College mattress and night sweats -- remedy??

13 years ago

Got a call from my college-freshman DS this evening asking me if I could make a dr's appt for him when he's home for Thanksgiving because he has been sweating so much at night. After talking for a while, we determined that it must be the icky, plastic dorm mattress. He said this has been going on since school started but didn't happen on the few nights that he's slept off campus (at home or at a friend's house). So it's got to be the mattress. He has a regular cotton mattress pad on it, plus one of those egg crate toppers. I suggested that maybe it's the egg crate thing, but he slept in another bed (um, his girlfriend's -- same type of mattress) without an egg crate and the same thing happened. So what do you think? Would it help to get one of those allergy-type mattress covers that zips around the whole mattress? Or maybe just a higher quality mattress pad? (The one he has is supposedly all cotton, but it's a cheapo one that we bought from one of those companies that sells dorm sheets and towels.) Any suggestions?

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Comments (10)

golddust
13 years ago
Boy, do I relate! Every time we spend the night at my MIL's house, we experience the same thing! It is miserable.

Make sure his sheets are 100% cotton with a nice thick ($$) cotton mattress pad over the egg crate. Maybe even a thick Costco resilient foam pad... Get him as far away from that plastic dorm mattress as possible!

What kind of blankets does he have on his bed? Maybe it's time for a complete change of bedding. Poor guy. I dread our visits to my MIl's house. Think natural fibers.
suero
13 years ago
Make sure that he doesn't have a thyroid problem.
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cooperbailey
13 years ago
An eggcrate memory foam mattress. That helped my DD with an uncomfortable mattress. Also the dorm rooms are small and have 2 bodies heating up the room most of the time- the room may be warmer than he realizes.It may be a matter of adjusting the thermostat or cracking a window if possible.
Also alcohol can give the feeling of being hotter while sleeping(Just being realistic)
Sueb20
Original Author
13 years ago
He does have the egg crate thing, as I mentioned. We decided (with the help of asking another friend of mine and some internet searching) that he needs a cotton mattress pad and cotton sheets. I'm not sure what the fabric contents are of the mattress pad he has now, but I bet it's not 100% cotton. I also told him to try taking off the egg crate thing, because whatever that's made of, it could be making him sweat. He is sort of a sweaty guy in general, and he takes a medication that can increase the problem, but hasn't had this night-sweat problem in any other bed that he's slept in, so I've got to think it's the plastic mattress.

He has a single room but, I have a very strong suspicion that he isn't alone in it much of the time... GF lives right down the hall. He is most definitely not a drinker -- I know many students are, but he's very anti-drinking. Not because of anything his parents have taught him, just his own thing!

Anyway, I ordered him a good quality cotton mattress pad and sheets and am hoping that's the solution.
terezosa / terriks
13 years ago
I would stay away from memory foam, as it can make people sleep hot. I would look at products such as wicking sheets specifically made for "cool" sleeping and often marketed towards menopausal women. I found this site that has this type of products: DriNights
judiegal6
13 years ago
Just a thought, make sure you order the bedding in the right size. Colleges generally have twin X Long mattresses.
User
13 years ago
Ooh - I have noticed the same bizarre night sweat hot-spots from my DD's mattress (She is 4, wakes at night often, and I often go sleep in her bed with her). It is from IKEA but has some kind of memory foam type stuff in it. I think that is what makes the "hot spots". I know it is not just me because my son has slept in the bed also and has complained about waking up feeling hot in spots. I haven't tried it yet but I wonder if a wool mattress pad would help?
work_in_progress_08
13 years ago
We put an egg crate down first, then a down mattress "bed" pillow-like thing that covers the entire bed, and then the all cotton mattress pad and cover.

Does your son/roommate have control over the thermostat in the room, or do the windows open to let in a bit of cool air at nite?
cooperbailey
13 years ago
Sorry - I missed that he had an egg crate. My Dd put the eggcrate first, then a cotton mattress pad. She is one that is always hot at night- no flannel pjs or thick covers for that one. The dorm rooms were always to hot in the evening for her- when she was on the 2nd floor- her window was always cracked - all winter- just so she could sleep.
Has he found the thermostat yet?
golddust
13 years ago
At home, we sleep on a Tempurpedic mattress and I do just fine with it. It's the plastic and polyester sheets that get me every time. My MIL encased her mattresses in plastic after a GD wet on one as a newborn baby. That baby is now 26 and she still refuses to remove the plastic mattress covers. I must bring my own bedding when I visit her - including a thick mattress pad. Otherwise, it is unbearable.

I hope the new set up puts and end to the miserable sleep for your DS.

College mattress and night sweats -- remedy??

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golddust

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College mattress and night sweats -- remedy??

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