Doze Off To A World Of Wonderful (Some Weird) Dreams Weighted blankets are known to cause you to dream more. This is because they tend to ease people into REM sleep—the deepest, most restful stage of sleep where dreams take place.
Are there risks when using a weighted blanket? There are very few risks for using a weighted blanket. However, according to manufacturers, weighted blankets shouldn't be used for toddlers under 2 years old, as it may increase the risk of suffocation.
While not particularly common, weighted blankets can exacerbate symptoms in people with chronic respiratory and circulatory issues. Additionally, they can pose health risks for very young children, frail adults and dementia patients.
For patients with PTSD symptoms, this can translate into nightmares, flashbacks and interrupted sleep. This is when a weighted blanket can really help.
The average adult can lie under blankets weighing up to 35 pounds without having their blood circulation, heart rate, or pulse rate affected. With any heavier weights, the blanket may not be safe to use, especially if you have underlying medical conditions like lung disorders, mobility issues, or claustrophobia.
For best results, we recommend sleeping on your back. This way, it covers your entire body with an even pressure. You can sleep on your side, but this means less area covered by the blanket.
If you can, it's important to choose a weighted blanket that is 10 percent of your body weight or one to two pounds heavier. This ensures you're getting the most out of your blanket and experiencing the deep touch pressure that will leave you calm and relaxed.
Should Everyone Use a Weighted Blanket? Adults and older children can use weighted blankets as bed covers or for relaxing during the day. They are safe to use for sleeping throughout the night.
Weighted blankets may be unsuitable for people with certain medical conditions, including chronic respiratory or circulatory issues, sleep apnea, asthma, low blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, epilepsy, and claustrophobia.
Furthermore, a small study in the journal Occupational Therapy in Mental Health found a 30-pound weighted blanket is a safe and effective way to reduce anxiety in adults. Out of a total of 32 adults, 20 reported lower anxiety after use. The size of your blanket will depend on your own weight (more on that later).
If you stick out your feet out of your blanket in the winter season then it might make you feel cold and you might have to get the feet back inside your blankets, this can eventually lead to disturbance in sleep.
The amount of time you use your weighted blanket is up to you. Some sleep consultants recommend using it for 20 to 30 minutes at a time, while others sleep with it overnight. As you test it out, decide based on your preferences and what you find is most comfortable.
Pros: using a weighted blanket offers a drug-free way to help you cope with anxiety, fall asleep easier, sleep deeper, and wake up feeling restored. Cons: conventional weighted blankets can be too hot to sleep under and aren't eco-friendly.
Weighted blankets may help anxiety. While more research is needed, 2020 research reported that weighted blankets may be helpful in relieving anxiety by helping with emotional and physical regulation. In another study, 63 percent of participants reported lower levels of anxiety after using a weighted blanket.
Weighted blankets are a tool occupational therapists (OTs) often recommend for kids with ADHD, SPD, and autism spectrum disorders to help with calming. The weight is intended to provide proprioceptive input to the brain, which has a calming and organizing effect on the central nervous system.
A weighted blanket uses “pressure therapy”, a calm-inducing amount of pressure on your entire body, similar to the feeling of being hugged, swaddled, stroked, or held.
Weighted blankets work equally well for both side sleepers and those who sleep on their back or stomach. For side sleepers who are choosing between two weights that are otherwise the same - for instance our Full/Queen 15lb or 20lb options - we would suggest trying the lighter weight.
It Will Be Uncomfortable
A blanket heavier than 35 pounds is more likely to cause discomfort because: The blanket begins to cause your body temperature to rise. It will place too much pressure on your joints throughout the night. It will make you feel restricted.
Looking into the effects of weighted blankets, researchers from Uppsala University found that they help naturally increase melatonin production in the body by about 30%. The researchers found no significant changes in the levels of oxytocin, cortisol, or sympathetic nervous system activity.
but there's always the risk that your weighted blanket will turn into a crutch and you'll become dependent on it. “They can become so strongly associated with falling asleep that a person might eventually have a hard time falling asleep without the weighted blanket,” says Schneeberg.
The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine this month, found that between people sleeping with weighted blankets at night and those sleeping without, those with weighted blankets were able to sleep better, and even experienced less symptoms associated with depression or anxiety in the daytime.
Consult your physician for recommended blanket weight, although this is usually between 7-12% of your body weight. The 4kg blanket is ideal for children, whilst the 6kg and 8kg weight is suited to adults.
After some time, a weighted blanket can become thinner and lighter due to wear and tear. It would not be heavy enough to apply deep touch pressure so it won't be a therapy blanket anymore. The fabric can also become too uncomfortable to the touch, giving you more stress than alleviating it.
10 percent of your own body weight. Both Fish and LeMond agree that the ideal weighted blanket is 10 percent of your body weight so that it fits your frame. For children or older adults, the formula is 10 percent of body weight plus 1 to 2 pounds.