Laura, 37, says the simple step has transformed bedtime for her and her children during hot weather11:15, 24 Jun 2026A mum claims a cost-free and straightforward method is helping her entire family sleep soundly through the heatwave. Laura Stenton-Slater swears by the budget-friendly step, insisting it cools her body down more effectively than fans and has completely transformed bedtime for both herself and her kids.‌It comes after the Met Office issued a Red Extreme Heat Warning for Wednesday and Thursday. June’s all-time daily record temperature forecast is set to be broken - with temperatures in the UK expected to rise to at least 39°C, with a chance of going above that in some places. This morning, the Met Office extended the red extreme heat warning already in place by three hours until 23:59 on Thursday evening.‌The 37 year old mum says she soaks flannels in cold water and places them in the freezer an hour before heading to bed. Once frozen solid, the mum of three pops them beside her and her children's beds so they can grab them if they wake up feeling hot, placing them on their necks or stomachs for instant relief.‌"I tend to prepare them in advance whenever hot weather is forecast," Laura, from Sheffield, said. "The frozen flannels stay really cold initially and then gradually thaw."Even after they've melted, they remain pleasantly cool for quite a while. I keep them on a tray next to the bed, so any water is contained as they thaw.‌"As long as you remember to wring them out before freezing them, they work brilliantly and don't make a mess. The difference to our sleep is huge."When I'm overheated or recovering from long runs, I can spend hours tossing and turning trying to get comfortable. The cold flannels help lower my body temperature and ease muscle soreness at the same time, which means I can relax and fall asleep much more quickly."During heatwaves they've genuinely transformed bedtime for both me and my children." Laura, who serves as head of bid management, reveals she'd spend countless hours restlessly tossing and turning in the sweltering heat before stumbling upon this clever trick.‌She said: "Hot weather affects my sleep quite a lot. Once I feel overheated, I find it difficult to switch off and get comfortable."The combination of feeling too warm and not being able to cool down quickly can lead to a very restless night. I definitely struggle during heatwaves, and having children means you're also trying to help them stay comfortable enough to sleep.‌"Once I discovered how well the frozen flannels worked, the whole family started using them. Friends and relatives who've heard about the idea have also tried it themselves, particularly during hotter spells."Like most people, I've tried fans, opening windows and cooling the room down before bed. Some methods help, but they don't always solve the problem completely."I know a lot of people also struggle to sleep with the constant noise of a fan running all night. The frozen flannels are simple, inexpensive and effective because they cool you directly rather than trying to cool the entire room."‌The unconventional method originated while Laura was preparing for the London Marathon in 2026, which she completed sporting wellies to fundraise for the charity Unique, collecting over £4,200 along the way. Laura said: "It actually started as a recovery method rather than a cooling hack."During marathon training, I was struggling with sore legs after long runs, and I found that placing cold, wet flannels on the affected muscles helped reduce the discomfort and allowed me to get to sleep more easily. After the London Marathon, when the UK experienced another heatwave, I remembered how effective the cold flannels had been."One particularly hot night I was struggling to sleep and my children were too. I decided to wet a batch of flannels and put them in the freezer because I thought they'd stay colder for longer than if I simply used them straight from the tap.‌"It worked so well that it's become our go-to heatwave sleep hack ever since." After posting the tip on her TikTok account @‌lauramuddysolesclub, she's been flooded with enthusiastic responses.Laura added: "Most people are surprised by how simple it is. I've had lots of positive reactions from people saying they can't believe they hadn't thought of it before."Many people have said they're going to try it themselves, especially parents looking for ways to help children sleep during hot weather. I think people appreciate that it's such an easy, low-cost solution that doesn't require buying any special equipment."Article continues belowOne follower commented: "Must try this." Another wrote: "Oh, this is a good one."A third remarked: "Great little tip that, Laura." One user declared: "Life hack."A fifth observer noted: "Saving for next summer in Aus."