Image: MashableSometimes flipping the pillow just doesn't cut it. With the summer heat rolling in, you need to find ways to stay cool while you sleep. Sure, you could crank up the air conditioning, but there are plenty of other neat devices you can buy to chill your slumber. See also: 10 Sleeping Tips for a Dream-Worthy Snooze From a fan specifically designed for your bed to a self-cooling pillow, here are eight gadgets and innovations that will help lower the temperature in your boudoir. 8 Chill Sleeping GadgetsWe’re all princesses frightened of sleeping on peas these days – how else to explain the rise in popularity of mattress toppers, that squidgy extra layer of comfort under your sheet, atop the bed. Memory foam is popular, but complaints include its sometimes strong smell, plus it can retain heat so well that the bed boils. As an alternative, natural fillings are growing in popularity and availability, so I decided to undertake a home trial. Penrose Products alpaca mattress topper bedding set, £80
Fibre from alpacas is soft, luxurious and supremely comfy. Like silk, it moderates body temperature, and it is naturally hypoallergenic so great for allergy sufferers. Luxury alpaca mattress enhancer, £151.99 My daughter found it heavy at first, but is now adjusted and sleeps like Rip van Winkle. What more can you want? Ultimate microfibre topper with silk, £85 Dust mites hate silk, making it the ideal choice for anyone suffering allergies, and you can get toppers, duvets, pillow cases and bedding for the full experience. Silk filled mattress topper, £85 It’s also lightweight, and stays cool – perfect for women of a certain age. Deluxe wool bedding set, £213.48 Sleeping with wool is said to provide up to 25 per cent more deep regenerative sleep (i.e. stage four REM sleep), over traditional down or synthetic bedding. Devon Duvets British wool mattress toppers, from £110 I found it soft underneath and naturally warm. The accompanying duvet was super snugly, but the pillows too firm for my taste.
Hastens BJ top mattress, price on request This could be the perfect topper: thick, firm, and unbelievably cushioning. Horsehair is very durable (hence its use in traditional upholstery), and as the strands of hair are open-celled (or hollow), moisture passes through easily, wicking sweat away. Plus the individual hairs never squash into a permanent shape, which I felt gave it the promised added “spring”. READ: The best duvets for a good night's sleep READ: Which type of pillow should you buy? READ: The best TV standsCall Us at 415.472.2154A gel mattress pad or topper makes memory foam feel cooler. Memory foam mattresses utilize body heat to conform to your body as you rest. After resting on it a while, the mattress may feel a little too warm for comfort, especially if you prefer cooler sleeping conditions. While there are several ways to reduce the warming sensation of sleeping on memory foam, cooling the mattress is often a matter of placing a cooling material between your body and mattress, but this may also change the feel of the mattress itself.
Cooling with Cotton A cotton cover over the mattress -- between the mattress and fitted sheet -- keeps the mattress a bit cooler than not using such a cover. Cotton breathes and feels cool against the skin; pair the cotton cover with 100 percent cotton sheets for even more cooling properties. Synthetic materials such as polyester blends trap heat and moisture in, rather than wicking body perspiration away. Woolly Wonders A wool-based mattress pad or blanket beneath the sheet also helps keep the heat of the foam away from your skin. While wool offers warmth in cool weather, such as with a wool sweater, wool also has cooling properties because it draws moisture away from the body. A wool blanket or pad keeps your body from feeling clammy atop memory foam. Wool mattress covers or pads are also washable. Air Cooling A bed fan -- a special fan designed to blow air beneath the covers -- offers a cooling sensation no matter what type of bedding is used. This type of fan draws air from beneath the bed, transferring it through the vertical body of the fan through a vent that extends over the mattress, beneath the top sheet and blanket.
The vertical portion of the fan body adjusts to the height of the bed. Under Covers The type of pajamas worn while in bed also affects your comfort level in terms of feeling too hot or too cold. Warm materials such as fleece or synthetic fabrics may cause sweating, warming the body more than you'd like. Swap the pajamas out for thin, breathable fabrics, such as cotton to help ensure you feel cool enough for a good night's rest. Any blankets and comforters should also be made of breathable, natural fabrics to avoid trapping in too much heat. /Getty Images Suggest a CorrectionCool-jams Temperature Regulating Cooling Mattress Pad(Free Shipping Continental US) Ever wish you had additional support for your mattress to ensure you can avoid overheating or feeling too cold when you sleep? Thanks to the Cool-jams™ Temperature Regulating Cooling Mattress Pad, you now can enjoy a proven mattress pad designed to regulate your body temperature at night and cool down a hot mattress. Many people overheat during the night for a variety of reasons, including the use of an uncomfortable hot foam-topped mattress, hot flashes due to menopause or common night sweats.
However, this cooling mattress pad can help with all of these things and more, creating a cool, comfortable temperature between you and your mattress and providing that full night of sleep that you desperately need. With the Cool-jams™ exclusively formulated fabric that uses our Outlast technology to absorb body heat and keep you cool, our temperature regulating mattress pad will help you eliminate night sweats for good. Cool-jams™ offers this cooling mattress pad in six sizes to fit any standard size bed, and because it is entirely hypoallergenic, it will even help you breathe easier as you sleep. Order our cooling mattress pad and you'll even receive completely free shipping on your entire purchase. Pair with our cooling sheets and pillows for even better heat relief. Pick up a superb cool mattress pad that will help you remain cool in summer and warm in winter - the Cool-jams™ temperature regulating mattress pad. Machine washable and dryable. 300 thread count and 100% cotton for soft, breathable comfort.
100% hypoallergenic polyester fiberfill. Fits all mattresses up to 20" thick. Elastic on sides to keep mattress pad in place. Outlast certified gold comfort rating - the highest capacity to store and release heat. Sizes: Twin 39" x 75", Twin XL 39" x 80", Full 54" x 75", Queen 60" x 80", King 78" x 80" and Cal-King 72" x 84". Note: This item will ship separately from any sleepwear products in your order. For information regarding bedding returns, please visit our customer care page. "Before I started wearing my Cool-jams p.j.'s, I could never sleep through the night without waking up completely soaked in sweat. It was common for me to change my p.j.'s several times per night. These pajamas are the best. I only wish I would have found them sooner!" - Gini H., Salt Lake City, UT PRODUCT REVIEWS3 Reviews | Why more customers choose Cool-Jams... Award 2013 by Apparel Magazine Scientifically engineered to absorb and wick moisture and heat faster, dry quicker, and to have the most advanced natural antibacterial protection of any sleepwear tested.