Weighted blankets are increasingly popular with sleepers battling insomnia or nighttime anxiety. To be effective, a weighted blanket needs to provide enough pressure to have a calming effect, without providing so much pressure that the user feels trapped or uncomfortable. We’ll examine the top considerations when choosing a weight for your weighted blanket. John Lewis plc, registered office: 171 Victoria Street, London SW1E 5NN. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Register no. 724309) for the purpose of introducing the credit provided by Creation Consumer Finance Ltd, registered office: Wellington Buildings, 2-4 Wellington Street, Belfast BT1 6HT.

Weighted blankets should be used for one person only and should not be shared. If you have any other medical concerns about using this product, please consult a Medical Professional. You should not use this product with children who suffer from the following: Weighted Blankets can be an effective therapeutic solution for those with sensory issues such as Autism. They can provide a soothing sensory stimulus through pressure on the body, similar to the feeling of being held, hugged or cuddled. This can have a calming effect, helping to relieve stress and anxiety. Warner SM, Tannenbaum SL, Pathan S, Lozada JS. Weighted Blankets for Pain and Anxiety Relief in Acutely Injured Trauma Patients. J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother. 2023 Feb 7:1-10. doi:10.1080/15360288.2023.2174634. Weighted blankets usually contain either plastic pellets or glass microbeads designed to add pressure to the body. These beads or pellets are often accompanied by batting of some sort to provide warmth and reduce the feel and sound of the fill shifting. Most weighted blankets weigh between 5 and 30 pounds, significantly heavier than most comforters and duvets. Some weighted blankets come with a removable cover for ease of cleaning. Weighted blankets are generally considered safe for children aged 3 years and older who weigh at least 50 pounds. In recent years, a number of bedding brands have introduced weighted blankets specifically designed for children. These blankets typically weigh between 3 and 12 pounds.

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The person using the weighted product should be able to remove it at all times; this is essential to prevent them from becoming uncomfortable or overheated. Do not roll someone up in a weighted blanket under any circumstances. Recommendations for each body weight range are based on current users’ general opinions and preferences. Sleepers should not interpret these estimates as an exact science, as what feels right to one person may not feel right to another. You may also find that the material and fill of the blanket play a role in how comfortable it feels and how hot it sleeps.

This one can also be hand-washed or dry-cleaned and it comes with a drawstring storage bag to help keep the blanket clean and in good condition. Because the warmer cover is removable, the blanket needs to be tied to the cover to stop it from sliding around or falling to one side; the ties are located in all four corners and on all four edges, so it can be quite a mission to attach. But once it’s in, the blanket’s not going anywhere. Weighted blankets are designed to reduce anxiety, improve sleep quality and aid relaxation. They have a special weighty filling that stimulates deep touch pressure across the body, creating the sensation of a comforting hug. This calming effect restores a sense of stillness and restfulness. This weighted blanket from Rest Easy Sleep Better has a weight of 3kg. Eron K, Kohnert L, Watters A, Logan C, Weisner-Rose M, Mehler PS. Weighted Blanket Use: A Systematic Review. Am J Occup Ther. 2020 Mar/Apr;74(2):7402205010p1-7402205010p14. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2020.037358 Weighted blankets are believed to stimulate production of “happiness” hormones like dopamine and serotonin and reduce levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. This helps the user enter a more relaxed state, which is conducive to sleep. However, these health claims are the subject of ongoing research.

For the safety reasons mentioned above, you should always choose a weighted blanket that weighs no more than 5-10% of the user’s body weight. This is especially important for those who may not be able to lift a heavy blanket unaided. Products on this list range from anywhere between 100g and 11.3kg, so there’s a huge variety out there to choose from. If you plan on sharing the blanket between different members of your household, make sure it will be safe for all of them. Can children use weighted blankets? Key features – Size: 135 x 200cm; Weight: 6.8kg/9kg; Material: Cotton/glass bead filling; Suitable for kids: No For added convenience, the cover can be removed and machine-washed at 30°C. It’s one of the most expensive blankets on our list, but if you’re prepared to pay a bit of a hefty price for a weighted blanket, you can’t really go wrong here. Physical, learning or other difficulties which mean the child is unable to remove the blanket independently While standard weighted blankets are unlikely to be harmful to teenagers and above, it’s essential to choose something such as the Anjee Kids blanket (listed below) or an alternative to ensure that younger children can easily lift the blanket off themselves without needing help. Will I get too hot with a weighted blanket?

Always consult with an Occupational Therapist or health professional before using a weighted blanket or other weighted product. Weighted products should be used with suitable supervision at all time. By nature, blankets are supposed to keep you warm. However, if you rely on using a weighted blanket to de-stress, you will want one that won’t make you uncomfortably hot in the summer. That’s why the Blyss weighted blanket is great: it comes with a warm polyester winter cover that’s machine washable, while the weighted blanket itself is made from cotton, which is a much more breathable material. Admittedly, even the most breathable cotton blanket will struggle to keep you cool when it’s sweltering hot, but it’s still a much better option than its synthetic rivals. For those who need the blanket for sensory relief, the dimpled pattern on the removable cover adds another soft sensory element too. Chen H-Y, Tang H, Chi H-J, Chen H-M. Parasympathetic effect of deep pressure input on third molar extraction in adolescents . J Formos Med Assoc. 2019;118(9):1317-1324. doi:10.1016/j.jfma.2019.05.026 The user should not be left under a weighted blanket overnight as they can become overheated and uncomfortable. They are best used as an aid to relax a person before bed and while they get to sleep. Ideally, they should then be removed.Losinski M, Sanders SA, Wiseman NM. Examining the Use of Deep Touch Pressure to Improve the Educational Performance of Students With Disabilities: A Meta-Analysis. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities. 2016;41(1):3-18. doi:10.1177/1540796915624889

Melatonin Dosage: How Much Melatonin Should You Take 94% of us drink caffeinated beverages. But what does it do to our sleep? The best weighted blankets you can buy in 2023 1. John Lewis Specialist Synthetic Weighted Blanket: Best all-round weighted blanket The child must not be rolled in the blanket. It should be placed over them. When using in a bed, ensure it's not draped over the sides of the frame and create a personalized sleep profile that includes sleep-improving products and education curated just The blanket can be used instead of, under or over a duvet or sheet: whatever you find most comfortable

As a rule of thumb, the weight of a weighted blanket should be about 10% of your body weight. Of course, the ideal weighted blanket weight depends on what feels right to you. Preferred weights can vary between 5% and 12% of the sleeper’s weight. Look for a blanket that provides a feeling of comfort, but that still feels safe when you are resting beneath it. You may need to try a few different weights before settling on one you find comfortable. Weighted blankets may not be suitable for sleepers who tend to feel claustrophobic. Recommended weights for a weighted blanket can vary between 5% and 12% of their body weight, with most people preferring a weighted blanket that weighs approximately 10% of their body weight. Regardless of its weight, a proper blanket should allow for comfort and movement. Body Weight Range We tested the 7kg Mela weighted blanket in a double size, and found it to be very comfortable and snug, if a little too warm for our personal tastes. Before using the blanket for the first time, you will have to attach the cover, which can be a bit fiddly since it involves turning the cover inside out, securing a number of ties before turning the cover the right way round again. Gringras P, Green D, Wright B, et al. Weighted blankets and sleep in autistic children--A randomized controlled trial. Pediatrics. 2014;134(2):298-306. doi:10.1542/peds.2013-4285