Helpful Summer Sleep Tips from The Sleep Council

We’re not quite at extreme weather temperatures yet. But, some of these tips from The Sleep Council are actually quite clever, especially the hot water bottle one.

Spokesperson for The Sleep Council, Lisa Artis admits we don’t have the hottest summers on record, but ‘seasonal factors’ still impact upon our sleep.

She says: “Ideally bedrooms should be around 16-18°C (60-65°F) but if, at nighttime, the outside temperature remains higher, or your bedroom has retained the heat from the day, it can be difficult to keep cool. Your body temperature needs to lower slightly before you go to sleep which is why it’s difficult to drop off when you’re too hot.”

Sleep Council tips to stay cool when the weather starts to heat up:

Open windows – and doors – to create a cool draught through your bedroom.

Keep curtains or blinds drawn during the day to keep the sun out and your room cooler at night.

If you’ve got an attic, try opening the hatch. Hot air rises and this will give it somewhere to go.

Get rid of the duvet and blankets and sleep with just a cotton sheet – or a duvet with a low tog rating.

Wear light cotton nightwear – this is actually better than wearing nothing at all as natural fabric will absorb any perspiration.

If you’ve got long hair, tie it back. Hair around your neck can make you feel warmer in bed.

Have a cool shower or bath before bedtime to lower your core body temperature.

Drink plenty of cold water during the evening and keep a glass by the bed.

Avoid too much caffeine, alcohol or a big meal before bedtime as this can make you feel hot in the middle of the night because of dehydration and over-active digestion.

Pull out your hot water bottle, but fill it with ice cold water and have it in bed with you.

Cool a pillow case in the fridge before bedtime or try one of the new cooling pillows that are available to buy – both will help you keep a cool head!

Also, try putting socks in the fridge and wear them in bed – cooling your feet lowers the overall temperature of your skin and body, ideal during a hot summer’s night.

Use an electric fan to cool you down at night. If it’s really hot, put a tray of ice and a little water in front of the fan which will cool the air even more.

If you share a bed, make sure it’s big enough for two people so you can sleep without disturbing each other – a 5ft wide bed should be your minimum.

www.sleepcouncil.org.uk