Which is best for sleep—pajamas or sleeping naked?
It’s an age old question, and no matter which camp you belong to, chances are you feel pretty strongly about it. So we decided to look into the matter of sleepwear and the pros and cons of both wearing clothing to sleep or going without.
Let’s check it out!
In This Corner…Pajamas!
What’s not to love? Pajamas and nightgowns come in a variety of styles, patterns, and fabrics to suit anyone’s sleepytime fashion needs, and there are some definite benefits to wearing them.
Pros
- Sleep Routine. The act of putting pajamas on can be an important part of our sleep routine as we wind down from the day, signaling our bodies to get ready for dreamtime.
- Body Temperature Regulation. This is one of the most important factors for pajama wearers. If you sleep cold, it’s important to maintain a warm core body temperature to prevent waking up. And if you sleep hot, having a sweat wicking layer can help prevent you from sleeping in a clammy puddle and soaking your sheets every night.
- Bed Hygiene. Speaking of sweaty sheets…pajamas help to prevent all the oils, skin cells, sweat, and dirt from transferring to your bedding so you don’t need to wash them as often.
- Nighttime Wake-ups. Maybe you’ve got young children in the house, or cats to let out at night, or you live in earthquake country. Whatever the case, your sleep can be disrupted if in the back of your mind you’re afraid of being awakened and not ready.
Cons
- Getting Caught in a Twist. Much of the advice out there is to wear loose fitting pajamas for ease of movement, but some people don’t like the feeling of pant legs riding up or nightgowns twisted around them. This can be remedied with tighter leggings-style or baselayer pajamas. Opt for natural fabrics like silk, cotton, or our Icebreaker wool baselayers.
- Synthetic Fabrics. Continuing from the above, be sure to avoid synthetic fabrics, especially if you sleep hot. These can hold sweat next to your skin and aren’t as breathable. There’s just nothing like crisp cotton in the summer or soft flannel in the winter. Lots of folks swear by bio-based fabrics, like viscose made from bamboo or eucalyptus.
And In This Corner…Going Commando!
If pajamas aren’t your thing, you’re in luck. Sleeping in your birthday suit has a whole bunch of other benefits.
Pros
- Better Sleep Quality. Part of our body’s signaling for sleep involves dropping our body temperature. With no clothing for insulation, you’ll cool off faster and potentially get to sleep sooner. In addition, a cooler body temperature leads to better REM sleep and overall sleep quality.
- Improved Health Markers. If you find that sleeping cooler helps, you may notice other health markers improving as well. Better sleep can help with improved skin, reduced anxiety and depression, better weight maintenance, and a lower risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
- Closer Relationships. If you’re unaware of the benefits of skin-to-skin contact, now’s a good time to find out. Sleeping naked with your partner helps release the bonding hormone oxytocin, which can help you feel more connected.
- Self Esteem Booster. A study found a connection between the amount of time spent naked and one’s sense of body appreciation. More time naked can mean feeling better about oneself.
Cons
- More Laundry. You may not have to wash all those pajamas, but then you’ll have to wash all the bed sheets. No pajamas means fresh clean sheets more often. It also helps to shower before bed.
What About Socks in Bed?
This is another sleep habit that divides into two camps—either you do or you don’t.
Both studies and anecdotal experience have shown that wearing socks to bed can help your sleep. How does this work? Distal vasodilation, which is a fancy way of saying that if you warm your hands and feet, your core temperature can drop, which helps you fall asleep faster and experience better overall sleep quality.
But did you know that, despite the obvious fashion faux pas, wearing socks to bed can boost your sex life? That’s right. A research study discovered that wearing socks increases your likelihood to reach orgasm from 50% without socks to 80% with. This is likely due to the increase in blood flow and circulation.
So how about it? Whether or not you wear pajamas, you could still wear socks to bed. Just make sure they’re wool socks!
So Who’s the Winner?
You are! Whatever your preferences or sleep issues, luckily you get to choose how to go about your sleep experience. If you’re experiencing any sleep issues, it may be worth trying something new and different, so maybe you’ve found something here to inspire you.
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And until next time, sweet dreams!
