How Cooling Blankets Improve Your Sleep

According to a 2017 study, people tend to have more atypical sleep patterns during the hot summer months than during the cold winter months. That’s because body heat gets trapped in the mattress and blanket. If you try to alleviate this by throwing off the blanket, no heat is retained at all and you get uncomfortably cold. The solution for many people is to turn up the air conditioning, but that increases energy usage and lowers humidity, potentially causing breathing problems.

This isn’t a problem just for the earthbound! Astronauts encounter the same issue when travelling through high-temperature zones. That’s why NASA addressed this in the 1980s by developing a revolutionary new type of cooling blanket. Like many of NASA’s innovations, this one eventually made it to the consumer marketplace. Cooling blankets employing NASA’s technology and others like it are easy to find.

What Is a Cooling Blanket?

Instead of trapping body heat and creating uncomfortable sleeping conditions like a regular blanket, a cooling blanket is all about getting the peaceful sleep you desire. It has a unique cooling technology for sleep that allows the heat to pass through its breathable fibers and dissipate. It also wicks up excess moisture, which contributes to cooling because moisture traps heat.

Traditional cooling blankets are made of breathable fabrics. The cooling blankets developed by NASA employ Outlast technology. The fabric is embedded with tiny microcapsules called thermocules that absorb body heat when the ambient temperature is high and release it when the temperature drops, thus creating a stable thermal environment for the sleeper.

Cooling blankets can also incorporate an active cooling system in much the same way as an electric blanket provides active heating.

Types of Cooling Blankets

Cooling blankets can be made from several breathable fabrics, and they are often combined for more efficient thermal exchange. The weave is generally looser than a regular blanket, which helps improve thermal exchange. Traditional cooling fabrics include:

• Cotton
• Polyester
• Wool
• Acrylic
• Bamboo (a fabric derived from bamboo stalks)
• Tencel (the brand name of a fabric made from naturally soft and breathable cellulose fibers)
• Eucalyptus (a super-soft and breathable cellulose fabric manufactured from eucalyptus bark)
• Linen

Cooling blanket fabric may or may not employ Phase Change Materials (PCMs), the microcapsules developed by NASA as part of its Outlast technology. Along the same lines, 37.5 Technology (37.5 is the ideal body temperature in degrees Celsius) uses naturally sourced volcanic minerals woven into the fabric to regulate temperature.

In addition to breathable fabrics and PCMs, some blankets are weighted with rice, pellets or glass beads and some are infused with a heat-absorbing gel. The final strategy is to equip the blanket with its tiny air conditioner. A blanket of this type is called an air cooling blanket.

What is the Technology Behind Cooling Blankets?

When you fall asleep, it’s very common for your body to heat up. But, in some cases, our body tends to overheat. This is what cooling blankets help with. They pull the heat out and cool you down, helping you feel cooler and calmer as you easily drift away into dreamland. To make this dreamy sleep possible, the cooling blankets work with the following:

• Breathable Fabrics: They use soft, breathable fabrics, such as cotton, bamboo and others. These fabrics ensure that you don’t feel stuck.
• Moisture-Wicking: It’s very common to sweat while sleeping. Cooling blankets have a unique moisture-wicking technology that keeps you dry and comfortable all night long.
• Pressure Change Materials (PCMs): Some of the most expensive versions also include PCMs. They help regulate your body temperature to make you feel comfortable and safe as you go to bed.
• Cooling Materials: Meanwhile, other blankets tend to use cooling beads or cooling gel to keep you feeling comfortable and calm.

Are There Benefits of Cooling Blankets for Sleep?

There are a lot of sleep benefits to using cooling blankets.

• Prevents overheating
• Keeps moisture away
• Helps keep hot flashes at bay
• Saves electricity and energy
• Keeps you comfortable all night long

How to Choose the Right Cooling Blanket

People differ in the amount of body heat and perspiration they produce, as well as the temperatures they can tolerate while sleeping. Consequently, not everyone needs the same type of blanket. This is where the science of cooling blankets comes into play. When shopping for your cooling blanket, here are some things to consider:

• Size: Blanket size depends primarily on the size of your bed and ranges from crib to king-size. You may want to oversize your blanket if you anticipate doubling it over on cool nights.
• Weight: Some light blankets weigh only a few ounces, while others can weigh as much as 25 pounds. Research shows weighted cooling blankets add a sense of security and can help with anxiety, but they aren’t suitable for children or pregnant women.
• Format: Cooling blankets come in several formats, including quilts, coverlets, comforters and traditional bedspreads. Some perform best by themselves, while others should be used with cooling sheets.
• Fabric: Cotton and linen are popular because of their breathability and ability to wick moisture and are best for people who sweat a lot. If softness is your priority, choose bamboo or eucalyptus. Blankets with PCMs are generally woven from synthetic fabrics into which the microcapsules are embedded.
• High-tech: Blankets that incorporate temperature-regulating micro capsules or minerals generally cost more and are best in climates with hot temperatures in the early evening and significantly cooler temperatures overnight.
• Washing requirements: Some cooling blankets have special washing requirements that may not be convenient for everyone.

FAQ

How do I care for a cooling blanket?

Wash your blanket on a gentle machine cycle using a mild detergent. You can also wash by hand. Air or tumble-dry your blanket to preserve cooling finishes. This will also help you prevent any fabric breakdown, maintaining the quality of your blanket as a whole.

Are cooling blankets safe for everyone?

They are generally safe since they are hypoallergenic and chemical-free, but people who deal with circulation issues or are sensitive to cold environments should consult a health care provider first.

Source

• National Library of Medicine: “Nighttime temperature and human sleep loss in a changing climate”
• The Conversation: “What are cooling blankets? Can they really help me sleep?”
• Amazon: “DANGTOP Cooling Blankets”
• Amazon: “California Design Den Luxury 800 Thread Count King Size Sheets Set”
• Sleep Number: “True Temp™ Blanket”