As the winter takes hold there is no more comforting thought than curling up for a long sleep in a warm, cosy bed. With temperatures usually at their lowest in the early hours and for many people the reality is of being too cold and uncomfortable to be able to get a good night’s sleep.
The Sleep Council has come up with a few tips to help ensure that we don’t turn into ice cubes during the night but stay warm as toast.
- Wear night clothes such as pyjamas or a large T-shirt to keep you warm. Natural fibres such as wool, cotton or silk will keep you warmer than synthetic materials.
- Have a warm bath just before you go to bed. This will warm you up and will also help to make you sleepy.
- Have a warming milky drink.
- Try to take some exercise which will get the circulation going and help to keep the body warm.
It is also worth looking at the bedroom, the bed and the bedding all of which play a part in keeping you insulated in the cold night air.
- Keep the bedroom warm, but not too hot, and free from draughts.
- Avoid a saggy bed. It may be nice to cuddle up for warmth but it can be very uncomfortable and clammy when you are thrown together by a bed that isn’t giving you the correct support.
- Look for a mattress which has a thicker side for use during the winter. A soft sleeping surface is a better insulator than a flat one. Use a fleecy underblanket to retain the heat.
- Choose a duvet with a high tog rating or use several layers of bedding rather than one single layer. Layers will trap warm air and are easily removed if you get too hot.