Great product, kids loved it and (made) them stay at bed till they wake up,” says one five-star review. Others loved how well it worked for their children. The first night that I slept with a weighted blanket I had the deepest, most restful sleep … it’s changed the game.” The blanket is available in three weight options – 10, 15, and 20 pounds. These weights are best suited for people who weigh between 100 and 200 pounds. All models measure 48 by 72 inches, which is a good throw blanket size for one adult. The cover is removable and machine-washable, and the blanket carries an affordable price-point compared to similar quality blankets in the same size. If you've never tried a weighted blanket before, you may be wondering if it's for you. We asked sleep expert James Wilson (aka The Sleep Geek) to share his advice.

Weighted blankets work using a technique called ‘deep touch therapy’, also known as DTP. By placing pressure on the body through the additional weight, this can lead to happy hormone serotonin being released in the brain, in a similar way to a warm hug. Through applying even pressure to your body, weighted blankets have been shown to reduce anxiety and stress levels and help you feel more relaxed, all of which can contribute to a restful eight hours. You can also choose between two colors for the shell, taupe or graphite grey. The shell is non-removable, and dry cleaning is recommended if stains or smudges occur. Please note the blanket is designed with adults in mind, and Saatva does not recommend that children use it. Another five-star review said, “This blanket has been utter bliss. Miss eight has gone from taking 1.5 – two hours to settle at night to now settling within 30 minutes. She is now waking easier and more refreshed every morning which means a more refreshed mum too.” Kudd.ly's weighted blankets range from 5-7kg, making them slightly lighter than some of the other options on the market where the weights may start at 7 or 8kg. This is ideal if you're not sure if a weighted blanket is for you and want to just try one out, or if you're just after something a bit less intense.When starting to use a weighted blanket, start with approximately 10 minutes and observe the change in your body and mind before and after use,” suggests Henderson. “Make sure it feels comfortable, secure, and you can move it easily as needed. If it feels good after that time, then you can increase the time to 20-25 minutes and again just observe how you feel after that time. Lastly, cost will inevitably come into your decision making process. Some weighted blankets have very high RRPs but we regularly see them discounted, so if there’s a pricey one that takes your fancy, it’s always worth a look to see if it’s on sale. How we tested the best weighted blankets

Plus, once the ties were used to secure the weighted blanket inside the cover, it was not moving anywhere and stayed in place until we removed it for washing. We tested this weighted blanket in the 6.8kg option, but a heavier 9kg version is available too. Due to the hand-knit construction, the blanket should only be spot-cleaned as needed and never machine washed. Regardless of which weight you select, the blanket is designed for a throw size of 50 inches wide and 60 inches long. These dimensions make it best suited to single sleepers. Chances are you’ve seen the hype around the products on TikTok, where the hashtag #weightedblanket has gotten over 146 million views. If you have a hard time relaxing and falling asleep, then you might be an excellent candidate for a weighted blanket. However, these products are not for everyone. While many sleepers report more relaxation and less anxiety sleeping under a weighted blanket, others feel too claustrophobic and pinned down. A weighted blanket may not be suitable if you are a hot sleeper, either – though some models promote temperature control better than others.

Only the best quality

Though success is dependent on the individual and their specific conditions, weighted blankets have been reported by some users to minimise effects of stress and anxiety; one of the most significant ones being loss of sleep. The considerable weight applied across the entire body emulates the treatment offered by deep pressure stimulation and massage therapy, used to relax the nervous system. However, if you’re experiencing anxiety and stress, it’s important to always speak to your GP, or a mental health professional, about the options available that could assist you. When shopping for normal, unweighted blankets, softness is normally one of the key criteria you’d be looking for. So in our opinion, we’d say this shouldn’t be thrown to the side when looking for a weighted blanket, especially when there are options out there as comforting as this teddy fleece model from Brentfords. Within the cover is an inner blanket filled with fine glass beads that make minimal noise when they shift. The beads also retain very little heat and they should help the blanket stay cool. The fill is encased in a shell made of 100% cotton in a percale weave, a breathable fabric that further enhances the blanket’s cooling properties.

The best weight for your blanket depends entirely on your body. As we’ve discussed, most people tend to prefer blankets that equate to roughly 10 percent of their body weight. That said, there is some wiggle room with this estimate.Existing almost in its own category, the Remy Airy Sleeper is what you get when you take your duvet and weighted blanket and fuse them together, which makes a surprising amount of sense when you think about it. Why have both a duvet and weighted blanket on your bed when you could have one? Especially if you're prone to overheating and want to keep your bedding as lightweight as possible.

With a soft duvet cover made from polyester microfiber, this weighted blanket offers a very plush and fleecy feel. The cover is removable, and can be washed and dried at home. Grid-stitching ensures uniform weight distribution. For added stability, the inner blanket is equipped with corner ties and elastic buttons that secure it to the duvet cover and prevent uncomfortable bunching. Gravity Blanket offers seven cover colors, ranging from neutrals to bold blue, purple, and yellow. The inner blanket should only be hand-washed and air-dried. For the washable blankets she machine washed them as per the care instructions to see how they fared in the washing machine and how easy they were to get dry afterwards. Most weighted blankets contain plastic pellets, ball bearings, and other objects that make them feel significantly heavier than a standard cover or duvet. However, some newer weighted blankets feature open-knit designs that many sleepers find more breathable. Typical weights for these blankets range from 5 to 30 pounds. Sleepers tend to feel most comfortable beneath a blanket that comprises roughly 10 percent of their own body weight. A very important consideration is cleaning, especially if you plan to use it as a bed cover. It either needs to be washable or come with a washable cover. And remember, if it’s washable but too heavy for your washing machine, that’ll be a problem.

Is a weighted blanket better to use instead of a duvet?

I think it’s a brilliant investment. I don’t sleep with it most nights – but can attest to surely feeling calmed after only minutes of wearing this blanket, whether laying in bed or reclining on my couch. Well worth its asking price (and more). Unlike regular bed linen, weighted blankets require more careful attention when cleaning. The first, most important, step is to refer to any specific cleaning instructions that come with your weighted blanket — the biggest mistake you can make when caring for your weighted blanket is not following what the label tells you to do with it. People who generally feel claustrophobic may find weighted blankets too stifling, as well. If you tend to feel anxious in enclosed spaces or when pressure is applied to your body, then you may want to consider other methods to help wind down and fall asleep. Lastly, weighted blankets pose a suffocation risk to children younger than 3 or weighing less than 50 pounds. There have been at least two cases of children who have died after using a weighted blanket. Weighted blankets use gentle pressure to promote a sense of calm and relaxation and reduce feelings of anxiety. “The pressure of the weight stimulation from a weighted blanket can have a soothing, calming effect on the body, which is then relayed to the mind through the power of the mind-body connection,” says Nichola Henderson, a holistic life, self-development coach and wellness specialist. Its Karma switch blankets come with removable covers in various colours, including indigo, olive green, peachy petal and, of course, grey. And if that’s not enough choice, the covers are reversible to offer an additional option, and they can be bought separately to give so much more choice. Karmara’s weighted blankets are also available in a wide range of weights, including 6kg, 8kg, 10kg and 12kg.