Last checked September 2026 against 7 sources · Editorial policy
Pajamas for night sweats: what to wear to bed in menopause
Breathable pajamas for night sweats are light and loose, in a fabric you can change out of quickly, because the NHS's advice for night sweats starts with lightweight clothing and a cool bedroom. We found no trials comparing sleepwear fabrics for menopause. Most bamboo pajamas are really rayon, which the FTC says must be labeled as rayon made from bamboo.
What to wear to bed with menopause night sweats: lightweight, breathable sleepwear, what bamboo fabric really is, and three picks from budget to menopause-branded.
Pajamas for night sweats: expectation vs reality
What people often expect
“Special night sweat pajamas will stop me sweating”
What the evidence shows
Sleepwear can't stop a hot flash; it can only make the sweat easier to live with. Light, loose layers help you shed heat, and moisture-wicking fabrics move sweat off the skin, but we found no published trials testing sleepwear for menopause night sweats. A cooler bedroom has better evidence.
What to wear to bed with night sweats
What to wear to bed with night sweats
The NHS's first advice for hot flushes and night sweats is to wear lightweight clothing and keep your bedroom cool at night. For sleepwear, that means loose fits, short sleeves or sleeveless tops, and fabric thin enough to let heat escape. Keep a second set by the bed: changing into something dry after a sweat helps you get back to sleep faster than lying in damp clothes.
Fabrics for night sweats: cotton, rayon and performance knits
Sleepwear sold for night sweats comes in three main fabric groups. Cotton is breathable and familiar but can feel heavy once it's wet. Rayon, often sold as bamboo, feels cool and drapes loosely. Synthetic performance knits are built to wick moisture and dry quickly. None has been tested in a menopause trial, so comfort, fit and how fast a fabric dries on your body should decide.
What bamboo pajamas really are
The FTC says most, if not all, bamboo textile products are really rayon, typically made using toxic chemicals, and that a product can be called bamboo only if it's made directly from bamboo fiber. Otherwise the label should say something like rayon made from bamboo. That doesn't make bamboo-rayon pajamas bad for night sweats; it means you're buying rayon, with its soft, cool feel.
Why bedroom temperature matters as much as sleepwear
In a sleep lab study of 18 postmenopausal women with hot flashes, nights at 18°C, about 64°F, had fewer hot flashes in the first half of the night than warmer nights: 1.5 versus 2.2 on average. Hot flashes start with small rises in core body temperature, so the cooler your surroundings, the easier it is for light sleepwear to keep you comfortable.
Sleepwear styles for hot flashes
Nightgowns and sleep shirts let more air reach your skin than pants, while shorts sets suit women who like a little coverage. Front-button tops are easier to open during a hot flash than pullovers. If you feel chilly after a sweat, keep a light robe or cardigan by the bed rather than wearing a heavy set all night.
Menopause-branded sleepwear for night sweats
Some brands, such as Lusome, market sleepwear specifically for menopause and hot sleepers, usually at higher prices. Their fabrics are designed to wick moisture, but the benefits described are the brands' own claims; we found no independent trials. A lightweight set from a general brand may work as well, so try one before buying a whole drawer.
When night sweats need more than pajamas
Pajamas manage the sweat; treatment reduces the hot flashes behind it. HRT is the most effective option, and CBT, clinical hypnosis, SSRIs or SNRIs, gabapentin and fezolinetant are non-hormonal choices. The NHS says to get checked if you regularly wake up with soaking wet sheets, or if night sweats come with weight loss or a high temperature.
Learn more →Sleepwear and night sweats by the numbers
1.5 vs 2.2
18
0
Most bamboo sleepwear is rayon; the FTC requires it to be labeled that way.
We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It doesn't change what we recommend. How this works →
Pajamas and sleepwear for night sweats compared
Loose cotton pajamas
Good for
Breathable, familiar and easy to wash.Watch
Can feel heavy once soaked.Rayon (bamboo viscose) pajamas
Good for
Soft, cool feel and a loose drape.Watch
It's rayon, and the FTC says it must be labeled that way.Our pick: GYS bamboo viscose pajama set. Rayon made from bamboo, in a loose long-sleeve set.
Check price on Amazon →Nightgowns and sleep shirts
Good for
More airflow than pants; quick to change.Watch
Less coverage if you get chilly after a sweat.Our pick: Ekouaer bamboo viscose nightgowns, 2-pack. Two short-sleeve gowns, so one is always dry.
