Why choose wool for your child’s sleep?

High-quality nightwear that keeps your child warm and dry throughout the night, is essential to ensuring your child a good night’s sleep. But, did you know that wool is the best for this?

Does your child get hot and sweaty, and then freezing cold having kicked off their duvet? Then they are not alone. Factors such as noise, light, and temperature, can significantly affect your child’s sleep, but the solution doesn’t need to be expensive. Nurse Elise Hauberg Winther says, getting your child the right nightwear is an easy place to start.

Source: Elise Haubjerg Winther

Elise Haubjerg Winther is a nurse who has worked in children’s health and well-being for over 20 years. She is also a mum of two.

– Those children that get too hot at night, as well as those that get too cold, sleep best in a room below 18 degrees, with no draft. It is also more important for your child to have high quality sleepwear over bedding, as most children kick off their covers during the night. It is therefore important for their pyjamas to cover their arms and legs. Elise Haubjerg Winther also states that socks and tights can be a good idea.

The temperature and happiness of your child helps them have a good night’s sleep, therefore it is important to achieve this, with or without a duvet. Elise explains that a good night’s sleep means your child will be more productive and learn better.

Create the best conditions

You might think wool can only be worn on very cold days to keep you warm, but according to Elise, a thin layer of wool will help your child stay a comfortable temperature and prevent them from waking up.

– Wool pyjamas are perfect for children who are prone to getting too hot as well as those who get cold. Elise Haubjerg Winther tells us how wool has the ability to keep your child warm and dry because of its moisture absorbing abilities.

Why wool pyjamas?

Wool operates in the same way a dog’s fur keeps them comfortable in all weather. A thin layer of wool, such as a base layer, will do the same for your child.

It is the wool’s airy structure that allows it to regulate temperature. The air in the centre of the wool fibres ensure your child is insulated from the cold and also helps evaporate moisture away from their body when they are hot. The wool fibres can absorb moisture without feeling wet, perfect for keeping them dry at night.

Nightwear is more than just cotton

Cotton is one of the most common materials for sleepwear, but it can be made from other, more preferable materials.

– Cotton is an excellent material for your child if they are a comfortable temperature at night, but be aware that, if cotton gets moist when your child sweats, it doesn’t dry quickly. This can make it cold to wear. Elise Haubjerg Winther also points out that a thin layer of cotton will also not insulate your child against the cold if they kick off their duvet at night.

However, it is important to realise that you can easily switch back and forth between different materials.

Not: once a woolly, always a woolly

One persistent myth is that once you start to dress your child in woollen underwear, you cannot dress them in other materials again without them getting very cold. This is simply not true.

– When it comes to nightwear, underwear, or any other children’s clothing, you can easily change between different materials. Wool has some excellent temperature regulating abilities, but it does not affect your child’s own ability to regulate temperature. It is just a very effective material, says Elise Haubjerg Winther.