What is a weighted blanket?
Time to completely relax. When was the last time you took a moment for yourself? But really for yourself. No television, no phone, no other people around you. Life is getting busier and busier, and although we increasingly need rest, we take less and less of it. What can you do nowadays to find your peace? A weighted blanket can help!
What is a weighted blanket?
A weighted blanket is a blanket that is (intentionally) weighted with plastic or glass microbeads. This is done to apply extra pressure on your body. This pressure is called Deep Pressure Stimulation (or DPS) and is supposed to help your body relax when you lie under your weighted blanket. Let's take a look at how this works exactly.
How does a weighted blanket work?
A weighted blanket therefore uses DDS. But what exactly is this? And where does it come from?
History
Deep Pressure Stimulation was invented by Dr. Temple Grandin. A professor at the University of Colorado. Temple is a highly gifted person with autism, a special combination. In her youth, Temple was sensitive to hugs, something that we as humans have proven to relax us! Another person might accept that the benefits of a good hug would be lost to him or her. Temple did not. At 18, she developed the squeeze machine. A machine that applied pressure to her through two different plates. This is essentially the birth of weighting/DPS.
The effect of Deep Pressure Stimulation
Perhaps you found this an interesting piece of history. But I do believe it raises some questions. Why does pressure or weight have a calming effect on our body? For this, we take a look at our nervous system. Our nervous system consists of an interaction between 2 opposing systems. The Sympathetic system and the Parasympathetic system.
The Sympathetic System
The sympathetic system can be seen as the "fight or flight" part of your nervous system. It is triggered when we find ourselves in situations where we need to act quickly. Some would describe this as our survival mechanism. Thousands of years ago, it was indispensable for us as humans. When the sympathetic system is activated, more Cortisol is released. Cortisol is also known as the stress hormone. It keeps us awake and alert when needed. It also causes a temporary increase in sugar in your blood. This sugar gives you extra energy. Extremely useful when hunting a mammoth. Less useful when you are restlessly lying in bed.
The Parasympathetic system
Opposite the sympathetic nervous system is the parasympathetic nervous system. This is the part of our nervous system that is activated when we rest or find ourselves in a familiar environment. The parasympathetic system temporarily improves digestion. Additionally, it lowers your blood sugar level and heart rate, and you breathe more calmly.
Why the weighted blanket?
You have just learned about the functioning of weighting. How it can have a positive effect on your (night) rest and contribute to a positive state of mind. Besides the weighted blanket, there are also other weighting tools that you can use to experience Deep Pressure Stimulation. For example, you have:
- Weighted vests
- Weighted cuddly toys
- Or weighting mats
However, using the weighted blanket has several advantages over these alternatives. The weighted blanket ensures that the weight is evenly distributed over your body. This way, you get the most benefit from Deep Pressure Stimulation. Additionally, using a blanket is much more practical for adults than the other alternatives. Weighted vests, mats, or stuffed animals are mainly intended for children who have difficulty sitting still and concentrating at school. Bringing a weighted stuffed animal to work will probably raise some questions among your colleagues. Check out now the benefits of a weighted blanket!
Is a weighted blanket something for me?
To answer this question, we will look at the different situations in which a weighted blanket can help you. If you or your child suffer from the following issues, then a weighted blanket is definitely worth trying.
A weighted blanket for sleep problems
Is the use of a weighted blanket for better sleep scientifically proven? Certainly! A study from the University of Gothenburg showed that people objectively sleep longer with a weighted blanket. In addition, this group also reported feeling ‘calmer’ after sleeping with the weighted blanket. Better sleep? Check out the best sleep tips for a better night's rest!
A weighted blanket for ADHD/ADD
The use of Deep Pressure Stimulation in children or adults with ADHD/ADD has become enormously popular in recent years. This is also the reason why more and more gadgets and tools are coming onto the market that use weighting. We have previously talked about stuffed animals, vests, and mats that, in addition to a blanket, can also be used for Deep Pressure Stimulation. Weighting also provides a moment of calm for children with ADHD/ADD. Something every body asks for. However, for these children, it can sometimes be difficult to get the necessary rest. A weighted blanket helps children and adults with ADHD/ADD achieve this rest. Another reason for the popularity of weighting is the positive effect it has on the concentration ability of people with ADHD.
