How Heavy Should a Weighted Blanket Be?
Weighted blankets are heavy blankets that are used for a variety of reasons. They are an essential tool in occupational therapy and come in handy for therapeutic activities such as sensory integration therapy, which is used to assist people in managing mental health conditions such as dementia and autism spectrum disorders.
True to their name, ‘Weighted’ blankets have more weight than regular blankets due to their fillings. The weight aids users by mimicking a hug through a technique known as deep pressure stimulation. This subsequently helps relax the nervous system and makes the user feel more secure by releasing mood boosters in the body such as serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin.
The weight of weighted blankets is very important and varies depending on a number of factors. The rule of thumb is that the blanket should be 10 percent of the user’s body weight. For instance, someone weighing 100 lbs. should ideally use a 10 lbs. blanket. Disregarding the blanket’s weight could negatively affect users feeling uncomfortable or worse still, trapped. Most weighted blankets weigh heavier than regular duvets and blankets ranging between 5 to 30 pounds.
The blankets have rapidly gained popularity due to their ability to help manage sleep disorders. Weighted blankets have been proven through studies to be helpful in assisting individuals who have insomnia, nighttime anxiety, and other sleep disorders. They also help alleviate moods, create feelings of security, assist in managing panic disorders, help relieve pain, and decrease nervous system activity managing issues such as ADD, ADHD, Alzheimers, and other aggressive behavior disorders.
The blankets are filled with different contents varying from cotton fillings to mimic the regular duvets to other items such as glass, poly pellets, plastic beads, and numerous other fillings. Given their popularity, multiple companies are producing them using different types of fillings. Nirvana weighted blankets, for instance, are filled with chemical-free components such as bamboo making them breathable and environmentally friendly.
Other important aspects to consider before acquiring a weighted blanket include age and underlying health conditions. Weighted blankets are recommended for use by individuals above three years of age weighing 50 pounds or more. There are blankets specifically designed for children which usually apply the 10% rule and are small enough to prevent entanglement. This helps to prevent accidents. Conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, epilepsy, frequent seizures, or low blood pressure may have users feeling constricted while using the blanket and may face challenges as they may experience restricted airflow and difficulty in breathing. Height can also be considered just to ensure maximum comfort, especially for extremely tall people.
There are other aspects such as the feel of the blanket; these include fabric and pattern preferences. Conditions such as allergies may be considered when making a selection to prevent triggering reactions. Maintenance is also important. Certain fillings may make the blanket more challenging to clean on a regular washer.
Finally, there are cooling versions of weighted blankets that can manage to overheat, which may affect sleep quality.