Weighted blankets have had a lot of success over the past decade, but they’ve been around for much longer: Occupational therapists have begun to study the effects of weighted blankets and weighted vests on children with sensory processing disorders and on the autism spectrum in early 2000, and studies investigating the therapeutic effects of weighted blankets on mental health patients date even earlier.
GO AHEAD Best Weighted Blankets | How to buy a weighted blanket
Weighted blankets – which are usually filled with small glass or plastic beads to add weight – can help you sleep better, reduce anxiety and relieve stress, and they have naturally grown in popularity as a result – the weighted blankets were touted as one of the best around. Inventions and as one of the trendiest gifts from Google. Although experts have told us that the extent to which a weighted blanket is effective varies from person to person, it can still have positive scientific and psychological effects in calming you down.
To help you decide if a weighted blanket is right for you, we talked to sleep medicine and occupational therapy experts about the potential benefits of weighted blankets, who should (and shouldn’t) use them, and how to buy one. We have also highlighted some weighted hedge options to buy that have been tested by Consumer Reports test engineers.
What is a weighted blanket?
Weighted blankets look a lot like a typical blanket, comforter, or duvet insert that you would throw on your bed or couch. But instead of cotton, polyfill, or feathers, they’re filled with glass or plastic beads to add weight (most have individual quilted squares so the beads don’t shift when you turn or move during your sleep). They may also feature loops on the corners to attach them to your duvet cover.
The weight of these blankets varies by manufacturer, but generally ranges between 3 and 30 pounds. As a general rule, you should look for a weighted blanket that’s about 10 percent of your body weight, according to Dr. Seema Khosla, medical director of the North Dakota Center for Sleep.
5 Best Weighted Blankets in 2022
Experts told us that a weighted blanket should offer multiple weight options to accommodate the 10% body weight limit, feature a machine-washable and breathable cover, and offer a return policy that lets you test the coverage before committing to it. With these tips in mind, we’ve rounded up highly rated weighted blankets tested and recommended by Consumer Reports engineers.
Baloo Living weighted blanket
Baloo Living’s weighted blanket features glass beads and is available in different sizes, ranging from a 9-pound mini version to a 25-pound option sized for a King or California King mattress. I personally own the 12-pound blanket, which fits my sofa perfectly and provides a fairly comfortable weight when I’m lounging.
The blanket is made with a 100% cotton exterior and interior, and it’s machine washable and dryer safe, according to the brand (although it recommends using a commercial washing machine for the largest blanket coverage). 25 pounds). The 12-25 pound blankets also feature small loops sewn into the side and corner seams to connect to a duvet cover. The weighted blanket is available in two colors: Pebble White and Clay.
Gravity Blanket
The Gravity Blanket includes a machine washable micro-plush duvet cover and a weighted inner piece filled with hand wash only glass beads. The interior weighted blanket also has grid stitching to ensure the beads are evenly distributed and don’t shift as you move, according to the brand. The Gravity Blanket comes in three sizes – 15, 20, and 35 pounds – and three different colors: gray, navy, and white.
Luna Cotton Weighted Blanket
The Luna Weighted Blanket comes in three different sizes for a full, queen, or king bed, and depending on the size you choose, the weight of the blanket ranges from 12 pounds to 30 pounds. The mark indicates that the blanket can be washed in cold water on a gentle setting and can be tumble dried on a low setting. Luna’s weighted blanket doesn’t come with a cover, but the brand does offer one that you can purchase separately. It is sold in more than a dozen colors, including pink, blue gray and tie-dye.
Harkla Kids Weighted Blanket
This 5-pound weighted blanket from Harkla comes with a fleece duvet cover and a weighted inner piece that, according to the brand, can be machine washed in cold water and tumble dried on low heat. It comes in three colors: blue, purple and gray.
YnM Weighted Blanket
This YnM weighted blanket is another option that doesn’t come with a cover, but the brand sells a variety of covers separately, including a cotton cover and a cooling cover. YnM says the blanket is both machine washable and tumble dry safe, but recommends washing the duvet cover rather than the inner blanket as frequent washing could damage it. It comes in a range of sizes from 7 pounds to 30 pounds and multiple color options.
