Do Weighted Blankets Help You Sleep?

Weighted blankets help sleep by providing gentle pressure to your body, which eases you into a deeper sleep no matter what’s keeping you up at night. This article will explain weighted blankets, how they can help you sleep, and how to choose the right blanket for your sleep routine. Let’s get started.

• What Is a Weighted Blanket?
• How Do Weighted Blankets Help You Sleep?
• How to Choose a Weighted Blanket
• The Layla Weighted Blanket
• The Bottom Line: Do Weighted Blankets Help You Sleep?

What Is a Weighted Blanket?

Weighted blankets are similar to regular comforters and blankets, but they’re weighted with small pellets inside that conform to your body. These small pellets can be made from glass, plastic, organic materials, steel, or even sand. Weighted blankets can be used anywhere, including your bed, couch, and even the workplace. These calming blankets can weigh anywhere from 3 to 30 pounds.

Weighted blankets help promote sleep through deep pressure therapy (DPT). Essentially, the pressure the weighted blanket applies to your body simulates deep pressure stimulation, a therapeutic technique proven to reduce stress and anxiety, ultimately helping you sleep better.

Weighted blankets can be used just like a regular blanket, and you can take them with you wherever you go. A weighted can be used anytime and anywhere, including on a sofa or mattress. However, you’ll get the most benefits out of your weighted blanket by taking it into the bedroom and using it as your main cover while you sleep. If your room is cold, you can put a weighted blanket on top of another comforter to give you an additional layer of comfort to promote further relaxation.

The most significant benefit of weighted blankets is that they can help promote a feeling of overall calmness. As you already know, to fall asleep, you must completely relax your body and mind. Weighted blankets can help you stay asleep throughout the night to improve your overall quality of sleep.

How Do Weighted Blankets Help You Sleep Better?

The DPT simulation that weighted blankets provide can help you sleep. Whether you’re suffering from insomnia, anxiety, or anything else that prevents quality sleep, a weighted blanket is a natural sleep aid that can help anyone feel calmer, no matter what. These are the types of ways a weighted blanket can help improve different conditions that may affect sleep quality.

Insomnia

DTP through a weighted blanket can improve insomnia. A weighted blanket can help reduce heart rate and breathing by adding pressure to the body, making it easiest to relax before bed. The calming effects of a weighted blanket also allow people to relax enough to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the entire night.

Anxiety

Anxiety can prevent anyone from falling asleep, and being unable to get enough sleep can lead to increased anxiety. When you have increased levels of anxiety, your body is just as stressed as your mind, which can make falling asleep even more difficult. The pressure of a weighted blanket can help put your body at rest while providing you with a comforting feeling that’s similar to a hug from your best friend. It also promotes overall calmness to naturally help you settle into bed each night.

Weighted blankets help you sleep better, which can put your mind and body in a better position to deal with anxious thoughts the next day. The better you sleep, the more likely you’ll be able to have clearer thoughts and better decision-making the next day, so you can feel your best self.

PTSD

Weighted blankets are another home remedy to help people manage PTSD symptoms. Focusing on quality sleep can ease PTSD because it can keep anxious feelings at bay. However, those suffering from PTSD often find falling asleep and staying asleep difficult. A weighted blanket can help PTSD sufferers get more quality sleep to improve anxiety via deep touch pressure (DTP) to help the nervous system relax, decreasing cortisol levels and increasing serotonin levels.

Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) can prevent quality sleep because it makes you feel an urge to move your legs. It can also be accompanied by sensations, such as numbness, pain, and tingling. Those suffering from restless leg syndrome can use a weighted blanket to calm their legs, counter any uncomfortable muscles, and keep you from moving your leg throughout the night. Weighted blankets can offer restless leg syndrome sufferers better sleep without waking up in the middle of the night due to sensations or their leg movements.

Sensory Disorders

Weighted blankets can also help sleep problems due to sensory disorders, such as autism. People with autism can easily get overstimulated. However, studies have found that deep pressure, such as the kind you get from a weighted blanket, can be beneficial for young people suffering from sensory disorders. This same study found that many of the participants improved in calmness, proving that stimulating the sensory system can help those suffering from autism stay calm, especially before bed.

Essentially, weighted blankets activate the touch sense, which may help those with autism or other sensory disorders. It can also provide comfort and help them relax when overstimulated.

ADHD

Similar to sensory disorder sufferers, weighted blankets can also help those who might be awake at night due to their ADHD because they can help calm overstimulation and distraction. Additionally, weighted blankets can help a person feel more grounded so that they can calm down and focus on important things, such as getting enough sleep. Instead of being distracted by their surroundings at night, they’ll feel the calming sensation of the weighted blanket so they can fall asleep easier.

