{"id":25207,"date":"2021-12-06T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-06T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/do-weighted-blankets-work-sleep-experts-weigh-in\/"},"modified":"2023-08-30T18:03:42","modified_gmt":"2023-08-30T18:03:42","slug":"do-weighted-blankets-work-sleep-experts-weigh-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/do-weighted-blankets-work-sleep-experts-weigh-in\/","title":{"rendered":"Weighted Blankets: Do They Work\u2014and Who Could Benefit From Using One?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n


After a long day, few things feel more relaxing than a comfortable bed and a cozy blanket\u2014except maybe a comfortable bed and an even cozier<\/em> blanket. Weighted blankets, 5- to 25-pound covers designed to promote sleep by reducing stress and anxiety, are becoming increasingly popular in bedrooms across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why would adding a little bit of extra weight to your blanket help you doze off and get a good night’s sleep? Let’s explore what exactly weighted blankets are and some of their individual benefits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are weighted blankets?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A weighted blanket (also known as a “gravity blanket”) is exactly what the name suggests: a heavy blanket with a certain type of “fill” to add weight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typically, weighted blankets are filled with glass beads, plastic pellets, or grains like rice and buckwheat. This makes them much heavier than traditional bedding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"weighted<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Many people describe weighted blankets as bedding that makes you feel secure\u2014similar to the feeling of being hugged. This can help you calm down at the end of the night and lull you to sleep. Weighted blankets offer the same comfort and security you got from being tucked in tight as a kid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do weighted blankets work? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We aren’t sure exactly how <\/em>weighted blankets work and why<\/em> they’re so calming. But most sleep experts believe the benefits boil down to what’s called “deep pressure stimulation” or “deep pressure therapy”\u2014the same sensation babies get from swaddling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pressure, which makes you feel grounded in your sleep surface, can help reduce cortisol<\/a>, the stress hormone. Cortisol<\/a> has negative effects on your melatonin production and can make it difficult to fall asleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pressure can also help increase the production of serotonin<\/a>, the calming hormone. Some research also finds deep pressure stimulation can reduce arousal of the sympathetic nervous system<\/a> (aka the “fight-or-flight” response) and increase calming parasympathetic arousal. (Learn about how weighted stuffed animals work<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advantages of using a weighted blanket<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are numerous benefits to using a weighted blanket over traditional bedding. For starters, weighted blankets provide a calming effect, which can help improve certain health conditions<\/a>, like anxiety and depression. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s more, using a weighted blanket for deep touch pressure can lower your heart rate and blood pressure, allowing you to calm down so you can fall asleep more easily. (Here’s how to clean a weighted blanket<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weighted blankets can help with the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n