But hot nights are only going to get more common<\/a> if the climate crisis continues its long march. While Britons are already accustomed to poor sleep \u2013 with the average adult getting just three days a week of good kip, according to the Mental Health Foundation<\/a> \u2013 heat doesn\u2019t help. Dr Allie Hare, consultant in sleep medicine and co-president of the British Sleep Society, says: \u201cBeing too hot during sleep can significantly reduce sleep quality and duration. In particular, it can reduce slow wave (deep) sleep, the stage of sleep that helps us awaken feeling rested.\u201d<\/p>\n The Sleep Charity<\/a> offers this guidance on its website: \u201cAn ideal bedroom temperature is around 16-18C \u2026 Temperatures over 24C are likely to cause restlessness, while a cold room of about 12C will make it difficult to drop off.\u201d<\/p>\n But all hope is not lost for those who want to beat the heatwave in their sleep. \u201cYour brain is very smart about sleep,\u201d Hare says, \u201cand it will eventually ensure that you do [drop off], even if it remains warm at night.\u201d<\/p>\n To make getting some shut-eye even easier when the mercury rises, we have gathered the best tried and tested products, from the best quiet fans to the coolest sheets for your bed.<\/p>\n 13 tips and essentials to help you sleep in a heatwaveA natural-fibre mattress<\/p>\n Millbrook Wool Luxury 4000 mattress, double<\/p>\n \u00a3604 at Mattress Online<\/a>\u00a3759 at B&Q<\/a><\/p>\n Lay the foundations with a decent mattress that allows air to flow, keeps sweat off your skin and does not trap heat. And Jane Hoskyn might have just stumbled upon \u201cthe one\u201d. She reviewed the Millbrook pocket-spring wool mattress<\/a> for a test during one heatwave and was amazed by how it kept her cool. \u201cThe Millbrook doesn\u2019t retain heat in the way that foam can,\u201d she concluded, \u201cand its wool layers can help regulate your body\u2019s temperature through the sweaty and shivery excesses of summer and winter.\u201d<\/p>\n A cooling bamboo topper<\/p>\n Panda bamboo topper, double<\/p>\n \u00a3139.95 at Panda<\/a><\/p>\n If you don\u2019t have a suitable mattress, then consider this memory foam\/bamboo hybrid topper from Panda. Jane Hoskyn tried it for her test of the best mattress toppers<\/a>, and was impressed by the \u201ctemperature-regulating hydro foam\u201d that provided a cooling sensation, while the bamboo cover helped avoid overheating. The bamboo topper is also breathable and moisture-wicking, helping sweat evaporate more easily and reducing the chance of overheating on hot nights.<\/p>\n Breathable linen bedding<\/p>\n Piglet in Bed linen bedding, double<\/p>\n \u00a3199 at John Lewis<\/a><\/p>\n With breathable, moisture-wicking properties that mean it won\u2019t cling to your skin, linen is generally considered the best fabric for the summer months. Piglet in Bed offers a range of linen pillowcases, duvets and sheets that not only make for a pleasant night\u2019s sleep, but are also free from harmful chemicals and dyes. Among its fans is London-based interior designer Eva Sonaike, who told us it was the top choice<\/a> for her son, who has allergies.<\/p>\n Freeze your beddingSweet dreams \u2026 chilling your pillowcase before bed can make hot nights much more comfortable. Photograph: Mavocado\/Getty<\/p>\n Freeze your pillowcases and dry pyjamas in a bag for 15 to 20 minutes before bedtime. The brief burst of coolness makes it much easier to fall asleep during particularly sticky weather. I discovered this tip a few years ago and now use it whenever temperatures start climbing.<\/p>\n A cotton-cover duvet<\/p>\n Fogarty Cool Sleep<\/a> 10.5-tog duvet<\/p>\n From \u00a362 at Dunelm<\/a><\/p>\n The Fogarty Cool Sleep has a cooling cotton cover, treated with a special \u201cphase change material\u201d to prevent overheating. It was Jane Hoskyn\u2019s top pick for \u201canyone who tends to overheat at night\u201d in her roundup of the best duvets<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our favourite fan for cooling Photograph: Caramel Quin\/The Guardian<\/p>\n Dreo TurboCool misting fan 765S<\/p>\n \u00a3199.99 at Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n Caramel Quin tested this \u201con the hottest day of 2026 so far\u201d and chose it as her favourite pick for cooling in her guide to the best fans<\/a>. It has a six-litre water tank to add a fine mist to the air, which lowered temperatures by 3C in her tests. \u201cI felt the occasional, pleasant cool drop of water,\u201d she wrote. \u201cBut the floor didn\u2019t get wet, and neither did the anemometer, placed between me and the fan.\u201d<\/p>\n Take a showerWash away the heat \u2026 a lukewarm shower before bed can help your body cool down. Photograph: Curly_photo\/Getty<\/p>\n I take a lukewarm shower about half an hour before I plan to sleep. It can be tempting to stand under freezing cold water, but a cooler wash helps lower your body temperature without making you shiver afterwards. I also avoid drying my hair completely, as the remaining moisture feels refreshing when I drift off.<\/p>\n skip past newsletter promotion<\/a><\/p>\n Sign up to The Filter<\/p>\n Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian\u2019s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link.<\/p>\n after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n Help kids sleep<\/p>\n Tommee Tippee Ollie the Owl portable blind<\/p>\n \u00a321.99 at Tommee Tippee<\/a><\/p>\n Organic cotton sleeping bag<\/p>\n \u00a331.05 at Natural Baby Shower<\/a>\u00a334.50 at Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s important to take steps to ensure children don\u2019t have sleepless nights during the summer. To maintain a cool room, \u201ckeep blinds or curtains closed during the day to block out direct sunlight, and dress babies in just a nappy or a super-light layer,\u201d said Rosey Davidson, sleep consultant and CEO of Just Chill Baby Sleep, in our guide to beating the heat<\/a>. She recommends the Tommee Tippee portable blind, a must for early bedtime routines, as well as this light muslin sleeping bag.<\/p>\n A cooling face mist<\/p>\n Av\u00e8ne thermal mist spray, 50ml<\/p>\n \u00a35.75 at Lookfantastic<\/a>\u00a35.95 at Cult Beauty<\/a><\/p>\n Once you have your bed prepped, your fan ready to blow and the blackout blinds draped, you may still feel the need to cool your face. Lily Smith suggests<\/a> Av\u00e8ne\u2019s thermal mist spray, which is suitable for sensitive skin and provides a tingling sensation that feels like pleasantly cooling sea mist.<\/p>\n Block out the midsummer light<\/p>\n MyHalos sleep mask<\/p>\n \u00a39.99 at Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n A blackout sleep mask can also help ease you into slumber. In her review of the best sleep aids<\/a>, Jane Hoskyn raved about the MyHalos sleep mask: \u201cOn my first attempt, I didn\u2019t fall asleep much faster than usual, but I woke up in joyous disbelief at the nine (yes, nine!) hours of shut-eye I\u2019d achieved.\u201d<\/p>\n Sleep with a frozen hot-water bottleCool customer \u2026 freezing a hot-water bottle is a surprisingly effective way to take the edge off a hot night. Photograph: Ravi Meah\/The Guardian<\/p>\n You heard correctly. The winter staple has proven to be a life-saver during suffocating summers. I half-filled a hot-water bottle and left it overnight (to allow the ice to expand) before hugging it to sleep the next night. The cooling sensation made all the difference. (Just don\u2019t use the same bottle for hot water this winter, as it may not be safe.)<\/p>\n Stay hydrated<\/p>\n Ocean Go bottle<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/379.jpg\")
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