A randomized controlled trial of the Dreampad: Fewer nighttime awakenings and better sleep continuity
When people think about better sleep, they often focus on falling asleep faster or sleeping longer.
But for many adults, the real challenge isn't getting to sleep—it's staying asleep.
Frequent nighttime awakenings can disrupt the body's natural sleep cycles, reduce restorative sleep, and leave people feeling less refreshed the next day.
A 2016 randomized controlled trial published in OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health examined three non-pharmaceutical sleep interventions and found that the Dreampad was particularly effective at reducing nighttime awakenings.
Why this study matters
Many previous Dreampad studies involved small pilot groups or observational reports.
This study was different.
Researchers from Columbia University conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing three sleep interventions:
- Dreampad Pillow® plus sleep hygiene
- iRest® meditation plus sleep hygiene
- Sleep hygiene alone (control group)
Randomized controlled trials are considered one of the strongest research designs because they help reduce bias and allow researchers to directly compare interventions.
About the study
The study enrolled 30 adults who reported ongoing sleep difficulties. Twenty-nine participants completed the study.
Participants ranged in age from 25 to 65 years and commonly reported:
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Waking during the night
- Difficulty returning to sleep after waking
The study took place over three phases
Phase 1: baseline measurement
Researchers collected sleep data before any intervention began.
Phase 2: sleep hygiene program
All participants followed a one-week sleep hygiene protocol that included:
- Limiting caffeine intake
- Restricting evening alcohol consumption
- Avoiding food late at night
- Reducing screen time before bed
- Limited long daytime naps
Phase 3: intervention period
For two weeks:
- One group used the Dreampad nightly
- One group used iRest meditation before bed
- One group continued sleep hygiene alone
Researchers measured outcomes using both sleep journals and wearable sleep-tracking devices.
What researchers found
The Dreampad significantly reduced nighttime awakenings
The most important finding for the Dreampad group was a reduction in nighttime awakenings.
Compared with both the meditation group and the sleep hygiene-only group, Dreampad users experienced significantly fewer nighttime awakenings by the end of the study. These results were confirmed using both participant sleep journals and objective actigraphy measurements.
This suggests that the Dreampad may be particularly helpful for people who can fall asleep but struggle to stay asleep throughout the night.
Sleep hygiene alone was not enough
Interestingly, the researchers found that the one-week sleep hygiene program by itself did not significantly improve sleep outcomes.
Despite following commonly recommended sleep hygiene practices, participants did not experience meaningful changes in:
- Fall duration
- Time needed to fall asleep
- Nighttime awakenings
- Next-day fatigue
This finding highlights an important point: while healthy sleep habits are valuable, some individuals may require additional support.
Another interesting finding
The study also found that participants using iRest meditation slept significantly longer than both the Dreampad and sleep hygiene groups.
Rather than viewing this as a competition between interventions, the researchers proposed that the two approaches may actually complement one another.
Their conclusion was particularly interesting:
- iRest meditation appeared most effective for increasing total sleep time
- The Dreampad appeared most effective for reducing nighttime awakenings
The authors suggested that combining both approaches could potentially provide even greater benefits.
What didn't change
Researchers did not find significant differences between groups for:
- Time needed to fall asleep
- Length of nighttime awakenings
- Perceived sleep quality
- Next-day fatigue levels
This is an important reminder that sleep is complex. Improvements in one aspect of sleep do not always immediately translate into improvements across every sleep-related measure.
Why reducing nighttime awakenings matters
Sleep quality isn't determined only by how many hours we spend in bed.
Frequent awakenings can interrupt normal sleep architecture and reduce the amount of restorative sleep the body receives.
By helping reduce these disruptions, the Dreampad may support more continuous and consolidated sleep patterns.
For people whose primary sleep complaint is waking repeatedly during the night, this finding may be especially relevant.
Important limitations
Although this study used a stronger research design than earlier Dreampad investigations, there were still limitations.
The study involved only 29 participants and focused on generally healthy adults with self-reported sleep difficulties rather than individuals with diagnosed sleep disorders.
Researchers also noted that additional studies involving larger and more diverse populations are needed.
Final thoughts
This randomized controlled trial provides some of the strongest evidence currently available for the Dreampad.
While the pillow did not improve every measure of sleep, it did significantly reduce nighttime awakenings compared with both meditation and sleep hygiene alone.
For adults who frequently wake during the night, maintaining sleep may be just as important as falling asleep in the first place.
These findings suggest that the Dreampad may offer a simple, non-pharmaceutical option for supporting more continuous sleep and improving overall sleep continuity.
Reference
Gutman, S.A., Gregory, K.A., Sadlier-Brown, M.M., Schlissel, M.A., Schubert, A.M., Westover, L.A., & Miller, R.C. (2016). Comparative Effectiveness of Three Occupational Therapy Sleep Interventions: A Randomized Controlled Study. OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health. DOI: 10.1177/1539449216673045.
Disclosure
This article summarizes findings from a randomized controlled trial involving adults with self-reported sleep difficulties. While the study used randomization and objective sleep measures, the sample size was relatively small and participants did not have formally diagnosed sleep disorders. Additional research is needed to further validate these findings across broader populations.