What Is a Weighted Blanket? Everything You Need to Know About This Sleep Wonder

In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it is important to find moments of peace. But what do you do when you are unable to achieve that calm? A weighted blanket could be exactly what you need! Whether you struggle with sleep problems, stress, or sensory processing issues, a weighted blanket can help calm your body and improve your sleep. But how exactly does it work? What is a weighted blanket, and how do you choose the right one? In this article, you will discover everything you need to know about this useful aid for a better night's sleep.

A weighted blanket is a blanket made heavier through the use of materials such as glass or plastic microbeads. This weight provides deep pressure stimulation (DPS), which helps calm your nervous system and gives you a safe, secure feeling. If you would like to learn more about the benefits, read our comprehensive guide to using a weighted blanket for adults and children from Ella Sleeps.

Keep reading to discover more about how weighted blankets work, their benefits, and how to choose the right weighted blanket for your sleeping comfort.

What Is a Weighted Blanket?

A weighted blanket is specially designed to help your body relax through deep pressure stimulation (DPS). This effect creates a feeling of comfort and security, similar to a firm hug. The weight in the blanket provides even pressure across your body, resulting in a calming effect on your nervous system.

How Does a Weighted Blanket Work?

A weighted blanket works through deep pressure stimulation (DPS). But what exactly does that involve? DPS is a technique in which gentle, even pressure is applied to the body. This calms the nervous system and helps your body enter a more relaxed state. DPS was originally invented by Dr. Temple Grandin, a professor at the University of Colorado. Her invention was a machine that applied pressure to her body, and this later formed the basis for weighted blankets.

The Effect of Deep Pressure Stimulation

Deep pressure stimulation helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which lowers your heart rate and blood pressure. This has a calming effect on the body and promotes deeper, more restful sleep. It stimulates the production of serotonin (the happiness hormone) and melatonin (the sleep hormone), while reducing the stress hormone cortisol.

Why Use a Weighted Blanket?

A weighted blanket offers several clear benefits that can help you sleep better. The constant, gentle pressure it applies to your body makes you feel safe and secure. This can be especially helpful for people who have difficulty sleeping, experience anxiety, or have sensory processing issues. Similar aids, such as weighted vests or weighted stuffed animals, work over a smaller area and do not provide the same pressure across the entire body. Not sure which one to choose? Read weighted stuffed animal or weighted blanket: which one is right for you?

Who Can Benefit from a Weighted Blanket?

Weighted blankets are suitable for a wide range of people. Whether you experience sleep problems, stress, ADHD, or autism, a weighted blanket can help calm you and improve your sleep quality.

Weighted Blankets for Sleep Problems

Using a weighted blanket for a better night's sleep has been scientifically proven. A study by the University of Gothenburg showed that people who used a weighted blanket slept longer and felt calmer after sleeping. Research has confirmed that using a weighted blanket improves sleep patterns.

Weighted Blankets for ADHD/ADD

Weighted blankets are increasingly being used by children and adults with ADHD/ADD. Deep pressure stimulation helps calm the mind, leading to improved concentration and less restlessness. This is why weighted blankets are so popular among people with ADHD.

Weighted Blankets for Autism

People with autism often experience sensory overload. A weighted blanket offers them a sense of calm through its "womb effect" or hug-like feeling. This effect helps them process sensory overload more effectively, contributing to better sleep.

Weighted Blankets for Anxiety or Panic Attacks

For people struggling with anxiety or panic attacks, a weighted blanket has a calming effect. It helps promote a feeling of safety, as shown by research demonstrating that 60% of people experiencing a mental health crisis felt noticeably calmer after using a weighted blanket.

How Do You Choose the Right Weight for a Weighted Blanket?

Choosing the right weight for a weighted blanket is essential for optimal effectiveness. The general rule of thumb is that the blanket should weigh between 9–12% of your body weight. Here are some useful guidelines to help you determine which blanket is best for you:

• For adults: choose a blanket that weighs 9–12% of your body weight.
• For children: the weighted blanket should be lighter, depending on the child's body weight. For example, a child weighing 20 kg could benefit from a blanket of approximately 2 kg.

Please note: this rule of thumb applies to blankets, not stuffed animals. With a weighted stuffed animal, the weight rests over a much smaller area, so much less weight is needed.

Washing and Maintaining a Weighted Blanket

It is important to maintain your weighted blanket properly to extend its lifespan. It is often best to wash the cover regularly. At Ella Sleeps, we also offer covers that can easily be replaced for improved hygiene. The blanket itself can be washed, but it is important to check the care label before doing so. Read more about washing a weighted blanket.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

What effect does a weighted blanket have on your sleep?

A weighted blanket uses deep pressure stimulation (DPS) to calm your nervous system. This lowers your heart rate and stress level, helping you sleep more deeply and peacefully.

Who is a weighted blanket suitable for?

Weighted blankets are suitable for people with sleep problems, stress, anxiety disorders, ADHD, autism, or sensory overload. They are also often used by highly sensitive people (HSPs) and children.

How heavy should a weighted blanket be?

A good rule of thumb is that the blanket should weigh between 9 and 12% of your body weight. For children, an adjusted guideline with lighter weights applies.

Can you wash a weighted blanket?

The cover of a weighted blanket is usually machine washable. The blanket itself can also be washed, but this requires extra care. For this reason, using a separate cover is highly recommended.

Weighted blanket or weighted stuffed animal?

A blanket covers your entire body and is mainly intended for nighttime use. You hold a stuffed animal and can also use it during the day. In this article, we compare the two.

Conclusion

A weighted blanket can help you sleep better and feel more relaxed through deep pressure stimulation. Whether you experience sleep problems, stress, ADHD, autism, or other conditions, a weighted blanket can be a valuable investment in your well-being. Choose the right weight and material to get the most out of your blanket, and make sure you maintain it properly for a long lifespan.

At Ella Sleeps, we offer a wide range of high-quality weighted blankets, specially designed to help you relax fully. Discover our collection and give yourself the rest you deserve.