What are the benefits of weighted blankets?
The weighted blanket is primarily based on the idea of deep pressure stimulation, which uses gentle pressure to help induce feelings of calm and release serotonin. While experts have told us that data on the effectiveness of weighted blankets is sparse, some smaller, more individualized studies have shown that they can reduce insomnia in some patients, and other studies show that they can be used therapeutic tool to help reduce anxiety.
“Some people find the pressure they provide is soothing, like a hug or a massage,” said Lynelle Schneeberg, certified sleep psychologist and author of “Become Your Child’s Sleep Coach.”
Khosla told us that weighted blankets can help people feel more centered and give them a needed distraction, especially if they have trouble falling asleep. “It allows them to focus on something else or isolate their thoughts on feeling something above them,” she said. For example, a 2016 study found that subjects undergoing wisdom tooth extraction – which researchers have identified as one of the most stressful medical procedures – showed more activity in the part of the nervous system that is under control during periods of low stress when they wore blanket weights during the procedure.
Our experts agreed that the effectiveness of a weighted blanket varies from person to person. “Our bodies react to things differently – what works for one person may not work the same way for another,” said Michael Urban, senior lecturer and director of the doctoral program in occupational therapy at the University of New haven. He noted that weighted blankets can cause some people to feel overstimulated when used for hours at a time, which may ultimately outweigh the benefits.
Other limitations include price (most cost between $100 and over $200) and lack of portability. “If you get very used to the feeling of sleeping under them, you might want to take them with you when you travel and that can be a problem if the blanket is bulky, heavy or bulky,” Schneeberg said.
Are weighted blankets safe?
Our experts agreed that weighted blankets are safe as long as they are used correctly and the weight is not excessive. They’re not recommended for adults with respiratory, circulatory, mobility or temperature-regulation issues, as these blankets can get quite hot, according to Shneeberg. Khosla added that adults with neuromuscular disorders who physically can’t lift a heavy blanket should also avoid them.
Can children use a weighted blanket safely?
Many people use weighted blankets to help children with conditions like autism and ADHD, and Schneeberg noted that some children may benefit from compression, either from weighted blankets or stretchy sleeping bags that can provide deep pressure. In fact, a small study published in The American Journal of Occupational Therapy found that elementary school students who wore weighted vests were more attentive and fidgeted less in class.
Weighted blankets are generally safe for children to use on a regular basis, as long as the child “has no mobility issues and can handle the blanket independently”, meaning they can put it away and replace it if she moves or falls out of bed. , Schneeberg said. And the typical 10% body weight requirement still applies to children, “so they’re not recommended for very young children, and certainly not for babies,” she added.
How to buy a weighted blanket
Both Khosla and Urban told us that testing out a weighted blanket before making a final decision is usually a good decision, especially since many weighted blanket brands offer a 30-day return policy. Our experts also recommended a few additional features to consider when choosing a weighted blanket.
Weight
One of the most important factors to consider is the weight of the blanket. Although 10% of your body weight is recommended, it ultimately comes down to personal preference and you should ensure that “movement and breathing are not impaired,” says Alex Dimitriu, a board-certified psychiatrist and health specialist. sleep medicine at SiliconPsych.
Khosla also recommended starting with a low weight — around 5 pounds or less — to see what that does. “Don’t invest a lot of money in your first one and just try it when you take a nap – if you like it, you can always upgrade to a better one for the bedroom,” she said.
Breathability
The faster our body temperature drops, the faster we can fall asleep, which means nighttime overheating can disrupt your overall sleep quality, Khosla said. Since the pressure created by a weighted blanket can make it warmer than a typical blanket, Dimitriu recommended looking for one that features a cover made from a breathable fabric — like cotton or linen — for help your body to refresh at night and get restful sleep.
Washable cover
In addition to breathable fabric, a removable and washable cover can help your blanket last. While some blankets already come with a machine-washable cover, others (like those with loops that attach to a duvet cover) may require you to purchase one separately.
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