What to wear when sleeping

In this blog, here at Chums, we take a look at some of the most popular nightwear items in detail, helping you to decide which may best suit you. After all, this decision could be the difference between a sleepless night and sleeping like a log!

Should you wear pyjamas to bed?

When it comes to nightwear, it all comes down to personal preference. This is to say, as long as you choose items that keep you warm in winter, cool in summer, and generally feel comfortable, you can wear whatever you want! For many women, however, pyjamas represent an option that ticks all of these boxes.

Thanks to their fabric material - typically cotton, silk or flannel - a pair of well-fitted PJs can provide you with the perfect combination of comfort and warmth. This is because these materials tend to be both soft and breathable, ensuring that while you are trying to drop off, the fabric helps to regulate your body’s temperature while also feeling gentle against even the most sensitive types of skins. These two simple things can help promote a better night’s sleep.

Additionally, as well as providing comfort, wearing pyjamas when sleeping can also offer a number of health benefits. These include:

●     Keeping you warm - during winter, PJs help to keep the body warm. This is important because having a low body temperature while sleeping can negatively affect your ability to fight off infections and viruses. 

 ●     Hygiene - even if you take a bath or shower immediately before heading to bed, the fact is your body will naturally get rid of dead skin cells and hairs while you sleep. When you wear pyjamas, these cells (as well as any perspiration created while you sleep) will be transferred onto the material of your PJs rather than your bed and mattress. This means your bedding and mattress can be kept cleaner, which in turn provides a healthier, more pleasant sleeping environment.   

 ●     Better sleep through association - the act of wearing pyjamas to bed can have a psychological impact on your health, as well as a physical one. This is to say, just as putting on a suit can mentally prepare you for work, getting into your PJs can mentally prepare you for sleep. This simple act of association can help you achieve a better night’s sleep. 

Is a onesie pyjamas?

Put it simply, yes - onesies can be classed as a form of pyjamas. As the name suggests, these sleeping garments are ‘one piece’ nightwear items that cover the entire body (other than the head). Also known as footsie pyjamas, this type of sleepwear is more typically associated with babies and toddlers, however, have become increasingly popular among adults in recent years. 

They can also be found in a range of styles and fabrics, and offer the same benefits as traditional PJs. 

Should you wear a nightie to bed?

Despite being the most traditional nightwear option for ladies, according to a recent survey by Secret Linen, only 12 per cent of women in the UK wear nighties to bed, compared to 50 per cent who wear pyjamas. However, with a number of high-profile nightie-wearers, such as Gwyneth Paltrow, bringing these items back into vogue (both for night and day wear), popularity for this former bedtime staple is starting to rise.

Just like pyjamas, wearing a nightie when sleeping brings a number of health benefits. Typically made out of more lightweight fabrics, such as silk, and providing a looser, more airy fit, nightdresses are good at keeping your body cool while you sleep, preventing you from sweating excessively. This can aid in a better night’s sleep. Additionally, while traditional two-piece PJs tend to come in a fairly uniform style, nighties, nightshirts, and nightgowns come in a wide variety of styles, cuts, patterns and materials. From floral cotton nighties, ideal for winter, to silky, lightweight garments perfect for summer, the beauty of nighties lies in the sheer choice you have, as well as the comfort they can provide.  

Do women still wear slips? 

A traditional undergarment that can either be worn beneath a dress during the day, or as a form of nightwear, a full-length slip is a lightweight item that hangs from the shoulder and extends down to the knees. Although not as popular as they once were, slips are still worn by many women as a more fashionable and luxurious form of nightwear.

Typically made from delicate fabrics such as silk or lace, slips that are intended for sleeping in are designed to feel loose and airy, providing warmth and comfort without restricting movement. For this reason, when purchasing a new slip purely for nightwear, it is recommended that you purchase a size up from your normal clothes purchases. This will ensure you remain as comfortable and unrestricted as possible and achieve a great night’s sleep when wearing it.