Stress is a safety response tailored to your body to make sure you’re alerted to potential dangers or otherwise alarming stressors. Sometimes the stress may be overwhelming and wholly unnecessary for your body to create. In come weighted blankets, which use pressure therapy to make the user feel held, which activates the parasympathetic system and lowers your heart rate.
The best weighted blankets can be used for a number of different feelings and disorders Trusted Source More Than Just a Fad: 4 Ways Weighted Blankets Can Actually Help You - Penn Medicine Wrapping yourself up in a blanket can feel like one giant hug — with the right blanket, that is. If it’s soft, warm, and cozy, that’s a good start. But have you ever thought about how the weight of your blanket affects how comfortable it is? A heavy, weighted blanket can actually be more comforting — and even beneficial to your health — than its lighter counterpart. www.pennmedicine.org , but the right size, weight, and texture of the blanket varies depending on the consumer and their needs. We have reviewed the best weighted blankets on the market based on these features and quality, as well as durability. Here are our top picks.
Other features: therapeutic, easily washable, soft, two different material feels
This weighted blanket is carefully designed with glass beads to distribute weight evenly and is completely machine washable for your convenience.
With fast shipping, a trial policy, and a warranty, Layla has you covered with this weighted blanket. Micro glass beads are used to keep the blanket’s movement quiet and the feel sleek. It comes in twin, queen, and king sizes, and you can add a comforter, sheets, or a pillow to complete your bed set.
More features: reinforced stitching, corner loops for a duvet cover, 30-night sleep trial
This Bare Home blanket pairs a cotton cover with an OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification, so it is free from harmful chemicals and dyes and gentle on sensitive skin. Reinforced stitching and small pockets keep the beads from shifting, which spreads the weight evenly over the body.
The brand recommends a blanket around 10% of the sleeper’s body weight, so this 15 lb version is best for older kids and teens; younger children should use a lighter one. It goes in the washing machine on a cold, gentle cycle and comes with corner loops for a matching duvet cover.
Other features: ultra-soft, even weight distribution, price point variety, machine washable
Coming in four different sizes and multiple different weights and colors, this weighted blanket has every calming component you need for anti-anxiety and sleep.
This blanket comes with a washable minky duvet cover that is just the right amount of soft to facilitate calm and rest. It also comes with free shipping and a satisfaction-guaranteed policy so that you can make sure that you love your blanket before committing to it for good.
Other features: calming effect, odor-free, eco-friendly.
This weighted blanket comes in multiple material options to optimize your sleep and calming experiences, all the luxury, and machine washable.
As a one-piece product that comes in a carrying tote, this blanket is great for anybody looking for convenience when it comes to transporting and using the product. The glass beads are 1mm, super tiny for comfort and anti-bunching, and are lead-free.
Other features: precise gridded stitching for uniform weight distribution, removable duvet cover, machine washable, grey color
This Gravity weighted blanket is built in two parts: an inner weighted piece filled with fine-grade glass beads and a soft micro-plush duvet cover that goes over it. The inner blanket uses precise gridded stitching, so the beads stay evenly spread instead of drifting to one side, and you get the same gentle pressure whatever position you sleep in.
At 15 lbs and 48 x 72 inches, it is sized to cover one sleeper rather than the whole bed, which keeps the weight where it does the most good. The blanket is machine washable, which makes it easy to keep clean.
Other features: temperature control, colorful, warranty, 5-layer technology
This weighted blanket is made with bamboo fiber fabric to allow for increased airflow and cooling effects for hot sleepers.
Featured in Forbes and CNN, the YNM weighted blanket is great for its moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating properties. While many other weighted blankets may be ideal for the winter or make you overheat in the summer, this one is designed for optimized cooling sensations and color personalization.
Other features: 7-layer design, recommended for sleepers of about 140 to 190 lbs, commercial machine wash and tumble dry low
The Uttermara weighted blanket pairs a smooth fleece top with a wool-like Sherpa back for a soft, warm feel. Tiny 1 mm glass beads are sewn into small squares within a 7-layer design, which keeps the weight evenly spread and cuts down on bead noise.
At 15 pounds and 60 x 80 inches, it suits adults of roughly 140 to 190 pounds, and it is a good choice for anyone who sleeps cold or wants a warm blanket for the winter months.
Ranging from around 5 to 35 pounds and coming in various different colors and sizes, weighted blankets can be difficult to pick out. Luckily, we’ve prepared this guide for you so that you can learn all about weighted blankets, how to take care of them, and what to look for when picking out your very own. Read below for details.
According to Healthline, weighted blankets can be used to treat the following issues Trusted Source What the Research Says: Do Weighted Blankets Work? Weighted blankets are a popular way to relieve anxiety and improve sleep. Some studies suggest they’re an effective way to help children with autism and ADHD, but more research is needed. www.healthline.com :
The general rule is that the body of a weighted blanket must be hand washed or dry cleaned to preserve the integrity of the weighted beads and structure. Some products, like the Layla Weighted Blanket and Bare Home Cotton Weighted Blanket, are completely machine washable, but these are the exceptions. When washing products like these, you should put on a gentle cycle and wash with cold water. All weighted blankets should be hung and air-dried.
With many weighted blankets that come with a duvet cover, like the Quility Weighted Blanket and Gravity Weighted Blanket, the duvet cover is machine washable in a cold setting. Never bleach these covers, and tumble dry on low.
With such a wide range of benefits, finding the perfect weighted blanket for you is definitely a plus. Everybody deserves sleep, mood, pain, and stress relief. However, because there are so many different weights, materials, sizes, and other components of the weighted blanket, it’s important to consider your needs and pick a blanket based on them. Below is a list of all the considerations you should make before purchasing a weighted blanket so that you make the best choices for yourself.
