2020 was a year of pressure, anxiety and losses. From the pandemic to economic struggles around the world, it has taken a toll on many people. For those suffering from insomnia or restless nights, weighted blankets have emerged as a useful sleep aid for the years.
The Rolling Stones published an article on the top brands of weighted blankets for anxiety for 2020 but is applicable for 2021. Check out the link to original article below.
If you’re having trouble falling asleep or are looking for a way to relieve some tension after a stressful day, you’ll want to consider curling up under a weighted blanket at night.
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What Are the Best Weighted Blankets?
The best weighted blankets use light pressure to keep your body stable and supported in bed, preventing the dreaded tossing and turning that often keeps you awake. Most weighted blankets (sometimes referred to as “pressure blankets”) are constructed with a quilt-like design, with patches or “pockets” that contain thousands of tiny glass beads inside.
Like a bean bag pillow or heating pad, the glass beads are evenly dispersed throughout the blanket, and help to form a gentle seal around your joints and limbs. (The beads are often surrounded by padding or extra fill, so they won’t make noise, even if you flip the blanket around).
These days, manufacturers are also making new weighted blankets that forgo the beads in favor of using the natural weight of the materials. One of our favorite blankets is made from a thick knit, that gets all its weight from the chunky cotton yard used in its construction.
A good weighted blanket should feel heavy, so it’ll take a few nights to get used to it. That said, the best weighted blankets are also made with breathable materials, so you’ll never feel suffocated or sweaty underneath. Look for blankets that are machine-washable too, so you can easily keep it clean.
What Are the Benefits of a Weighted Blanket?
The best weighted blankets do more than just keeping you still in bed. When wrapped around you, the weighted blanket can simulate the feeling of a hug (often referred to as “deep touch muscle simulation”), helping you feel coddled and held. The glass beads and stiffer construction of the blanket (you can’t just “fling” it around) could also help to ease muscle tension, the same way say, a hot compress helps after a workout.
Manufacturers also claim that when an evenly dispersed weight is placed on the body, natural hormones are released that help to calm you down. A final benefit: a weighted blanket helps to block out stimulation, by keeping you and your limbs in place. You’re less likely to reach for your phone, for example, or slip out of bed to grab that remote.
What Size Weighted Blanket Should You Get?
There are two factors to consider when shopping for a weighted blanket: your personal weight and the size of your bed. The latest weighted blankets come in sizes for twin, queen and king beds. Keep in mind, a weighted blanket is meant to be smaller than your duvet, as it’s meant to cradle your body, not cover your entire bed.
Weighted blankets also come in different weights, typically ranging from 5-8 pounds for a weighted blanket for kids, and 10-20 pounds for adults. Most manufacturers recommend purchasing a blanket that’s about 10% of your body weight.
If you’re sharing a bed, and you and your partner greatly differ in weight, consider getting two separate twin-sized blankets. Otherwise, a king-size weighted blanket is best for sharing.
What Are the Best Weighted Blanket Brands?
As someone who’s always had trouble falling asleep — and staying asleep — a weighted blanket has helped me immensely in staying calm and relaxed at night. I get up less in the middle of the night, have stopped tossing and turning, and wake up feeling more refreshed and less groggy. Here are five of my favorite weighted blankets to try right now.
- YnM Weighted Blanket
- Casper Sleep Weighted Blanket
- Bearaby Cotton Napper
- Layla Weighted Blanket
- Luna Weighted Blanket
See Full Review and Descriptions here.
