What's safe to sleep in? (Afab dysphoria)

No, you shouldn't sleep in a binder.

 

Not really. When you sleep your breathing gets deeper and it slows down. A binder will restrict your breathing and as you're taking deeper breathes you could potentially damage or break ribs. Definitely not advisable to sleep in, when you wake up you'll find you really struggle to breathe. Sleep in a baggy jumper instead, it's so much safer.

 

No sleep in binders.
A crop top would be uncomfortable but, I guess, safe.

 

Instead of binding or the crop top, could you maybe sleep in an oversized shirt instead? I do this all the time and it helps, especially in the winter because you can wear sweaters and hoodies which have thicker fabric so as to help conceal everything.

I’m actually not entirely sure what you mean by athletic crop top, is that like a sports bra? I’ve been told you shouldn’t sleep in bras although I’m not sure why. Apparently, it’s bad for your health. I don’t know if that’s a myth or not but regardless, it doesn’t sound very comfortable.

Also, I pull the blanket up over my chest so that I can’t see anything whilst laying in bed. Maybe that would also help?

Edit: I see now that Aberrance has already recommended wearing baggy sweaters. Oh well, I second his suggestion

 

If by athletic crop tops tops you mean sports bras, they can get a bit sweaty and aren’t very comfortable for long periods either because they usually have a pretty tight band. You do however get much softer, stretchier versions, often marketed as sleep bras or yoga bras etc. Not a nice name and they don’t compress like a binder or sports top but they do hold your chest in place and don’t lift it up or emphasise it like a regular bra.

Especially if you are binding through the day, if you can if is better to wear nothing but a loose top/jumper as others have suggested. You can end up with skin irritation and infections below your chest if it doesn’t get a chance to breathe.