Looking For The Perfect Sleep Outfit? Here's What An Expert Recommends

You hear a lot about what to put into your body to promote sleep—from soothing nighttime tea to relaxing supplements—but what about what to put on it?* Do the clothes you wear to bed affect sleep quality one way or another? Nishi Bhopal, M.D., says that while it largely depends on the person, there are a few ways you might be able to optimize your sleep uniform for better rest. Here are the tips the sleep medicine specialist has up her pajama sleeve.

First and foremost, Bhopal says, comfort is key. As long as your sleepwear (or lack of sleepwear, if that's your jam) feels good to you, chances are it's not impeding your rest.

While research on the ideal sleepwear fabric is limited, one small study on 36 older adults1 found that wool was better at improving sleep time and quality than cotton and polyester.

If you're someone who likes wearing socks to bed, either because your bed partner prefers a colder room than you do or you just find that they help you sleep better (hey, there's some research to back this up), Bhopal says to go for it. However, you might want to change the way you wear them. By pulling them only halfway up your foot, she says, "you're keeping your extremities warm, but as you get warmer, you can easily discard that layer." With a quick midnight kick, you'll be able to flick your socks off and cool down to that ideal temp once again.

Once the PJs or sleep set of your choice is on, you'll know that it's time to stop daytime activities that might keep you awake (like looking at your phone or checking emails) and ease into your wind-down routine. In turn, it might be easier to stick to a consistent bedtime.

While your pajama choice probably won't make or break your bedtime, wearing a sleep-supporting outfit can only help. Once you get your electronic use, diet, and stress levels in check, consider natural, breathable sleepwear the cherry on top of your ideal nightly routine.