Weighted Blankets: Do You Need One?

What are weighted blankets and why do you need one?

Weighted blankets (or gravity blankets) are blankets that weigh between 5 and 30 pounds. They can be made out of many different materials, and they’re meant to mimic a therapy called deep pressure stimulation. Having the weighted pressure exerted over your body is supposed to relax the nervous system, and it has been used in studies to help kids with autism and ADD, but is mostly used for general stress and anxiety relief in adults, and to help improve quality and length of sleep.

How do I pick the right one for me?

The general rule of thumb is to select a blanket that is about 10 percent of your body weight, so a 150 pound adult would select a 15 pound blanket. The most common kind of gravity blankets, like this one that was recommended on The Stripe or this one that I saw on Lemon Stripes, are quilted blankets that are filled with beads or pellets to provide the weight. You can get them in throw size or full blanket size. I was looking for something that I could keep out, and I fell in love with these ones from Bearaby that are organic and very attractive-they look like a regular knitted throw, they’re just much heavier than your standard throw! The Bearaby blankets are more expensive than many of the quilted ones and they quickly sell out, so you may have to stalk the site to get updates when new ones come in.

Personal Take

I’ve been wanting a gravity blanket for months- I started reading reviews about them this fall, and I love napping and sleeping under a giant comforter, so this was something that felt like a natural fit for me. I decided that I really wanted one of the knit Bearaby blankets because I loved the way that they looked and that the knitted structure meant that they weren’t supposed to be as hot as other styles. I kept missing them when they were in stock, but my husband got me one for Mother’s Day, which was the perfect gift. I’ve been using it as a throw while reading or watching tv. It’s a little heavy, so I couldn’t sleep all night under it, but I love it for relaxing while lounging. If the amount of times I’ve fallen asleep while using it is any indication, it’s definitely working for me!