Why your bedroom needs a weighted blanket

Once, the only decision you had to make was ‘tuck or no-tuck’. Now there’s another factor to consider – weighted or not weighted. The use of weighted blankets is growing more and more common for a number of therapeutic reasons — so what’s all the fuss about?

Worth their weight

Weighted blankets have been proven to help with anxiety, stress, insomnia, even ADHD. Users say they feel safe and secure beneath them, providing further comfort to help soothe a troubled mind.

Often referred to as therapy blankets, they are deliberately heavy and provide even pressure across the whole of your body.

How it works

Weighted blankets work by affecting your body’s proprioceptive input. Your mind is constantly checking the position of your body, where each limb is, and so on. Sometimes, if you are lying still with your muscles relaxed, your brain isn’t receiving enough information to maintain a sense of where your arms, legs, and other parts of your body are.

That’s where the blanket helps. The overall pressure from a weighted blanket gives the brain clearer, constant sensory input from your body. Your brain can then relax, and therefore, so can you.

When you’re awake, this creates a particularly snug sensation. Like a full-body hug. And whilst you’re asleep, it can help stop you thrashing around quite so much.

Matching your body weight

The optimum weight recommendation is around 10% of your body weight. This has proven to be the perfect weight to give you a level of pressure that is beneficial yet loose enough to freely move around during sleep.

Brands such as calmingblankets.com.au have a range of options in various weights, making it easy to find the optimum weight for your body.

Converts of weighted blankets say they are calmer, sleep better and generally feel less anxious since using one. Our advice? Try using layers of ordinary blankets first to see if the weight treatment works for you. If it does, treat yourself to a purpose-made one and a sound night’s sleep might be coming your way.

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Hero image credit: The Gravity Blanket