Chronic Pain

Weighted blankets can also help ease chronic pain. Researchers at UC San Diego conducted a 2021 study that found 94% of people with chronic pain found relief while sleeping with a weighted blanket after one week. Additionally, those with chronic pain may have anxiety associated with their conditions, all of which weighted blankets can help.

For those with chronic pain, weighted blankets can relieve tension through pressure. These blankets also tell your brain it’s time to sit back and relax to help muscles release. They also help sleep, something necessary for everyone, but especially those who need to heal their pain.

Additionally, those suffering from chronic pain often don’t get enough sleep. When you don’t get quality rest, you can’t get the healing your body needs, and your sensitivity to pain increases. By promoting better sleep, weighted blankets can drastically reduce pain and stress.

How to Choose a Weighted Blanket

When choosing a blanket, there are a few things to consider. First of all, it’s important to consider how heavy a weighted blanket should be. A weighted blanket should be about 5-10% of your body weight, although most people opt for the latter for the best deep pressure therapy.

Other factors to consider when choosing a weighted blanket include:

• Fabric: Choose the outer fabric of your weighted blanket based on how hot or cool you sleep at night. You can also base it on the season. For example, if you’re a hot sleeper, you should opt for a cotton or bamboo weighted blanket. However, if it’s winter and you are cold, you can choose a flannel weighted blanket. Whatever you choose, you can also get a cover for your weighted blanket to help prevent stains. This cover can also add an additional layer of warmth if you need it.
• Filling: The materials that are used in a weighted blanket can have a significant impact on how comfortable the blanket is. When purchasing a weighted blanket, you typically have an option of glass, plastic, or steel pellets. Each comes with its own benefits. For example, plastic pellets are more affordable than glass, but they don’t offer optimal airflow and might not be as comfortable as the beads conform to your body.
• Brand: It’s always best to purchase a weighted blanket from a quality brand. Of course, you can find a cheap weighted blanket, but if it’s not made well, the beads can fall out and become dangerous to pets and small children. Purchase only from brands you trust to ensure the safety of your weighted blanket, and always read reviews and testimonials to see what customers have to say.
• Price: You should never base a decision for your weighted blanket based solely on price. However, weighted blankets should be affordable. Aim to spend at least $100 or more on higher-quality weighted blankets.
• Size: Most people prefer large blankets they can wrap themselves in. However, a smaller size weighted blanket should have the same calming effect as long as you get the correct weight. Depending on your preference and where you’ll use the weighted blanket, you can get anything from throw-sized to king-sized. Remember, the larger the blanket, the more material you have, but it will also be more expensive.
• Sharing: If you plan to share your weighted blanket with a partner, consider getting a larger size. You should also consider the weight. It’s typically best to get a weighted blanket that’s about 7.5% of your total combined weight. For example, if together you weigh 250 lbs, your weighted blanket should be around 20 lbs.
• Age of Person: If you’re purchasing a weighted blanket for someone else, you should consider their age. For example, small children should not use a weighted blanket because the beads can fall out and become a choking hazard, and the weight of the blanket can be too heavy for their frames. Heavy blankets may also cover a small child’s face while they sleep.
• Care: How you wash a weighted blanket will depend on the instructions on a blanket’s care label. Most weighted blankets are machine washable, but some are not. If you don’t want to handwash your weighted blanket or bring it to a dry cleaner, ensure you buy one that’s washing machine safe.

To learn more about purchasing a weighted blanket, check out the weighted blanket buying guide.

The Layla Weighted Blanket

The Layla Weighted Blanket offers the therapeutic effects of DPT to make it feel like you’re swaddled in a soothing embrace. This blanket can improve sleep quality while relieving stress, delivering gentle pressure across your entire body. The Layla Weighted Blanket is made of 300 thread count cotton for a soft, cooling effect. It’s also machine washable for the easiest care.

Glass beads fill the weighted blanket for the perfect amount of weight to help you sleep better without making you too hot. With carefully distributed weight, the beads are quiet to help you ensure your slumber while you rest comfortably in bed. It’s also created using Layla’s signature hexagon quilting to keep the weight perfectly distributed across your body.

The Bottom Line: Do Weighted Blankets Help You Sleep?

Weighted blankets can help anyone sleep better and stay asleep all night long. With perfectly distributed weight across the blanket, you can ensure a calmer, more relaxed body and mind right before bed, helping you get the quality sleep you deserve. Additionally, weighted blankets can help those suffering from a number of conditions that affect sleep, especially those linked to anxiety.

It’s important to remember that the materials in your weighted blanket matter. If you’re a hot sleeper, opt for a blanket made from materials that are cooling, such as cotton and glass beads. You can also purchase weighted blankets made from different materials and switch them out depending on the season.

No matter which size, material, or where you’ll use your weighted blanket, you can expect a calmer state of mind, especially at bedtime.