A weighted blanket for autism
Earlier we told you about Dr. Temple Grandin. With her squeeze machine, she discovered early on the positive effects that Deep Pressure Stimulation had on her. People with autism often suffer from overstimulation. By overstimulation, we mean an excess of stimuli. Think of bright light or an overcrowded supermarket. Due to overstimulation, you may no longer be able to process stimuli properly. Overstimulation does not only occur in people with autism, but also in Highly Sensitive Persons (HSP) or in people who do not have a special predisposition for overstimulation. A weighted blanket helps provide a calm, stimulus-free place. It gives you a moment cut off from the outside world. In this case, a weighted blanket gives you a bit of a "womb effect." The blanket envelops you like a cocoon. This gives users of a weighted blanket a safe and secure feeling. Besides this "womb effect," it is also often said that a weighted blanket feels like a warm hug. Specially designed to calm the user.
A weighted blanket for anxiety or panic attacks
Dealing with fears and panic attacks is very difficult. Using a weighted blanket can help reduce the feeling of anxiety in the user. The weighted blanket provides a safe and secure feeling for the user. From research it appears that 60% of people with a mental health crisis feel noticeably calmer after using a weighted blanket.
What should I pay attention to when buying a weighted blanket?
Whatever your reason for using a weighted blanket. There are a number of things you need to pay attention to when purchasing your weighted blanket. We will go through these together with you:
- The weight of your weighted blanket
- The material your blanket is made of
- The filling of your weighted blanket
The weight of your weighted blanket
To ensure you fully enjoy the Deep Pressure Stimulation provided by your weighted blanket, you need to choose a blanket of the right weight. A rule of thumb for the weight of your weighted blanket is 9 to 12% of your body weight. However, this also changes as your blanket gets bigger. It is important that the pressure per surface area remains constant to make optimal use of Deep Pressure Stimulation. To make it easy for you, we have schematically shown below which blanket suits you best: weighted blankets for adults: Body weight Blanket 120x180 cm 45 to 60 kg 5 kg 150x200 cm 60 to 75 kg 7 kg 75 to 100 kg 9 kg 200x220 cm 60 to 85 kg 11 kg 75 to 100 kg 13 kg Can't decide? You can always contact us without obligation. Weighted blankets for children up to 12 years Body weight Blanket 90x120 cm 19 to 24 kg 2.4 kg 100x150 cm 24 to 36 kg 3.6 kg
The material of your weighted blanket
A bit of a no-brainer, but always check what material a weighted blanket is made of. That way you can be sure you are not buying a fabric you are allergic to. The weighted blankets from Ella Health are made of 100% certified cotton. In addition, environmentally friendly polyester is incorporated into the blanket to make it EVEN more comfortable! Our children's blankets are 50% cotton and 50% Minky. Minky is a nice warm, soft fabric for winter. The blanket is reversible, which means your child can choose whether to sleep under Minky or cotton!
The filling of your weighted blanket
Some weighted blankets are filled with small plastic balls or beads. These can also cause an allergic reaction in the user. It is therefore important that you also look at the filling material before your purchase. The weighted blankets from Ella Health are filled with hypoallergenic, non-toxic glass microbeads. These conduct your body heat well through the blanket and do not cause allergic reactions!
Covers for your weighted blanket
A weighted blanket is not easy to wash. That is why we sell separate covers with the weighted blankets. You can simply put this cover in the washing machine, just like your normal duvet cover. Always check the care label before washing. Of course, you can also wash the weighted blanket itself, but this is quite a task and naturally needs to be done less often than the cover. For a detailed description, you can check wikiHow. They have explained very well how to do this best.
Ella Sleeps
Ella Sleeps has been developing sustainable products for better physical well-being since 2018. Through our continuous product development, we offer our customers sitting and lying comfort at a competitive price. Below, see the weighted blankets developed by Ella Sleeps. Still unsure? You may use the blanket 30 days without obligation. If it’s not for you, you can always return the blanket. Our experience shows that this rarely happens.