Weighted Blankets – What You Need To Know
Weighted blankets have changed the way my husband and I sleep, and now we won't sleep without them! Weighted blankets are helpful for not just insomnia and anxiety, but for us; they have allowed us to sleep more soundly than ever before.
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What are weighted blankets?
There are lots of different sizes and weights to choose from, but a weighted blanket is a blanket that has been weighted to add pressure to your body. Typically they weigh between 5 and 25 pounds.
When applied, the soft pressure soothes the nervous system by mimicking deep pressure stimulation. Essentially, it feels like a soft hug.
I've used weighted blankets for years and my husband and children each have their own blankets.
Weighted blankets can be heavy, so they are not advised for children under two years old, or people with health conditions that prevent them from pushing the blanket off or triggers breathing issues.
Why do people like weighted blankets?
When I first heard of weighted blankets, I was a little skeptical. I thought that having something heavy on me would make me feel claustrophobic. But I decided to give it a try to see what the hype was all about, and I instantly fell in love.
Weighted blankets were originally used for people with Autism. Studies show that some autistic people responded well to quiet deep pressure therapy and actually began to sleep better and overcame insomnia issues that are common in people with Autism.
I tried a weighted blanket when I was dealing with some anxiety issues. The pressure is very calming, and the act of lying down or wrapping up in a cozy weighted blanket is very calming to me.
Weighted blankets are perfect for chronic pain because the gentle pressure actually relaxes the muscles and helps to trigger your body's own calming hormones to reduce pain.
How did weighted blankets improve our sleep as a couple?
My husband and I have always struggled with sleep issues. He has reoccurring insomnia and I am a sleepwalker. So for many years, we would spend the night waking each other up.
One of the things that would trigger my sleepwalking was actually my husband's restless leg and tossing and turning. Which would then make me move or talk in my sleep, which then woke him up. Then he would struggle to go back to sleep, and that would wake me up, and then I would fight to get back to sleep and try not to wake him up. We were terrible sleepers!
A few months ago, we discovered that if my husband slept under a weighted blanket, he actually went to sleep faster and didn't thrash around in his sleep. Which then helped me to stay asleep all night.
Now we can't sleep without them! It's amazing to be able to sleep all night and wake up feeling rested!
How to choose a weighted blanket
When choosing a weighted blanket you want to find one that is around 5 percent of the bodyweight of the person using the blanket. You also want to choose a blanket with a soft fabric and that can be easily washed without the inside weights.
Here are a few of our favorite Weighted blankets:
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