I posted recently on Instagram about a magical blanket that I got for Christmas and had TONS of questions, so I thought I’d round ’em all up here! I’ve been sleeping with this thing for a couple of weeks now, so I’m basically a professional. Here is the Ultimate Guide to Weighted Blankets!
What is a weighted blanket?
A weighted blanket is a blanket that is sewn in pockets (think down comforter) and filled with small pellets to give it weight. They come in varying sizes, textures, and weights, depending on your preference. They are used for people with anxiety, autism, ADHD, or people who just like the weight of a bunch of blankets.
How heavy is your weighted blanket?
They go up to 20 or 25 lbs, depending on the brand. The recommended weight is about 10% of your body weight. The one I got is 16 lbs., which is heavier than my 10% mark, but I really like it and almost wish it was a little bit heavier.
Is your weighted blanket hot?
No. The weighted blanket that I have, quite surprisingly, is no warmer than a normal blanket. I thought for sure that I would be burning up, but so far I have been perfectly cozy. Keep in mind that this is coming from someone who used to sleep under a sheet, a quilt, and two plush blankets though… It wasn’t that I was cold, was just after the weight.
Do you feel claustrophobic?
Not at all, and my guess is that most people who like the weight of blankets when they sleep (and therefore buy a weighted blanket of their own) won’t either. I can still very easily move and pull the blanket on and off with no problems. I do have a little dog who usually likes to snuggle under the covers with me, and it’s too heavy for her to move and squiggle under, which is actually wonderful, because as it turns out, I sleep better without a noisy little warthog digging her nails into my legs all night.
Can you wash your weighted blanket?
The one that I have, yes you can wash. It is filled with nylon beads that you can wash and dry without incident. I have seen some of these blankets, however, that are filled with rice (the DIY weighted blankets) or other stuff that you definitely would not want to wash and attempt to dry. I just envision your entire washing machine turning into a rice cooker… yikes.
How much does a weighted blanket cost?
For a good one, expect to spend about $200. Yeah, I know. It’s a whole bunch of money. I am too cheap to have purchased this thing for myself, but thankfully I got mine as a gift from my husband this Christmas. Now that I know how AWESOME this thing is, and what a difference it makes in the way that I sleep, I would spend way more than $200 on it.
Why is a weighted blanket awesome?
Guys. I was skeptical about this thing to say the least. I just knew that I had 90 blankets piled on my side of the bed and I can NEVER sleep when it’s hot and I can only have a sheet or something light on my body. I knew that it had to do with the weight of the covers, but I had no idea just how much of a difference it makes in how hard you sleep.
The first night I slept with my weighted blanket, I went to sleep at about 10:30 p.m. and woke up at 1 a.m. (only because my six month old started crying) and I legitimately thought it was morning. I had been in such a deep sleep that I thought I’d slept the entire night. I was so pumped when I realized that I still basically had the entire night to go back to sleep after I was done feeding the baby. This has happened about three more times since then.
Works on toddlers… bonus!
I guess I move when I sleep much more than I thought and I can only describe this blanket as having the same effect for an adult as swaddling does for a baby. It is just enough to stifle your movements and keep you warm enough so that you fall into a super deep sleep.
My personal opinion is that everyone could benefit from a weighted blanket, but especially people with anxiety or sleep issues. I can NOT recommend this thing highly enough. It is an investment in how well you sleep and in my typically sleep-deprived-mother-of-an-infant mind, good sleep is essential for all basic functions of human life.
One of my friends purchased a weighted blanket after she saw my IG post about it, and her description of sleeping with it for the first time was “it’s like a strong hug all night long”… I mean COME ON PEOPLE. Ain’t nobody mad at a strong, entire-night hug! Get yourself a weighted blanket and start living your best life.
If I forgot something please let me know and I will answer any other questions in the comments!
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