The clothes we wear when we go to bed can make a massive difference to the quality of sleep we get.
What you’re wearing during the night could drastically alter your comfort levels and temperature, which can be the difference between waking up multiple times during the night or getting a good quality night’s sleep.
So, what is the best thing to wear in bed? A complete set of pajamas? Or nothing at all?
Throughout this guide, I will not only discuss the best choice of garment to wear for the best night’s sleep, but also the reasons some materials are a no-go when selecting the perfect pair of pajamas.
What is The Best Choice of Clothes For Sleep?
Of course, it’s each to their own regarding the style of pajamas you want to wear. While some prefer a nightgown, others like a full-length set of flannel pajamas.
It all depends on what feels comfy for you. Below is a list of the usual garments people choose when selecting their nightwear.
- Birthday suit (naked)
- Full-length pajamas with sleeves
- Shorts and t-shirt
- Underwear
- Long bottoms with short-sleeved tops
- Nightgown
- Large loose fit t-shirt
How The Wrong Choice of Nightwear Can be Bad For Your Health?
This might be something that has never entered your mind. After all, who would have thought that wearing certain items in bed could negatively affect your health?
Tests have proven that your underwear is the worst thing you can wear to bed for your health. This is because your underwear usually sits very close to your skin, leading to infections, chafing, and inflammation.
Scientists say nothing is the best thing you can sleep in when thinking about your health. That’s right. Sleeping in your birthday suit improves circulation, allows your skin to breathe, and keeps your temperature down while sleeping.
I would strongly advise if you’re choosing to sleep in the nude to ensure you have good-quality cotton sheets. Cheap sheets made from silk or polyester can cause the body’s temperature and induce perspiration.
Benefits of Sleeping Naked
Sleeping naked might not be for everyone, but for those who decide to try it, here are some of the main benefits.
Better Sleep Quality
Ideally, when falling asleep, the temperature of your room should be somewhere between 60-67F. So, during the summer months, when temperatures start to rise, sleeping naked is the best way to turn down the heat while you sleep.
Lowers Health Risks
Constantly disturbing your sleep can negatively affect your health regarding problems such as heart disease and diabetes. Sleeping naked can help lower your blood pressure, reducing the risk of such conditions.
Reduce Stress
Sleeping when stressed can significantly affect our mental well-being and dramatically interrupt our sleeping patterns. Studies have proven that sleeping in birthday suits can reduce stress and anxiety.
Improve Skin
The quality of sleep you get can also improve the quality of your skin, meaning that because sleeping in the nude is proven to help us get a good night’s sleep, this can have a knock-on effect and lead to healthier skin.
Falling Asleep Faster
As previously discussed, the temperature is key regarding a restorative night’s sleep. Your body’s circadian rhythm works better when you are comfortable at night.
So, ensuring that your body is cool when getting ready to fall asleep is crucial, meaning that sleeping naked can make you fall asleep faster.
Best Materials For Nightwear
After briefly discussing the materials used for your bed sheets when sleeping naked, now would be a good time to discuss what you should look for in terms of nightwear materials for comfort.
So, below is a list of each material and the pros and cons of sleeping in them.
Flannel
This is a popular choice as a winter warmer when selecting pajamas during colder months. Mainly because of its warmth and insulation.
The great benefit of flannel pajamas is that, while being warm, they’re also highly breathable, meaning you’re unlikely to get overheated.
Satin
While some people love the look of a satin nightdress, and it might feel nice when you first put it on, it’s not the best choice to wear to sleep in.
The fabric can slide around, making you highly uncomfortable, and also, it’s not breathable, so it can mean that you perspire a lot during the night. This one might be best kept for appearance only.
Silk
Silk, on the other hand, is an excellent option for bed wear. Though some people may consider it a little bit too expensive for something you’ll be sleeping in, it’s a great investment when it comes to.
