It’s generally safe for adults to sleep with a weighted blanket every night – in fact, our tester now sleeps under their Simba blanket at all times. Starting slow can be a good idea, though.

Hjort Telhede E, Arvidsson S, Karlsson S. Nursing staff's experiences of how weighted blankets influence resident's in nursing homes expressions of health. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being. 2022 Dec;17(1):2009203. doi: 10.1080/17482631.2021.2009203. Baumgartner JN, Quintana D, Leija L, Schuster NM, Bruno KA, Castellanos JP, et al. Widespread Pressure Delivered by a Weighted Blanket Reduces Chronic Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Pain. 2022 Jan;23(1):156-174. doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2021.07.00 Vinson J, Powers J, Mosesso K. Weighted Blankets: Anxiety Reduction in Adult Patients Receiving Chemotherapy. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2020 Aug 1;24(4):360-368. doi:10.1188/20.CJON.360-368 McCall WV. Paying attention to the sleeping surface and bedclothes. J Clin Sleep Med. 2020 Sep 15;16(9):1427-1428. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.8704

How do I choose the right one/weight for me?

Weighted blankets are typically filled with thousands of tiny glass beads that apply light pressure to the user. This pressure can have a soothing, calming effect on the body, says Nichola Henderson, a holistic life, self-development coach and wellness specialist. When starting to use a weighted blanket, start with approximately 10 minutes and observe the change in your body and mind before and after use,” suggests Henderson. “Make sure it feels comfortable, secure, and you can move it easily as needed. If it feels good after that time, then you can increase the time to 20-25 minutes and again just observe how you feel after that time. We might not buy a weighted blanket with the chief criteria being looks, but if we’re to happily use it often, it must suit the interiors of our home and match our tastes. If grey is your thing, most of the weighted blanket market has you covered, but for those who love a bit of colour or prints, Karmara is the brand for you.

Storage & organisation Furniture Textiles Kitchenware & tableware Kitchens Lighting Decoration Rugs, mats & flooring Beds & mattresses Baby & children Smart home Bathroom products Laundry & cleaning Plants & plant pots Home electronics Home improvement Outdoor living Food & beverages Christmas Shop Shop by room The general rule is to start with a weighted blanket that is about 10 per cent of your body weight, says Henderson. “So, someone of 11 stone, 154lbs, would use a blanket with a weight of around 15lbs. This is recommended only as a guide; preferred weights can vary between 5 per cent to 12 per cent of a person’s weight. Chen H-Y, Tang H, Chi H-J, Chen H-M. Parasympathetic effect of deep pressure input on third molar extraction in adolescents . J Formos Med Assoc. 2019;118(9):1317-1324. doi:10.1016/j.jfma.2019.05.026 The cotton is super-soft next to the skin and breathable for ultimate comfort, which our tester found helped them sleep much better than without the blanket. And we particularly like that this weighted blanket works just as well draped over the bed as it does in the living room on a chair or sofa. The design is gorgeous and comes in a range of colours, including a berry red, green, grey and blue. We were also impressed by the ethical production process that ensures every worker at each stage is paid a fair wage. So that it’s weighted where it matters, the glass beads are focused in the centre of the blanket rather than on the edges. Our tester wasn’t sure if this would mean that the weight would cover not all of their body, but the area is generously large enough to do the job.From the studies that have been done, there is a common theme that weighted blankets may be a useful tool to help with anxiety symptoms,” says Henderson. “There have been various studies in different scenarios, from patients in a psychiatric facility to patients receiving chemotherapy. Results have shown that anxiety levels were reduced by up to 60 per cent with the use of the weighted blanket.” However, experts agree more research is needed. How do I choose the right one/weight for me? Nothing beats falling asleep with a hug from our weighted plushies! You'll fall asleep faster than ever before.

Our Weighted Plushies are the perfect gift for a family member or friend. We promise they'll never forget it! Amazingly soft and incredibly adorable, this cuddly friend will have your friends and family wishing they had one! Youngstedt SD, Ito W, Passos GS, Santana MG, Youngstedt JM. Testing the sleep hygiene recommendation against nighttime exercise. Sleep Breath. 2021 Jan;25(1). doi:10.1007/s11325-020-02284-x If your budget doesn’t quite stretch that far, the TheaWellbeing blyss weighted blanket with cover is a fantastic value for money buy. For children, we love the Snoozzzy dinosaur weighted blanket. It’s possible to use the blankets overnight if they feel good and the user is comfortable doing so, but short periods of time up to 20-30 minutes can also be helpful to slow down and encourage rest during busy or stressful times. It comes down largely to personal preference and comfort.”

The best weighted blankets for 2023 are:

Warner SM, Tannenbaum SL, Pathan S, Lozada JS. Weighted Blankets for Pain and Anxiety Relief in Acutely Injured Trauma Patients. J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother. 2023 Feb 7:1-10. doi:10.1080/15360288.2023.2174634. Some people prefer the lighter feel of a duvet, says Henderson, and she suggests using something you already have at home to evaluate if the sensation of sleeping under a weighted blanket is for you. “Using a few large bath towels on top of your duvet can give you a good alternative feeling of how the weighted blanket might feel before you invest in one.”