Why you need a weighted blanket

WAIT. HAVE YOU HEARD? YOU NEED A WEIGHTED BLANKET.

They’re all the rage right now, and I’m not surprised at all that weighted blankets are totally a thing.

I’d heard that weighted blankets are amazing for several different reasons, which I will get into in a bit, but I didn’t really give purchasing one much thought until I went over to my parent’s house and tried the one draped over their couch. I laid across the chaise and draped the blanket over myself, and it was like a big, tight hug.

AKA so soothing.

Some people use a weighted blanket while they’re relaxing to calm anxiety or just to feel more calm overall, and some like to sleep with a weighted blanket. I knew I wanted one to sleep with. And so the research began. I did so much reading about materials, what kinds of weighted blankets are best, how much weight you should be looking at, just all the details.

Here’s the deal: if you want a weighted blanket to drape over yourself while you sleep, make sure it’s a cooling blanket. I got this one from YNM and I’ve been using it for 3 months…it’s pure bliss. It’s satin, so the material will not make you hot and sweaty making it perfect for summer (or winter nights). I use another, warmer comforter on top.

Weighted blankets are designed to provide gentle pressure that mimics the feeling of being held (known as Deep Touch Pressure). This type of pressure has been shown to increase serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of sleep that has a calming effect. {via}

And the blanket truly does allow me to get the best sleep ever. I have not woken up once in the middle of the night since using this blanket. It’s quite magical, really. Jeff saw how much I was loving mine, so he got his own and absolutely loves it. He’s not as sound of a sleeper as I am and it usually takes him awhile to fall asleep, but now with the blanket, the sleep issues are gone.

Let’s talk weight and size. Weighted blankets range in weight and size, but after all of the research that I did, I recommend getting a 60×80″ blanket, especially if you’re tall. And avoid buying a queen or king size weighted blanket, because the weight distribution can get confusing. The general wisdom for weight is to pick a blanket that’s 10 percent of your bodyweight. So if you weigh 150 pounds, you’d get a 15-pound blanket. If you are closer to 200 pounds, a 20-pound blanket is a good fit, and so on. Most adult weighted blankets are 10, 15, 20 or 25 pounds — kids blankets are lighter, starting around 5 pounds.

Let’s get into the specific benefits of using a weighted blanket:

♡ Eases Insomnia

♡ Reduces anxiety

♡ Fights stress

♡ Improves focus

♡ Eases restless leg syndrome

♡ Improves sleep quality

Like once you get one, you’re screwed. You’ll never go back to sleeping without one.

Currently laying under mine, about to finish Jessica Simpson’s book, Open Book.

Sweet dreams! Lynn xo