The Case for Sleeping with Socks On

Can’t sleep, cold feet

sleep with socks on

Cold feet might be the reason behind your restless nights. When your feet are cold, they constrict the blood vessels and cause less blood to circulate. According to the National Sleep Foundation, warming your feet before you go to bed helps give your brain a clear sleep signal that it’s bedtime.

And the easiest way to warm your feet? Socks. Wearing socks in bed is the safest way to keep your feet warm overnight. Other methods such as rice socks, a hot water bottle, or a heating blanket may cause you to overheat or get burned.




Why you should sleep with socks on

Other than helping your body stay warm, wearing socks at night also has extra benefits:

  • Prevent hot flashes: Some women find wearing socks helpful for cooling their core body temperature.
  • Improve cracked heels: Wearing cotton socks after you moisturize can help keep your heels from drying out.
  • Increase potential orgasms: According to the BBC, researchers accidentally discovered that wearing socks increased participants’ ability to achieve an orgasm by 30 percent.
  • Decrease chance of Raynaud’s attack: Raynaud’s disease is when affected areas of the skin, usually the toes and fingers, lose circulation and start to throb or swell. Wearing socks at night can help prevent an attack by keeping your feet warm and blood circulating.

Read more: Why do you need seven to eight hours of sleep? »

Choosing socks

What socks to wear

Socks made of natural soft fibers such as merino wool or cashmere are best. They usually cost more than cotton or artificial fiber socks, but they are well worth the extra money. Make sure the socks you choose are not tight-fitting, which might constrict circulation and hinder proper warming of your feet.

To enhance circulation
  1. Give your feet a pre-bedtime massage.
  2. Add a natural circulatory booster such as capsaicin cream to your massage oil or favorite moisturizer. This helps amp up the blood flow even more.
  3. Warm your socks by sitting on them or using a hair dryer before putting them on.


What about compression socks?



DIY rice socks

How to make your own rice socks

If a hot bath or foot bath is not available, or if you like having a longer lasting heat source in your bed, you can try using rice socks. You will need:

  • sturdy socks
  • rice
  • rubber bands


  1. Pour 3 cups of rice into each sock.
  2. Close the sock with a sturdy rubber band.
  3. Heat up the rice socks in the microwave oven for 1 to 2 minutes.
  4. Slip them under the blankets next to your chilly feet.
Things to avoid
  • Do not heat the rice socks in the oven as that can become a fire hazard.
  • Do not use if you have reduced skin sensitivity as you could get a burn.
  • Do not use on children or older adults unless you can supervise to prevent any burn accidents.

Other remedies

Other ways to keep your feet warm

Warm foot baths were found to help relieve insomnia and fatigue in people undergoing chemotherapy. Taking a hot bath or just a foot bath before bed also increases body temperature and can help you fall asleep easier. Warms baths are also a natural solution, readily available, and don’t involve any medication.

If your feet are constantly cold, your circulation may be at fault. Check with your doctor if you have serious circulatory problems or any chronic diseases such as diabetes.


Socks for children

Can children and infants sleep with socks on?

For infants and children, it’s best to avoid electric blankets or heat socks. The safest way to encourage sleep is a nice warm bath as part of their bedtime routine, followed by dressing their feet in pre-warmed socks.

If you choose to use a hot water bottle, make sure the temperature is safe and place a soft cotton blanket around it so there is no direct contact between the bottle and skin.

Always check your baby or child for signs of:

  • overheating
  • sweating
  • red flushed cheeks
  • crying and fidgeting

If you notice these signs, remove additional layers of clothing or blankets right away.



The bottom line

Fast facts

  1. Cold feet can prevent you from falling asleep.
  2. Wearing socks to bed can improve blood circulation and signal your brain that it’s time to sleep.
  3. You can also take a nice warm bath or a foot bath to promote circulation.

Warming up your feet before going to bed can shorten the amount of time needed to relax and doze off. This in turn can increase the quality of your sleep. Make sure the socks you wear are soft, comfortable, and not too bulky. Consult a doctor if you have circulatory problems that cause pain and cold feet, or if you often have cold feet even when its warm.

Keep reading: Can essential oils help you sleep? »

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