Weighted Blankets Pros And Cons: Do They Actually Work?

The daily demands of modern-day living can occasionally overwhelm us to the point where all we want to do at the end of the day is to lie down and rest. But what happens when our problems refuse to give a moment’s rest? Many experience sleep problems driven by anxiety and pressure that they inevitably bring with them to bed.

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Especially in the bustling city of Singapore, a weighted blanket (sometimes referred to as a gravity blanket) might just be the solution to doze off and stay asleep. We’ll look into what this gravity weighted blanket is about, the pros and cons of a weighted blanket, and how to use it to maximise its benefits.

About Weighted Blankets

A weighted blanket is exactly as advertised - a heavy blanket weighed between 5 and 30 pounds. Also known as a gravity blanket, the extra blanket weight adds a comfortable pressure on the sleeper which imitates deep pressure stimulation. This is a therapeutic technique used by occupational therapists on all types of behavioural conditions.

The weighted blanket was first invented by Temple Grandin, an American scientist looking for solutions that can ease anxiety among children labeled with autism spectrum disorders. These children find it difficult to process every stimulus and can lash out at themselves or others as a consequence. In order to provide her patience with comfort that was not stifling for them, she invented a “hug machine” that replicates the gentle pressure one gets from being hugged.

Featuring Weavve’s Weighted Blanket
 

This machine was a hit with her patients, and started iterations for deep pressure therapy to produce the weighed blankets we know today. Other versions of weighted fabrics - such as weighted vests - have been used for students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sensory processing disorder, among others. This has been effective in maintaining concentration in finishing tasks as well as managing anxiety in real-life situations.

Similar to the now-defunct “hug machine”, the secret to success of weighed blankets is how they give people the sensation of being embraced. The pressure as you gently hug someone releases feel-good chemicals in the brain, relaxing the nervous system. This is a much-needed sensation for those who are feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated.

Going beyond autism, mental health disorders that have anxiety and depression as symptoms can greatly benefit from a weighed blanket as well. However, it doesn’t take a disorder to need a hug. Everyone goes through hard times and could have trouble falling asleep because of it. Who knew a hug could be so therapeutic and that the answer was as simple as a gravity weighted blanket?

Pros Of Using A Weighted Blanket

Featuring Weavve’s Weighted Blanket

The benefits of a weighted blanket centre around providing a good night of uninterrupted sleep through its constant gentle pressure. Especially helpful in a fast-paced city, a weighted blanket in Singapore could be the reprieve of busy professionals or anxious children as they navigate through their daily life.

A gravity blanket can help with sleep disorders such as insomnia in three ways:

Improves Sleep Quality

In a chemical perspective, the inclusion of a weighted blanket promotes the release of serotonin and melatonin, hormones which help one sleep soundly through the night. It also increases the feel-good hormone oxytocin and decreases the stress hormone cortisol for you to wake up on the right side of the bed the next day.

Featuring Weavve’s Weighted Blanket

Alleviates Pain

There have not been direct correlations between the benefits of a weighted blanket against chronic pain, but some solutions to painful conditions experienced in one’s sleeping hours may be alleviated by the calming pressure of it.

Because of the pressure it applies, a weighted blanket can help reduce perceptions of chronic pain as found by a study from The National Library of Medicine. People suffering from fibromyalgia find comfort in being wrapped in it. Individuals suffering from seizures report lower incidences of such while using weighted blankets. They also alleviate nightly joint pains brought about by arthritis.

Featuring Weavve’s Weighted Blanket

Moreover, weighted blankets can help ease chronic discomfort due to illnesses such as restless leg syndrome. While the condition isn’t painful per se, the inability to control one’s legs especially in sleep can wreak immense havoc on one’s sleeping patterns. There have been researches which have shown that applying pressure to the legs through devices such as weighted blankets can help contain the legs’ movements.

Calms You Down

One of the biggest weighted blanket advantage is its ability to calm people down by engaging their sense of touch. Those who suffer from autistic spectrum disorder are prime candidates, but it also applies to all those who are stressed or overwhelmed. Simulating touch therapy, weighed blankets can decrease one’s heart rate and lower blood pressure, priming your body to go to rest and release its anxieties.

Swaddling yourself with a weighted blanket also helps one feel more secure, combatting sleeping anxiety and improving one’s irregular sleeping patterns.

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Cons Of Using A Weighted Blanket

However, the benefits also come with some risks of using a weighted blanket.

Added Costs And Maintenance

The weight of the blanket is its biggest asset, but it can also be a liability. Gravity blankets can be difficult to travel with and can be a hassle to clean frequently given their heft. Given their additional features, these types of blanket are inevitably more expensive than a regular one. Be prepared to factor this in as you decide to invest in one.

May Be Uncomfortable For Some

The sleeping experience is an acquired taste. Having a weight pressed against you as you sleep may be a welcome feeling for most, but an unfamiliar one to others. Give yourself a few weeks to get used to the feeling before determining that a weighted blanket is fit for your sleeping experience.

Featuring Weavve’s Weighted Blanket 

Moreover, there is the notion that sleeping with a weighted blanket makes for a sleep that’s too warm. While there is some truth to it, the weighted blanket’s ability to absorb and retain heat all boils down to the material of the weighted blanket itself. Try looking into Weavve’s weighted blankets which are stuffed with glass beads. These are cool to the touch and help ease the stuffy feeling one would associate with a bulky blanket.

How Best To Use A Weighted Blanket

Having blissful rest lies in mindfully buying a weighted blanket that is fit for you. For best results, the weight of your blanket should be approximately 10% of your body weight.

Featuring Weavve’s Weight & Size Guide for Weighted Blanket 

The blanket must also be the appropriate size - not too big or small. As the best hugs are all-encompassing, your weighted blankets should cover your body - from your shoulders to your feet. Try sleeping on your back as well for the blanket to take up more space against your body. If you’re a side sleeper, don’t fret. The blanket will work just as well. Using your most comfortable sleeping position is best.

A weighted blanket can be used every night no matter the weather. Blankets in Singapore are usually bought for their ability to give a cool night’s sleep - fortunately, the same can be achieved with this comfy blanket, even in the heat of summer. Aside from choosing stuffing which feels cool against your skin, a weighted blanket can be complemented with a breathable duvet cover as well. Our TENCEL™ Lyocell Duvet Covers are the perfect companion to get the weighted blanket benefits without suffering from night sweats.

Are Weighted Blankets Worth Trying?

Gone are the days that weighted blankets are only for special cases. These days, everyone - disorder or no - can use one. And between the pros and cons of a weighted blanket, the pros definitely outweigh the risks of a weighted blanket. And these are flexible across all sizes, sleeping habits, and climates, too - making them blankets Singapore sleepers of all dispositions can rely on.