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If you’re one of the 108 million Americans who struggles with sleep problems, you’ve probably found yourself scouring the web for a weighted blanket at some point. For years, these heavy covers have been touted for their ability to help with everything from insomnia and anxiety to ADHD and autism. But do they work? Let’s break it down.
What is a weighted blanket?
Weighted blankets live up to their moniker. Essentially, they are blankets that have been constructed with an added, evenly distributed heft of approximately 5 to 30 pounds. Many compare the feeling of a sleeping under a weighted blanket to wearing a weighted vest during an X-ray — only much more comfortable. Much like a regular duvet cover and comforter set, this bedding typically comes in two parts, or layers. The inner layer holds the weight, while the outer layer offers up sensational comfort in the form of soft, cozy materials.
What are the benefits of a weighted blanket?
It’s common to experience bouts of anxiety from time to time, but when it becomes a consistent thing that affects your sleeping habits, it may be time to seek help. A study in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy suggests that deep pressure touch (DPT), like that simulated in weighted blankets, is effective for those looking to calm their anxiety.
Research has also shown that weighted blankets can have therapeutic benefits on the body, as it increases your natural production of serotonin, aka the happiness hormone. Additionally, it coaxes your system into the production of melatonin, or the sleep hormone.
What’s more, the added pressure of a weighted blanket is said to give you a sense of protection, as it mimics the feeling of a warm hug. In fact, that’s the chief reason behind the continual use of weighted blankets in therapy for those experiencing anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), and autism.
How to Choose a Weighted Blanket
On a quest to find the best weighted blanket? Before you hit that checkout button, there are a couple things to consider.
1. Find the best weighted blanket material for you. When it comes to the choosing the best weighted blanket material, it’s all about your personal preference. Thanks to the copious amounts of fabric variations available, you should have no trouble finding a favorite: They come in everything from soft cotton and microfiber polyester to cushy plush fleece.
2. Find the best weighted blanket weight for you. Industry guidelines suggest buying a weighted blanket that equates to roughly 10 percent of your body weight. For more on this, check out our handy guide below.
Best Weighted Blankets
Whether you’re shopping for you, your child, or someone you love, you’ll all be in good hands with one of the 11 weighted blanket options we scoured the internet to find. Keep scrolling for FIRST’s picks for the best weighted blankets for a good night’s sleep.
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Ask any mother and she'll likely tell you that getting a child to go to sleep isn’t always the easiest task. Whether they’ve had a little too much sugar before naptime or have a condition like ADHD or autism, kids can be stubborn when it comes to hitting the hay. Moms looking for an easy way to relax their children before bed can try out a weighted blanket, like this one from FWY Home Goods. Made with 100 percent non-toxic poly-pellet fill and an easy-to-wash mink-fleece cover, this 5-pound bedding with not only help your little ones fall asleep faster, it will help them stay asleep longer.
Amazon buyer Becky raved about its charms, writing, “Love this blanket!!! My 6 [year-old] son [has attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and symphysis (SPD)] and this blanket is a life saver. He falls asleep quickly and it seems to comfort him.”
If fleece is your weighted blanket material of choice, relish in the luxuriously plush mink-like exterior of this cozy option from Layla. It has three different weights available to best suit your needs (choose from 15, 20, and 25 pounds), and its sewn-in glass beads will work to hug your body, relaxing stressed out muscles and in no time. Turn on the aromatherapy diffuser, put on your favorite album, and reach for this blanket for instant chill.
This high-pressure blanket will calm your nerves in no time with its durable cotton flannel exterior. Take it from this Amazon customer, who regularly uses it for anxiety. "I suffer from a high-severe general anxiety disorder (GAD) which means high anxiety or a panic attack can strike out of the blue for absolutely no logical reason," she wrote. "I crawl under this weighted blankie, practice some good deep breathing, and within minutes I'm usually calmed down."
A weighted blanket can only do its job if it's large enough to cover your body. With this 60 by 80-inch piece from Platinum Health Premium, you'll have no worries of it coming up short. You can opt for a 12 or 15-pound version, making it an ideal pick for kids, teens, and adults alike. It also affords a wide variety of colors for a custom experience like none other.
If you suffer from allergies, look no further than Hynoser for your weighted blanket purchase. This 100-percent cotton bedding is hypoallergenic to improve quality of sleep for even the most sensitive of sleepers. Better yet, it comes in four different size options and varying weights for custom comfort, and is machine washable for ease of use.
If quality is what you’re searching for, look no further than the Quility Weighted Blanket. This blanket is made with premium materials, including a 100-percent cotton shell, soft-to-the-touch mink exterior, and non-toxic glass bead filling. Aside from its luxurious feel, this cover also features six string ties along its perimeter to ensure the inner blanket doesn’t slip or slide inside its duvet.
Take it from this Amazon customer, who wrote: “It’s amazing. I now can’t sleep without it.”
Another group of people that many believe can greatly benefit from the use of weighted blankets are those with fibromyalgia. Affecting four million US adults, fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes all over body pain, sleep problems, and fatigue, which often leads to emotional and mental distress. Because these blankets have been shown to help those suffering from insomnia and anxiety, it makes sense that the same technology could help naturally relax the overactive nervous system of people with fibromyalgia. This HomeSmart Products sleep aid is a great option for those looking to try one out.
Of its many satisfied customers, one said, “I absolutely LOVE my blanket. As someone who suffers from anxiety, fibromyalgia, insomnia, and back pain I can honestly say this blanket has helped all of the above. I actually tried sleeping without it the other night ... and I tossed and turned all night."
Weighted blankets are renowned for helping those with autism. Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, is a “developmental disorder that causes issues with communication, social, verbal, and motor skills,” to varying degrees. Alongside this, many autism patients also have sensory processing disorder, or trouble processing messages from the senses correctly. A study in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology by noted professor and autism spokesperson Temple Grandin suggests that, much like a massage, all-over body pressure has significant benefits in calming the minds and bodies of people with autism. With weighted blankets, like this one for children and teens from Harkla, you can get the same effect of those massages in the comfort of your own home.
One happy mom wrote: “This blanket has been a lifesaver. My son has autism and ADHD. He has a hard time falling and staying asleep. He has been sleeping through the night since we received this blanket. The material is extremely soft, and he loves the weight. He will go get it on his own when he is feeling overwhelmed. It is worth every penny!”
According to the American Sleep Association, 50 to 70 million adults in the United States have a sleep disorder, so even if you don’t have one, it's possible your partner might. YnM offers weight options up to 25 pounds that are suitable for individuals up to 240 pounds, so even strapping husbands and boyfriends can benefit from this 100-percent cotton blanket.
Much like winter bed sheets and a cozy winter comforter, a warm weighted blanket can make all the difference in your sleep during cold winter months. To stay calm and snuggly-warm all winter long, reach for a Cohzi. Made from 100-percent cotton and featuring a minky, velvet soft outer layer, this blanket gently soothes the body while also keeping you nice and toasty — even in the most arctic of temperatures.
There is one potential con that comes along with weighted blankets — the heat. For all their health benefits, this bedding is also great at retaining heat, making it a great choice when looking for a winter blanket. However, if you're a hot sleeper or want something you can use year-round, a weighted blanket can be tricky to navigate. Enter Sweetzer & Orange. Its double-sided design offers a breathable, summer-friendly cotton-chambray construction on one side and a cozy, winter-friendly cotton flannel on the other for total comfort in any season.
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