Do you often crawl into bed in the evening only to find yourself tossing and turning for hours? If this is typical for you, you are not alone. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), one-third of adults suffer from insomnia.
A lack of sleep can trigger depression and anxiety, which can even worsen your trouble sleeping. Thankfully, you can overcome this never-ending cycle without medications or any fancy, expensive products. If you are curious, please continue reading this article.
What Are Weighted Blankets?
Have you ever heard about weighted blankets? Are you wondering how they work and what the benefits of using one are?
Weighted blankets have been used for decades, mostly within the special needs community (mainly for children). But this doesn’t mean that they can’t be beneficial to adults with or without special needs.
The way they work is that they simulate the feeling of being hugged or swaddled. Studies have shown that they increase serotonin and melatonin levels by putting gentle pressure on the body’s sensory receptions, relieving stress, relaxing your body, and calming your mind.
Experts claim that Deep Pressure Therapy (DTP) helps regulate some brain functions and has a calming effect on the nervous system and weighted blankets are an excellent way to include these benefits into your life.
These miracle blankets are recommended in stressful situations, in cases of anxiety, depression, insomnia, and helping with some of the more serious mental health diagnoses (obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, ADHD, sensory processing issues, etc.)
How to Choose the Best Weighted Blanket for Yourself?
So, you have decided to purchase a weighted blanket and manage your stress, anxiety, or insomnia? Before you buy, make sure you learn about some of the factors you need to consider. Here are a few suggestions:
What Is the Best Weight?
This is the first step! The advice is to shop for one that weighs 10% of your body weight. For example, if your weight is 200 pounds, the best fit is a 20 pounds weighted blanket. Kids’ blankets start from around 5 pounds, and the most common adult blankets are 10, 15, 20, or 25 pounds.
If your weight is somewhere in between, it’s recommended to go with a heavier one. Even when you are completely sure what weight to order, there is still a variety of choices.
If you feel overwhelmed, check out this review, which will give you some guidelines. Weighted blankets are mostly sold online, so it can be hard to choose. Please be aware that if you often get too hot at night, the heavier one may be hard to push off. In this case, go for a lighter blanket.
How Big Should Your Blanket Be?
The idea is that your weighted blanket covers your entire body from the neck down, which means that a twin-size blanket is the best option for most people. For kids, look for a smaller size.
Your blanket should not hang over the sides of the bed. You don’t want it to slide off during the night. If you are not sure, the good idea is to size down from your mattress size. For example – a twin-size blanket will fit a full or a queen bed.
How to Wash It?
If you are worried about washing it – don’t be. For blankets that are up to 10 pounds, you can use a regular washer and dryer. There is a variety of removable covers; most of them are cotton or Minky. Choose cotton cover if you want it to be more “breathable” and Minky for a cozy and warm feeling.
Now you don’t have to think about stains or pet fur. Just check if a cover is included when ordering your weighted blanket. If not, many companies offer covers as add-ons.
Filling
When you start choosing a weighted blanket, you will notice that most companies use glass beads or plastic poly pellets. Glass beads are heavier than plastic pellets, but their size is smaller than grains of sand, so they take up less space, making the blanket thinner. Using plastic pellets make blankets bulkier since they are bigger. Be aware that plastic pellets are cheaper than glass beads.
There are also options with no filling at all (if you want a more breathable blanket) or some blankets that include polyester fiberfill (if you want more warmth). There is no obvious winner; you can choose all the details according to your needs.
Now that we’ve covered up all the information, it’s time to go shopping! Quality sleep is essential and affects all aspects of your life. Weighted blankets are a pleasant and natural way to help you fight insomnia and reduce stress and anxiety.
