Can wearing socks to bed improve sleep?

THE question: is it true that wearing socks to bed promotes sleep?

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TikTok is abuzz with a sleepmaxx-ing hack: Sleeping with your socks on. Socks can keep toes toasty and create a sense of comfort and cosiness - and though it may seem counterintuitive, wearing socks also could help lower core body temperature, promoting sleep, experts said.

While there is a lack of high-quality studies on how wearing socks could help lower core body temperature, there is a well-accepted theoretical explanation.

Most people tend to sleep better when they are cooler, most sleep experts agree.

The National Sleep Foundation recommends keeping ambient temperatures between 15.6°C to 19.4°C during sleep. It is a wide range, however, and it depends on the individual, experts said. A 2023 study suggests that for older adults, sleep is “most efficient and restful” when temperatures are between 20°C to 25°C.