A sleep system including a thermal pad and a thermal control unit in thermal communication with the thermal pad. The thermal controller is configured to automatically adjusts a temperature of the thermal pad during a sleep cycle time according a programmed routine. During the preprogrammed routine, the thermal control unit maintains the temperature in the thermal pad at a first temperature T1. After a first time period S1 from the initiation of the sleep cycle, the thermal control unit adjusts the temperature in the thermal pad a ΔΤ, for example to a second temperature T2. The second temperature T2 is dependent of the first, preset, temperature T1 and the ΔΤ. The thermal pad temperature is maintained at the second temperature T2 for a majority of the sleep cycle. At a time period S2 before the end of the sleep cycle, the temperature in the thermal pad 12 adjusted a ΔΤ to a third temperature T3.