Weighted blankets are like being hugged by a hundred tiny teddy bears. Except, these teddy bears won’t steal the covers in the middle of the night. But seriously, the benefits of weighted blankets are no joke; they can help reduce stress, anxiety, and promote better sleep. Plus, they are a great cuddle buddy for movie night.
Research has shown weighted blankets can help users achieve a deeper and more restful sleep. The science aspect is based on deep touch pressure therapy; the pressure triggers the release of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine that regulate mood and promote relaxation. On a psychological level, the extra weight makes your body think that you are being embraced, which instinctively lowers the stress levels in your brain.
The blankets can be made of any material, from natural materials of cotton or bamboo to luxury fabrics of silk or cashmere, and plenty of synthetics in between. The material you choose should meet your needs for cooling and breathability, as well as budget.
The next consideration is what gives the blankets their weight. The three most common fillers are small plastic pellets, microbeads of glass, or steel shot beads. The different weights in the blanket vary in weight, shape, and sound; all three should be considered when choosing. The plastic is the lightest, while the steel shot is heavier and denser providing more weight in a small volume. If you move around a lot, the sound aspect could be important with the glass being the quietest, followed by plastic and the noisiest is the steel shot.
If you wish to purchase a weighted blanket, the next consideration is the weight, which is pretty much the whole point. Typically, you want your new snuggle buddy to be around 10% of your body weight. This will vary, of course, if you are using it on your bed for more than one person. The king size should weigh more than the twin size so just do a little math before you purchase.
As always, not everything is for everyone, so if you have respiratory issues, sleep apnea, or are a small child, maybe just settle for an old-fashioned throw.
If you’re needing a hug or some extra comfort, grab yourself a weighted blanket and let those tiny teddy bears work their magic.
If Only Extra – After spending hours researching weighted blankets with “cooling” being my top priority, I am proud to say I am loving my new YNM weighted blanket! I spent quite some time reading reviews of different blankets and had to find the hidden truths buried in the words. I expected to buy something very different than what I finally purchased, and it was worth it! The teddy bears are getting a promotion.
Great post! After discovering the calming comfort of weighted blankets I invented a hack. If you are like me and have terrible anxiety at the dentist; request that they put a lead apron on you (they use them while taking x-rays) , it works just like a weighted blanket:-)