Sleep Like a Lamb
(Page 3 of 4)
November/December 2003
By DANIELLE FOX
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World of wool
Nearly every bit of bedding can be made of wool. The exception is sheets, because the preferred fibers—cotton, silk, or linen—are simply softer against your skin. Blankets, of course, are available in wool, as are wonderfully comfortable duvets and crib bumpers.
Pillows and Neck Rolls Much of the body vapor, including perspiration and exhaled moisture, that a person loses throughout the night is lost through the head. Consequently, a pillow that draws moisture away from the body can alleviate neck pains attributed to dampness. Wool is often combined with other materials such as cotton and natural latex in pillows to add neck support, and most manufacturers make wool pillows of varying thicknesses and sizes. Wool’s natural crimp offers a firm but springy cushion that won’t compress over time like cotton.
Duvets and Comforters Like the pillows, wool duvets are available in varying sizes and lofts from one thin layer of wool batting to multiple layers ideal for cold weather. When shopping, consider the thickness of the encasement material as well as the loft. A sateen- covered duvet, for instance, feels lighter than one covered in densely woven cotton.
Mattress Pads and Toppers Wool mattress pads may help improve sleep quality, according to a study of ten people published in the Medical Journal of Australia (January 21, 1984). The subjects reported better sleep and had on average 20 percent more time during the night in which they did not toss or turn. While wool duvets work from the top to wick moisture away from the body, wool mattress pads and toppers (thick mattress pads equivalent to feather beds or pillow tops) work from the underside.