hugge Education Kids 1.5kg Weighted Lap Pad Blanket - British Made - Kids & Adult Sizes - Reduces Anxiety and Fidgeting

Product Information

It’s important to note that many of the medical claims made by manufacturers of weighted – or “gravity” – blankets should not be taken as fact, and rather treated the same as we would the claims made by makers of things such as supplements and essential oils. The Silentnight Wellbeing weighted blanket is the budget choice on paper, but in practice it’s comparable to most others on the list, which makes it a great buy. It’s a large blanket available in two weights, both very reasonably priced. Start by reading the care label. Then, according to the instructions, soak your weighted blanket in a tub filled with cold or lukewarm water and mild detergent for 15 minutes. Then, rinse and repeat until you're left with nothing but clean water. Or, wash your blanket in a machine.

For the safety reasons mentioned above, you should always choose a weighted blanket that weighs no more than 5-10% of the user’s body weight. This is especially important for those who may not be able to lift a heavy blanket unaided. Products on this list range from anywhere between 100g and 11.3kg, so there’s a huge variety out there to choose from. If you plan on sharing the blanket between different members of your household, make sure it will be safe for all of them. Can children use weighted blankets? When it comes to the material of the weighted blanket itself, there are two things to take note of – the padding and the filling. As opposed to the sympathetic system that's responsible for our fight or flight response, the parasympathetic system handles our “rest and digest” response. By nature, blankets are supposed to keep you warm. However, if you rely on using a weighted blanket to de-stress, you will want one that won’t make you uncomfortably hot in the summer. That’s why the Blyss weighted blanket is great: it comes with a warm polyester winter cover that’s machine washable, while the weighted blanket itself is made from cotton, which is a much more breathable material. Admittedly, even the most breathable cotton blanket will struggle to keep you cool when it’s sweltering hot, but it’s still a much better option than its synthetic rivals. For those who need the blanket for sensory relief, the dimpled pattern on the removable cover adds another soft sensory element too.Generally, if a weighted blanket has a lot of padding, you might not feel the filling coming through that much. For some this is ideal but others might prefer a slightly “rougher” approach. If you've never tried a weighted blanket before, you may be wondering if it's for you. We asked sleep expert James Wilson (aka The Sleep Geek) to share his advice. In most cases, weighted blankets will be filled with plastic poly pellets, micro glass beads, steel shot beads or in some cases even sand or grain. We’d suggest steering clear of the organic fillings. As you'll soon see, weighted blankets with organic fillings tend to be a nightmare when it comes to keeping them clean.

The dimensions put it somewhere between a single and double duvet which is a good size, but there’s no choice of weights. And while it’s a nice, premium fabric, it doesn’t have the cosy, snuggly feeling that you get from some of the other blankets. Their additional weight mimics a therapeutic technique called “deep pressure therapy”. Like a loving hug, this triggers the release of serotonin and dopamine, also known as the “happy hormones”. That's why many people find a weighted blanket helps to soothe anxiety and encourage a peaceful night's sleep. However, it's important to note that some weighted blankets also have their own “cooling system”. Usually, this means that the weighted blanket has multiple layers that are designed to maximise airflow. You can also use a duvet cover that's extra breathable if the weighted blanket itself has a stuffy cover. What I didn't expect is that the removable cotton cover makes this blanket feel the most like a duvet. It just felt a bit more familiar having this on the bed at night than a fleecy blanket or one of the ones without a cover on. When looking for a weighted blanket, it’s important to know which features to look for. It’s not enough just to buy the first weighted blanket you come across. Many important features make up a good weighted blanket – like the weight, the material, how breathable it is etc.

Even though it is not necessary, finding the perfect cover for your weighted blanket can improve the overall experience significantly. That is why many recommend that you do so.