Do Better Pyjamas Really Help You Sleep? I Tried Sleebbee’s Bamboo Sleepwear

Disclosure: Sleebbee provided the Sunday Stripes pyjama set for review. The brand did not pay for this article and had no control over the review.

For most of my life, I have treated sleepwear as an afterthought. An oversized cotton T-shirt was usually comfortable enough, including during pregnancy, when I felt much warmer than usual and relied heavily on air-conditioning at night.

I never felt that I needed specialised maternity sleepwear. However, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, hormonal changes and Singapore’s humidity can all make comfort at night harder to achieve. Clothes that feel perfectly acceptable during the day may become clingy, restrictive or irritating after several hours in bed.

This raises a reasonable question: does what we wear to bed materially affect our comfort and sleep, and when does premium sleepwear become worth paying more for?

Research suggests that sleepwear can influence thermal comfort by affecting heat retention, airflow and moisture movement around the body. However, comfortable sleepwear alone cannot guarantee better sleep. Room temperature, bedding, stress, health conditions, noise and whether a child is sharing your bed may matter considerably more.

With that distinction in mind, I tried Sleebbee’s Sunday Stripes pyjama set to see whether premium bamboo sleepwear made a noticeable difference to how comfortable I felt at night.

What is Sleebbee’s sleepwear made from?

Sleebbee is a Singapore-founded sleepwear brand that positions its clothing for mothers, pregnant women, hot sleepers and people with sensitive skin.

Its sleepwear is made from 95 per cent bamboo lyocell and 5 per cent spandex. According to the brand, the material is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified and designed to be soft, breathable and stretchy enough to accommodate changes in the body during and after pregnancy.

Founder Georgina Tan says the design came from noticing how much a woman’s comfort needs can change through pregnancy and motherhood. “We spend so much time optimising our sleep environment, yet rarely think about what we’re wearing against our skin all night. Pregnancy and motherhood made me realise how quickly our bodies and comfort needs can change. I created Sleebbee with the belief that women shouldn’t have to adapt themselves to their sleepwear — the sleepwear should adapt to them.”

Bamboo lyocell is not simply raw bamboo spun into fabric. It is a regenerated cellulose fibre made by processing bamboo pulp. The resulting material is related to other lyocell fabrics, including those commonly associated with the Tencel name.

Studies of regenerated bamboo and lyocell fabrics have found that their structure, knit and fibre blends can affect moisture absorption and movement. This does not mean every product labelled “bamboo” will perform identically, but it helps explain why some bamboo-blend fabrics feel smooth, cool and comfortable against the skin.

First impressions: soft, cool and slightly weighty

The first thing I noticed was how soft the pyjamas felt. The material was buttery smooth and cool to the touch, similar to my Tencel bedsheets, but it was not thin or flimsy.

There was a slight weight to the fabric that made it drape nicely over the body. It felt more substantial than a basic cotton T-shirt, without feeling heavy or warm.

The five per cent spandex also made a noticeable difference. The shorts stretched easily but did not feel tight or cling to my waist and thighs. This is surprisingly uncommon, as many elasticated sleep shorts either dig into the waist or become shapeless when cut too loosely.

My main concern was whether the elastic and fabric would retain their shape over time.

How did it feel during a hot night?

My daughter co-sleeps with us, which means I often become warmer during the night than I would sleeping alone. I also tested the pyjamas during particularly hot weather (thanks to the recent heat wave).

Throughout the night, the fabric remained cool and comfortable. It did not eliminate heat or prevent me from perspiring, but it felt less clammy against my skin than my satin pyjamas.

Satin can initially feel smoother and silkier. However, during hot nights, mine tends to sit against my skin once I perspire. It does not seem to absorb moisture as readily as cotton, so the silky sensation quickly becomes less pleasant.

The Sleebbee set felt different. It was not as slippery as satin, but it seemed to cope better with warmth and perspiration. The fabric did not stick noticeably to my skin, and I did not wake feeling trapped inside damp clothing. It also didn’t trigger the eczema around my body, which tends to flare when I get hot and perspire excessively.

I’ve also resorted to wearing athleisure wear to sleep during particularly hot nights in hopes that the wicking effect will help with the perspiration. It normally does and they’re usually thinner and dry faster than cotton and I was surprised that the Sleebbee set had a similar effect, although my athleisure tops still wicks moisture away at a faster rate.

This does not prove that bamboo lyocell inherently produces better sleep. What it did was remove one potential source of discomfort. Research into sleepwear suggests that fabric can contribute to sleep outcomes by affecting temperature and moisture around the skin, although the effect depends on the fabric construction, bedroom temperature and the individual sleeper.

Would it have helped during pregnancy?

During my pregnancy, I generally slept in oversized XL cotton T-shirts (yes, some of which I ‘borrowed’ from my husband) and athleisure tops. They were loose, familiar and comfortable, but I also remember feeling considerably warmer than usual and not as comfortable as usual despite my Tencel bedsheets. Pregnancy-related hormonal and circulatory changes can cause women to feel flushed and hot, particularly at night.

