Sleeping is important for us, as it allows our body to rest and heal from the muscle pains that we get from working, studying, or doing other things throughout the day. However, there are some of us that suffer from poor sleep and restlessness. Having poor sleep is caused by various reasons, and one of which is the poor quality of the blanket we are using. When the temperature is too cold inside the room, a thin blanket won’t really do much to keep you warm. So, you would need a heavy blanket that can provide warmth and comfort in colder seasons.
For this article, we will talk about the weighted blanket, which is a type of heavy blanket that has weights inside it. Besides offering warmth, there are also other advantages to using weighted blankets while you are sleeping or taking a nap. So, what exactly is a weighted blanket? What are its benefits? And how do you buy the best one for your bed? To know the answers to these questions, here is a guide to selecting weighted blankets.
What are Weighted Blankets?
Weighted blankets are heavy blankets that have weights inside them. These weights are primarily made of small pellets that are made from different materials, such as plastic, glass, ceramic, and steel. Weighted blankets would have sewn sections that create pockets, which are designed to separate numerous pellets from each other so that they wouldn’t clump or gather in just one area of the blankets.
By having pockets on each section of the weighted blanket that has an almost equal number of pellets or beads inside, the weight of the blanket is distributed evenly. The weight of weighted blankets produces “deep pressure stimulation,” a phenomenon that makes your body feel like you are getting a hug while sleeping.
What are the Benefits of Weighted Blankets?
Weighted blankets have several benefits that make them very popular in the market. Take a look below for the details and each benefit you can get from using weighted blankets while sleeping or resting.
Offers Comfort and Warmth
Weighted blankets offer plenty of comfort and warmth, as they are basically heavy blankets that have multiple layers of fabric that can block cold temperatures from affecting your body. What’s also great about weighted blankets is that you will feel like you are getting a warm hug when using them.
Improves Quality of Sleep
Because of the hug-like comfort that weighted blankets provide, they can help in improving your quality of sleep. With a weighted blanket, you will be able to sleep better, especially in colder temperatures where you would need a thick and heavy blanket. The weight of the blankets, which gives your body a warm hug, stimulates the secretion of serotonin, a mood-boosting hormone that can make you feel more relaxed and calm while trying to sleep. [1]
Helps Relieve Stress
Weighted blankets are also helpful in relieving stress that can often lead to restlessness or insomnia. The blankets’ ability to boost serotonin in a person’s body is the primary reason why they can also relieve stress, as serotonin promotes positive thinking and less negative thoughts.
Calms the Nerves
For those that are suffering from severe anxiety and rapid heart rate, weighted blankets can help them calm their nerves so that they won’t feel anxious. As previously stated, weighted blankets are designed to give a person a warm hug, and this feeling can help in relieving anxiety and calming the nerves, as getting a hug is very comforting. So, if you are feeling anxious at night out of fear of sleeping alone or sleeping in the dark, having a weighted blanket can help ease your anxiety and have a better sleep.
Risks of Using Weighted Blankets
While weighted blankets have benefits, there are also risks when it comes to using them. Weighted blankets are not made for everybody to use, as there are some people that may just make their sleep worse if they are using weighted blankets. Here is a list of specific people that may find weighted blankets disadvantageous.
People Living in Warmer Climates
Because of how thick and heavy weighted blankets are, they may not be suitable for people living in warmer climates and those who don’t have an air conditioner at home. The weighted blanket can just make a person’s body feel warmer, which can then make him or her uncomfortable in bed due to sweating too much and being overheated. For people living in warmer environments, they should have blankets that are made from thinner and more breathable materials like silk.
People With Sleep Apnea
People with sleep apnea can also find weighted blankets disadvantageous to use. In case you don’t know, sleep apnea is a condition where your breathing stops for a few seconds before restarting, and this issue repeats many times while you are sleeping. By having weighted blankets on your chest and neck, you will most likely have much more trouble breathing. Having difficulty when it comes to breathing can make you feel restless and uncomfortable while trying to sleep.
People With Asthma
People that have asthma will also have trouble sleeping with weighted blankets, as the blankets can sometimes put too much pressure on the chest, thus leading to breathing difficulties. The same dilemma happens to people with sleep apnea, so having heavy blankets is not recommended for those that have breathing problems while sleeping.
People With Claustrophobia
Those that have claustrophobia or fear of tight and small spaces may trigger their anxiety and extreme fear whenever they are using weighted blankets in bed. [2] These weighted blankets can often feel too tight and heavy for people, so those with claustrophobia will most likely have trouble sleeping since they will often think that they are trapped in bed under a heavy blanket that they cannot escape from.
