For best results, we recommend sleeping on your back. This way, it covers your entire body with an even pressure. You can sleep on your side, but this means less area covered by the blanket.
Weighted blankets work equally well for both side sleepers and those who sleep on their back or stomach. For side sleepers who are choosing between two weights that are otherwise the same - for instance our Full/Queen 15lb or 20lb options - we would suggest trying the lighter weight.
Cover your entire body: For full relaxation, cover your entire body from your shoulders down to your feet. If needed, you can use just half of the blanket (over your legs) for the first few days to let your body adjust. Lying on your back can help evenly distribute the weight, but by no means is it required.
Should Everyone Use a Weighted Blanket? Adults and older children can use weighted blankets as bed covers or for relaxing during the day. They are safe to use for sleeping throughout the night.
Are there risks when using a weighted blanket? There are very few risks for using a weighted blanket. However, according to manufacturers, weighted blankets shouldn't be used for toddlers under 2 years old, as it may increase the risk of suffocation.
Some sleepers should take extra precautions and speak to their doctor before using a weighted blanket. A weighted blanket may be unsuitable for people with certain medical conditions, including chronic respiratory or circulatory issues, asthma, low blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and claustrophobia.
The pellets or glass beads can fall out and become a choking hazard. The heavy blanket could cover a child's face while they sleep. If you have sleep apnea, breathing problems, or any chronic health condition, check with your doctor before you use a weighted blanket.
If you use the blanket every night while sleeping, wash it once every few weeks to prevent the build-up of sweat and body oils. If you only use it occasionally as a lap blanket on the couch or at a desk, cleaning your weighted blanket three to four times per year should suffice.
but there's always the risk that your weighted blanket will turn into a crutch and you'll become dependent on it. “They can become so strongly associated with falling asleep that a person might eventually have a hard time falling asleep without the weighted blanket,” says Schneeberg.
Pros: using a weighted blanket offers a drug-free way to help you cope with anxiety, fall asleep easier, sleep deeper, and wake up feeling restored. Cons: conventional weighted blankets can be too hot to sleep under and aren't eco-friendly.
Wondering how weighted blankets benefit side sleepers? The ideal weighted blanket weight is about 10% of your body weight. However, side sleepers may want to choose a blanket about 7% of their body weight because of the weight distribution. Ideally, a weighted blanket for an adult is between 15-20 pounds.
The position you sleep in makes a difference when choosing a weighted blanket. Stomach sleepers, for instance, will likely find that using a weighted blanket increases the pressure on their lower spine, which can cause low back pain throughout the day.
As a rule of thumb, the weight of a weighted blanket should be about 10% of your body weight. Of course, the ideal weighted blanket weight depends on what feels right to you. Preferred weights can vary between 5% and 12% of the sleeper's weight.
The weighted blanket should cover your whole body from the neck down. The gentle, even pressure applied across your body will help to relax and calm you. Some users like to start by covering just their legs until they get used to it, but again, this is down to personal preference.
It can sometimes take up to 14 days for your body to full adjust to the new added weight. It takes roughly 14-21 days for us to form new habits, so give your body time to adjust to the weight and to the benefits. Deep sleep is on the horizon.
The general wisdom is to pick one 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.
One downfall to the weighted blanket, however, is that it makes it super easy to fall back asleep in the mornings and even harder to get out of bed. I definitely recommend setting multiple alarms if you aren't usually one to hop right up in the morning.
Would a Weighted Blanket Help With Snoring? A weighted blanket may be able to promote muscle relaxation in light snorers, but those who experience heavy snoring and untreated moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea should not use weighted blankets because they can worsen the condition.
Finally, to answer the titular question and give you a more concrete number, it usually takes around two weeks for the weighted blanket to start giving results. Human body usually takes between 14 and 21 days to get used to big new changes, so around 15 days is the most realistic expectation.
The Bottom Line
Beyond protecting your beautiful new blanket from spills and harmful allergens, a duvet cover will make laundering your weighted blanket a million times easier.
Weighted blankets are heavy blankets used for therapeutic purposes, such as relieving anxiety and stress. Usually between five and 30 pounds, weighted blankets are filled with plastic pellets or glass beads. The added weight is designed to produce a calming effect when placed on the body.
Leaking beads from weighted blankets are also notorious for damaging washing machines, especially older models, so it's best to be extra careful. If you just need to hand wash your blanket, fill your washtub basin with tepid or cold water and a small amount of mild detergent.
Weighted blankets may help anxiety. While more research is needed, 2020 research reported that weighted blankets may be helpful in relieving anxiety by helping with emotional and physical regulation. In another study, 63 percent of participants reported lower levels of anxiety after using a weighted blanket.
If you stick out your feet out of your blanket in the winter season then it might make you feel cold and you might have to get the feet back inside your blankets, this can eventually lead to disturbance in sleep.
Weighted blankets may be unsuitable for people with certain medical conditions, including chronic respiratory or circulatory issues, sleep apnea, asthma, low blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, epilepsy, and claustrophobia.