than other materials. We like this 100% cotton mattress topper because it has a down alternative inside it which also assists with creating a cooler sleeping environment. Make sure to read our mattress topper density guide too for more useful information.

If you’re still in the market for a mattress topper, you may also find our article on how to use a mattress topper to soften a bed informative as well.

What Are The Different Densities

Broadly speaking, memory foam mattresses come in low-density, high-density and ultra high-density designs. Here is a breakdown of some of the characteristics of each design:

Foam Density

Less durable, lower price point, less support

High Density

Highly durable, longer lifespan, excellent support

Ultra High Density Very durable, high price point, longer lifespan

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Natural Latex Foam Doesnt Sleep Hot

For example, natural latex foam sleeps much cooler than memory foam and has been found by research to have medium thermo-regulating properties, meaning that they are neither too hot nor too cold to sleep on at night. This allows you the option to select duvet and sheets according to your temperature preferences.

The millions of interconnected microscopic air chambers in latex foam ensure good heat insulation, optimal evaporation of transpiration fluid and constant air circulation, creating good ventilation. Extra ventilation channels are typically inserted during manufacturing in the latex foam. The sleepers change in posture during the night creates a pump effect that generates proper air circulation.

Look Into Other Cooling Bedding Essentials

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The best bedding for hot sleepers goes well beyond buying a new cooling mattress. You can also look into a cooling pillow and a chilling pad. The Tempur-Pedic Adapt Pro Cooling Pillow was specially engineered to quickly move heat away from the body. The TMI Remarkable Ice Silk Pillow is a memory foam pillow that was designed to dissipate heat away from the pillow, keeping your head cool throughout the night.

There are even certain sheets that will keep you cooler than others. Ideal bedding for hot sleepers includes something very breathable, like high-quality bamboo sheets. Not only does bamboo keep you cooler all night, it’s also moisture-wicking. If you do sweat, your sheets will pull the moisture away from your body and dry it really quickly.

If anything is stopping you from getting the good night of sleep you need to stay healthy and happy, visit your nearest City Mattress location or shop online and get help learning about the cooling mattress and bedding products you need to solve the problem. When youve created the best bed for hot sleepers in your bedroom, youll sleep peacefully each night and wake up refreshed each morning.

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Shouldnt Memory Foam Improve Your Sleep

What is interesting to note is that two of the biggest benefits when it comes to memory foam mattresses may be the very reason you find yourself overheating during the night.

As mentioned, it is very important to remember that this is something your body can take time to adjust and usually within a couple of weeks you will find your body doing a better job at regulating your temperature as you sleep with your memory foam mattress. However, if you do find the quality of your sleep affected because of your body temperature rising in the night there are a number of steps you can take to ensure you get a full nights sleep and feel rested in the morning.

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.

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What Are Good Cooling Mattress Toppers

A cooling mattress topper is constructed with materials that enable it to absorb extra heat and regulate your temperature for a comfortable night’s sleep. The cooling topper can identify when your body is too hot or too cold and works to regulate your nighttime body temperature accordingly to ensure you have a goodnights sleep.

A good cooling mattress topper eliminates body moisture, circumvents uncomfortable temperature levels, gives a mattress extra cushioning, and provides more comfort by promoting air circulation.

A cooling mattress topper is an excellent investment for anyones lifestyle and health. Instead of purchasing an entirely new mattress, adding a cooling pad to a bed is a much cheaper and effective solution to creating a comfortable sleeping environment. In addition to the extra comfort and rest provided, a cooling topper will also eliminate the need for additional cooling agents like fans and air conditioning units, thus cutting down on utility bills.

Below are 3 examples of good cooling mattress toppers and their benefits:

Cooling Mattress Toppers on Amazon Why Is It A Good Cooling Mattress Topper Price
This product is made up of bamboo which helps regulate body heat to sleep cooler at night. ~$40

Make sure to also take a look at our ultimate guide to mattress topper types for additional information and suggestions. And if you travel a lot, you will be interested to learn how to make a hotel bed softer too.

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