Things to Consider When Buying Weighted Blankets
If you don’t have breathing problems, claustrophobia, or issues with the warm climate or temperature in your home, then you should try a weighted blanket and see if it can improve your sleep. However, because of how many weighted blankets are already available in stores, you may have a difficult time finding the most suitable blanket for you. However, by knowing what to look for, you may find it easier to find the best weighted blankets. Here are the things that you should consider when buying weighted blankets.
Good Reviews from Customers and Reviewers
To have an easier and faster time finding the best weighted blankets, you will need to read or watch reviews of weighted blankets from customers and reviewers online. You can find these reviews on review websites, blogs, forums, social media sites, and video streaming platforms. You may also find reviews in the actual online stores where you can buy weighted blankets. Through these reviews, you will find out more about different weighted blankets, from their special features to their pros and cons.
Here are five weighted blankets with good reviews that you can check out for reference:
- L’AGRATY Weighted Blanket – this weighted blanket is made of soft microfiber material that offers breathability for slightly warmer temperatures and warmth for colder temperatures. Inside the blanket are non-toxic hypo-allergenic glass beads that give ample weight to the blanket.
- BETU Weighted Blanket – a weighted blanket that is made from microfiber polyester for comfort and flexibility. The glass beads that are found inside each pocket of the blanket are environmentally friendly and non-toxic. In addition, this blanket comes in different sizes for kids and adults.
- Cottonblue Sherpa Fleece Weighted Blanket – if you want one of the best weighted blankets for colder temperatures, then you should check out this weighted blanket by Cottonblue, which is made of sherpa fleece, a very dense and thick material that is perfect to use for the winter.
- MP2 Glacier Weighted Blanket – this weighted blanket comes with a reversible duvet cover, with one side made of fleece flannel for warmth in colder seasons while the other is made of “coolmax” material that is more suitable for warmer temperatures. The filler of this blanket is made of nano-ceramic, a material that is more durable than plastic beads and more comfortable than glass beads.
- Alomidds Weighted Blanket – another popular weighted blanket that is made from microfiber that is soft but dense enough to give warmth. Much like most weighted blankets available online, this weighted blanket is filled with glass beads that have ample weight that is not too light and not too heavy.
The Right Weight and Size
Weighted blankets have different weights and sizes, so you will need to find the one that has the perfect weight and size based on your body type. For the weight, a weighted blanket should be about 10% of your body weight. So, if you weigh around 200 pounds, you should buy a weighted blanket that weighs about 20 pounds. Weighted blankets that are too heavy for you can just make your sleep uncomfortable.
As for sizes, weighted blankets are often divided into different sizes that accommodate various sizes of beds, like king-sized, queen-sized, double-sized, and single-sized. So, buying the correct size would depend on the type of bed that you are using at home.
A Suitable Fabric Cover Material
The fabric cover of weighted blankets can be made from different materials, so you should choose a fabric cover material that you think and feel would be the most comfortable for you. Some of the materials you can choose from include cotton, satin, and flannel.
In areas where the temperature is low most of the time, you should get a weighted blanket that is made from thicker materials like flannel and sherpa fleece. Cotton and satin fabric covers are more suitable for areas that have low temperatures on most nights but can have slightly warmer temperatures on some nights.
A Comfortable Filler Material
Besides the material for the fabric cover, you should also decide on what material the filler for your weighted blanket should be. There are three popular materials that are used as filler for weighted blankets, and these are plastic beads, steel shot beads, and glass beads.
Plastic beads are the lightest of the three, but they can easily be flattened and won’t provide ample weight for those that want their blankets to be on the heavier side. Steel shot beads are the heaviest option, but they can sometimes be too heavy for most people. Glass beads are arguably the most balanced option in terms of weight, but they are slightly more expensive than plastic beads. Choose the filler material that you think would provide you with the best weight and comfort for your weighted blanket.
The weighted blanket is arguably one of the best types of blankets that can truly improve your sleep. You will never really know how comfortable a weighted blanket is until you try them, so check out some of the best weighted blankets that you can buy online or in physical stores and buy the most suitable one for you based on preferences and features.
References
[1] Noyed, D. (2022, March 11). Weighted Blanket Research Methodology. Sleep Foundation. Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://www.sleepfoundation.org/research-methodology/weighted-blanket
[2] Lockett, E. (2021, October 26). Do Weighted Blankets Work? Healthline. Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/do-weighted-blankets-work