In that context, the Sleebbee set would have been a very welcome treat — especially during the week when my air-con compressor broke and needed to be repaired.

The shorts are stretchy without being restrictive, while the fabric feels softer, cooler and more polished than an ordinary cotton T-shirt. When so many aspects of pregnancy are already physically uncomfortable, having something that makes bedtime feel that little bit better can matter.

I can see the same appeal postpartum, or even during perimenopause, when changes in body temperature, perspiration and sensitive skin can make nighttime comfort more important. It is similar to why I swear by my Tencel bedsheets: they are not the reason I sleep, but they make the experience of going to bed noticeably more comfortable.

Looking back, I actually wish I had a set like this throughout my maternity and early postpartum period. The button-down top would have made pumping and breastfeeding much more convenient. With my oversized T-shirts, I often had to lift the whole top up, and when I was home alone with the baby, there were times when I would simply take the T-shirt off altogether because it was easier. A button-front pyjama top would have made those feeds and pumping sessions much less cumbersome.

I also have to admit that the matching mother-and-baby sets are very cute. I would probably have loved one when my daughter was a newborn, simply for the fun of twinning with her.

Comfortable enough to wear outside

I also wore the shorts downstairs for a quick dinner at a hawker centre.

This was a useful test because I tend to perspire around my thighs in Singapore’s heat. With some shorts, I become self-conscious about whether the fabric looks damp or whether I might leave sweat marks on the chair.

I did not have that concern with the Sleebbee shorts. They remained comfortable, did not cling noticeably to my thighs, and did not look obviously damp.

The pink striped design also looked presentable enough for a casual trip downstairs. They still resemble loungewear, rather than structured outdoor shorts, but I would be comfortable wearing them for an errand, a takeaway run or a relaxed breakfast near home.

That versatility helps make the price feel slightly less indulgent, as the shorts do not have to remain confined to the bedroom although I would’ve liked to be able to purchase a T-shirt in the same material, similar to what is offered in the men’s. I guess you could still get one but Sleebbee currently only has it in two colours.

What happened after washing?

The set comes with care instructions recommending cold washing and the use of a laundry bag.

This was a useful reminder because bamboo and lyocell fabrics generally require more care than basic cotton. Warm washing, rough cycles and high heat may affect the fabric’s shape and surface over time.

I washed the set once in a laundry bag using cold water. It retained its shape, did not stretch and came out almost wrinkle-free.

One wash is not enough to assess long-term durability. The waistband, seams and fabric will need to withstand repeated washing before I can say confidently that the set is built to last.

Still, the first result was reassuring. The fabric looked much as it did before washing, and the fact that it required little or no ironing made it more practical than I expected.

It also made me understand why my parents’ bamboo bedsheets may have stretched slightly and lost some of their original shape after years of washing. They have nevertheless lasted a long time, so some gradual softening or movement in the fabric does not necessarily mean poor durability.

Is it worth the price?

At S$98, Sleebbee sits firmly in the premium sleepwear category.

For me, whether that price makes sense comes down to how much you value the material and how often you expect to wear it. I am already willing to pay a premium for Tencel bedsheets because I use them every night and appreciate how cool and smooth they feel.

I can see how one can view these pyjamas in much the same way. However, while bedsheets may only be changed every fortnight or more, pyjamas need washing far more frequently. That makes me less certain that I would invest in enough Sleebbee sets to wear one every night.

Nonetheless, the difference was noticeable when I compared them with my satin pyjamas. Sleebbee felt cooler, handled perspiration better and was less restrictive around my waist and thighs. The fact that I could also wear the shorts downstairs without feeling as though I was obviously dressed for bed adds some versatility.

After one wash, the set retained its shape and remained almost wrinkle-free. I cannot yet speak to how it will perform after dozens of washes, but if the fabric and elastic hold up over time, the cost-per-wear becomes easier to justify.

S$98 is still a considered purchase, but having worn the set through a hot night, a wash and even a trip to the hawker centre, I can better understand where the premium goes.

The verdict

Sleebbee’s Sunday Stripes set delivered on the things that mattered most to me: softness, stretch, breathability and comfort in Singapore’s heat.

The bamboo lyocell fabric felt smooth and cool without the clamminess I sometimes experience with satin. The shorts stayed comfortable around my waist and thighs, coped well when I perspired and were presentable enough to wear outside for a casual meal.

I was also happy with how well the set came out of its first wash — still holding its shape and almost wrinkle-free. Can all my clothes be wrinkle-free straight out of the washing machine too?

The important question in this review is: would a pair of pyjamas magically give me an uninterrupted night’s sleep? Of course not. I have a toddler sleeping beside me.

But sleepwear can either add to your discomfort or quietly remove some of it. Sleebbee did the latter, and on hot, humid Singapore nights, that is something I appreciate.

Sleebbee pyjama sets
Price: From S$88 (before delivery)

Material: 95% bamboo lyocell and 5% spandex

Best suited for: Hot sleepers, pregnancy and postpartum comfort, lounging and people who prefer soft, stretchy clothing

Care: Cold wash; laundry bag recommended.

Website: https://www.sleebbee.com/

Images: Sleebbee