The downside to silk is that, similar to satin, it can be pretty slippery, so if you’re someone who moves around quite a lot at night, it might not be your preferred option.
Cotton
The preferred option for many people, and the one that comes the most highly recommended, is cotton. It’s lightweight, comfortable, breathable, and unlikely to cause any irritation.
However, it’s not the warmest of materials. So, on cold nights you might want to add an extra layer.
Linen
Slightly more luxurious than cotton, if you’re feeling fancy, is linen. This is perfect for warmer nights because it is cooling, incredibly soft, and light.
Bamboo
One material that you might not have considered is bamboo. This is an excellent alternative to any other material if you are someone who suffers from allergies during the night.
Bamboo has many other benefits, such as being eco-friendly, lightweight, comfortable, and breathable. Overall, bamboo is probably the best option when selecting the perfect nightwear.
What Not to Wear For Bed?
When it comes to nightwear, there are many do’s and don’ts before bed, which can aid us in getting a better night’s sleep.
For instance, you might have that favorite pair of fleece-lined pajamas that you bring out every winter that keeps you super toasty. But the fact is that these woolen-type pajamas are mostly made from synthetic fabrics, meaning they will cause you to sweat more than usual.
Here’s a list of other materials and accessories, which are a definite no go when it comes to sleep.
Tight Garments
Anything that clings to your skin, or is too tight around parts of your body, can make you feel very restricted. In turn, this can disturb you during the night due and cause you to wake up feeling uncomfortable.
Jewelry
Wearing any form of jewelry to bed is not recommended; earrings, for example, can be pressed into the skin, causing pain and discomfort. The same goes for rings or necklaces tangled in our hair or neckline.
Bras and Unpractical underwear
Any form of underwear that is tight-fitting, such as bras, thongs, or restricting boxer shorts, is not the best thing to wear to bed.
They are mainly digging in, being too tight, and causing infections by rubbing so close to the skin for long periods.
Pajamas with Fastenings
Many commonly worn pajamas have buttons running down the front or zips. These can dig into the skin while you’re asleep, causing pain that makes you stir, and wake you up feeling irritated.
For a night of uninterrupted sleep, it’s advisable to wear clothing with no fastenings. Opt for the elasticated ones instead.
Lace
Any garments which contain lace can become irritable when trying to sleep. Although they may look pretty, you could be in for an itchy and scratchy night.
What Else Can I Wear to Bed?
Aside from your pajamas, there are other items you can wear that can aid your sleep, such as cotton eye masks, softened earplugs, and bed socks.
Although the same goes, when purchasing bed socks, ensure they are of good quality.
For people with long hair, hair nets can be a good idea, as well as bed hats, and these can help keep the hair out of your face and off your neck and stop it from getting tangled during the night.
Staying Cool in Bed
Overheating during the night can massively interrupt our sleep schedule. Therefore, finding the right clothes to sleep in and the correct bed sheets is essential.
As I advised previously, regarding temperature, the best things to buy are items made out of cotton, satin, linen, or bamboo for the best results.
What to Wear in Bed – Final Thoughts
So, I have covered everything regarding questions about what to wear in bed for a good night’s sleep and what to avoid.
We have concluded that sleeping naked is the number one option benefiting our general health and sleep quality, and it may not be everyone’s preferred choice.
I have also spoken about how it’s not about the clothing items we choose to wear to bed, but also about other things that can disrupt our comforts, such as jewelry, tight underwear, and fastenings.
This leaves us with the conclusion that the best thing to wear in bed (if anything) is lightweight, comfortable pajamas made from good quality, sustainable, and breathable materials.
There are also plenty of things that are advised to avoid, such as silky nightdresses, lacey garments, and restricting boxer shorts, as well as anything that will cause your body to rise in temperature or become overheated.
Overall, finding the perfect garments to improve sleep quality doesn’t take much and won’t cost much. The main thing is to look for something comfortable to your taste and choose practicality over appearance.