Check price on Amazon →Menopause-branded performance sleepwear
Good for
Designed to wick moisture off the skin.Watch
Higher price; the claims are the brand's own.Our pick: Lusome Maya nightgown. Sold for menopause and hot sleepers.
Check price on Amazon →Cool bedroom and a fan
Learn more →Good for
Fewer early-night hot flashes at 18°C in a lab study.Watch
Hard to reach in hot weather without air conditioning.
How to choose pajamas for night sweats
- Choose loose, lightweight sleepwear: the NHS's advice for night sweats starts with lightweight clothing.
- Read the fiber label: bamboo sleepwear is usually rayon, and the FTC says it must say so.
- Buy two sets so you can change into a dry one in the night.
- Wash a new set once and see how fast it dries before buying more.
- Front buttons or a loose neckline make it easier to cool down during a hot flash.
When night sweats need a doctor, not new pajamas
Pajamas for night sweats: questions women ask
What should I wear to bed with night sweats?
Lightweight, loose sleepwear, as the NHS advises, in a bedroom kept cool. Short sleeves, sleeveless tops or a nightgown let heat escape, and a spare dry set by the bed makes it easier to get back to sleep.
Are bamboo pajamas good for night sweats?
Many women like their soft, cool feel. They're almost always rayon: the FTC says most bamboo textiles are rayon made with chemicals and must be labeled as rayon made from bamboo. No trial has tested them for menopause night sweats.
What fabric is best for night sweats?
No fabric has been tested in a menopause trial. Choose something lightweight and loose that dries quickly on you: cotton, rayon and synthetic performance knits all have fans. Comfort and how fast it dries matter more than the label.
Is it better to sleep naked with night sweats?
Some women find it cooler; others prefer a thin layer that absorbs sweat so the sheets stay drier. We found no study comparing the two, so try both on similar nights and see which wakes you less.
Do moisture-wicking pajamas help hot flashes?
They can make the sweat easier to bear by moving it off your skin, but they don't stop hot flashes. The claims for menopause sleepwear come from the brands, not trials. A cooler bedroom has better evidence: 18°C reduced early-night hot flashes in a lab study.
Cotton or bamboo pajamas for night sweats?
Cotton is breathable but can feel heavy once wet; bamboo rayon feels cool and drapes loosely. Neither has trial evidence for night sweats, so pick the one that feels better and dries faster on you.
What else helps night sweats besides pajamas?
A cool bedroom, a bedside fan and light bedding help most. A cooling pillow topper improved sleep in one trial, and HRT or non-hormonal medicines reduce the hot flashes themselves.
Related →When should I see a doctor about night sweats?
The NHS says to get checked if you regularly wake up with soaking wet sheets, or if night sweats come with weight loss, a high temperature or a cough. HRT and non-hormonal treatments can reduce menopause night sweats.
Sources
- NHS. Things you can do to help menopause and perimenopause symptoms.
- Federal Trade Commission. How to Avoid Bamboozling Your Customers.
- Freedman RR, Roehrs TA. Effects of REM sleep and ambient temperature on hot flash-induced sleep disturbance. Menopause. 2006;13(4):576-83.
- Freedman RR, Krell W. Reduced thermoregulatory null zone in postmenopausal women with hot flashes. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1999;181(1):66-70.
- The North American Menopause Society. The 2023 nonhormone therapy position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause. 2023;30(6):573-590.
- NHS. Night sweats.
- Marshall-McKenna R, Morrison A, Stirling L, et al. A randomised trial of the cool pad pillow topper versus standard care for sleep disturbance and hot flushes in women on endocrine therapy for breast cancer. Support Care Cancer. 2016;24(4):1821-9.
See our editorial policy.
Related guides
Bedding for night sweats
Breathable sheets, cooling pillows, fans and bed-cooling systems for menopause night sweats: what trials found…
Fans for hot flashes and night sweats
The NHS suggests a fan for hot flushes. Which fan helps at night and on the go, what cooling-device trials fou…
Cooling pillows for night sweats
Cooling pillows, pillow toppers and cooling covers for menopause night sweats: the one trial, what a pillow ca…
Night sweats
Perimenopause is a common cause in women in their 40s, but medications, infections, thyroid problems and anxie…