Weighted blankets can range from throw blanket sizes to king sizes, so before purchasing, you should figure out the perfect size for you. This depends on your height and your intended use. Make sure the weighted blanket is big enough to cover your entire body so that the effects are uniform across your body. Also, consider what you are using the blanket for. If you want to use it to cover you on your bed as you sleep, it will behoove you to choose the size that corresponds with the size of your mattress and sheets. If you just want to use the weighted blanket as a throw on the couch, you can choose a smaller size that doesn’t necessarily cover an entire bed’s worth of room.
While the perfect weight of a weighted blanket is highly personalized and specific, the general rule is to find a blanket weight that is 10 percent of your own weight or around there. While some products, like the YNM Cooling Weighted Blanket Trusted Source YNM Cooling Weighted Blanket | YNM Shop our YNM Cooling Weighted Blanket made from cooling fabric and perfect for hot sleepers! ynmhome.com , have a wide range of weights to choose from (7 to 35 lbs. in that case!) and can accommodate lighter and heavier people on the weight spectrum, other brands stick to a tight range.
To start out, follow the 10 percent rule, and round up by one or two pounds if you’re in between.
The material of your weighted blanket is largely based on your preference of the type of softness, whether that be silky or plush. However, it also will greatly affect the breathability and warmth of your weighted blanket. If you are aiming to use your blanket during a cold season or in a colder environment, it will make more sense to choose a material with a heavier thread count or one like minky or micro-fleece (the Uttermara Sherpa Fleece Weighted Blanket pairs a smooth fleece top with a wool-like Sherpa back for extra warmth). However, if you’re looking for more breathable fabric, try bamboo lyocell/viscose or cotton with a lower thread count. Some brands even have multiple options—for example, the Luxome Weighted Blanket Trusted Source Luxury Weighted Blankets | Affordable Prices | LUXOME™ Our one-piece weighted blankets include an integrated premium cover stitched into the blanket, which creates a more refined feel without bunching or excess heat. Choose from our cooling weighted blankets with 300 thread count organic bamboo, cozy weighted blankets with ultra-plush minky, or a combination of both! www.amazon.com has an option of bamboo lyocell, minky, or both!
What you’re using the blanket should correspond with what the weighted blanket is being marketed for. While some, like the Layla Weighted Blanket, are specifically marketed for deep touch pressure therapy, others are marketed for cooling properties and features like insomnia relief. Identifying what you’re looking to get out of your weighted blanket and using that in your search for one is a key component to finding the perfect fit for you.
Decide how much time and effort you’re willing to put into the care and maintenance of your weighted blanket. Some come as one unit, many of which must be hand washed or dry cleaned but could be considered easier to wash as one piece. Others come in two pieces, with an interior and machine-washable duvet cover, but putting the heavy pieces together after washing may be more difficult for certain people. Then, there are a select few that come in one piece and are altogether machine washable. When you find a weighted blanket that you like, look into the care of the weighted blanket before purchasing so that you know what you’re getting into when it comes to maintenance.
While a higher price tag typically means a more recognizable brand, higher quality, and/or better value, be sure that you’re committing to a price tag that you’re comfortable with. If this is your first time purchasing a weighted blanket, you may want to find one that is cheaper or comes with a trial period so that you can get comfortable with one before fully committing to an expensive blanket.
Weighted blankets use an approach called deep touch pressure (DTP) therapy, which is a means of tactile sensory input. They simulate the feeling of being held or squeezed. While DTP therapy is effectively used with autism patients Trusted Source AUTISM and deep pressure therapy - OTvest Many autistic persons have a sensory processing disorder, which causes them to have difficulty functioning because of either over-responsiveness or under-responsiveness to sounds, smells, touch, movement, or visual stimulation. They may also have problems with coordination due to the inability to respond to information from their hands, eyes, and other parts of the body. These body cues provide proprioceptive feedback to the brain about body position, and a reduction of this proprioceptive feedback can cause stress and anxiety from the lack of feeling “grounded”. otvest.com , it is helpful for the general population in terms of comfort and pain, as there is evidence that this means of sensory input triggers a signal to the brain that improves sensory processing, activating the parasympathetic nervous system in moments of stress and relieving the body of physical pain.
If the blanket is not heavy enough, it won’t allow for adequate enough deep touch pressure to affect your sleep or anxiety. However, if the blanket is too heavy, it may exacerbate symptoms in users with conditions such as sleep apnea, asthma, and claustrophobia.
When in doubt, follow the 10 percent rule and size up by 1 or 2 pounds if you’re an in-between weight!
You should ensure that your weighted blanket length is longer than your height so that it covers your entire body. Queen-size and king-size weighted blankets are typically the largest sizes, so if you’re exceptionally tall, you should go with one of those. You should also consider whether you’ll be using your weighted blanket on the couch, on the bed, or as a comforter itself so that you know which general sizes you should be considering—throw, twin, full, queen, or king.
That being said, your height is less important than your weight, so be sure to choose a blanket that is around 10 percent of your body weight to optimize its effects.
The best weighted blankets described above are notable because of their value and quality. Our Editor’s Choice was the Layla Weighted Blanket because of its innovative double-sided features, easy care, and excellent quality. Notable runner-ups include the Bare Home Cotton Weighted Blanket and Quility Weighted Blanket, which are especially valuable because of their easy care and respective features — with the former having certifications and being a great gift for kids and the latter coming in with a great range of price points to choose from.
A weighted blanket is a great choice for anybody looking to improve stress during the day and sleep at night, among other benefits. Our compilation of the best to choose from, along with our guide on what to pay attention to when in the market for weighted blankets, should help you make an informed choice when shopping for this beneficial product.
