Weighted blankets

[Estellemac]

Has anyone tried one of these? I was wondering if but would make sensitive muscles hurt under the weight of the blanket or as is suggested it helps you sleep better?.

amzn.eu/d/j1fTL1R

[Rugger]

I haven't tried one, but I do have a woollen blanket folded in half on top of the duvet and it provides warmth as well as extra weight.

There are some related posts now that you've posted your question.

Sleep well! zzz

[Blearyeyed]

It all really depends on you , what reason you want it for ( Pain or Anxiety/Autism Relief) and which health conditions you have.There are many people with chronic pain issues , especially neuropathy and Fibromyalgia that swear by them.

I have one , some days it's just what I need , other days I would throw it at the wall to get it off me depending on the type of neuropathy I'm experiencing that day , Fibro, Restless Legs , Back Pain etc.

They are a little like Marmite I think , people either Love them , or Hate them ....and sometimes Love and Hate them.

If you've never felt comfortable in bed with a tightly tucked in blanket or with heaviness on you feet and legs it probably won't work for you at night , but might give you nice pain therapy ( which is how I use it) during a lie down or a nap.

There are certain people whom shouldn't use them.

They aren't recommended for people with the following:

Obstructed Sleep Aponea

Hypotension ( low blood pressure) or Bradycardia ( low heart rate especially at night)

Type 2 Diabetes

PTSD or Anxiety derived claustrophobia

Respiratory Disorders like severe Asthma or COPD

Certain peripheral circulation problems

The rule of thumb with choosing one is that you aim for a weight that is about 10% ,or as near to 10%, of your body weight, although that should only be 5-7% in children or older , smaller adults.

Most people are better trying a lower weight first though to see if it suits, 5-7% of body weight. The choices range from 5-12%.

Personally, I don't think they are suitable for children except for in a waking therapy session .

There is a good article about these blankets by the Sleep Foundation online which might help you to make a choice. This also includes a handy blanket weight chart which can guide your purchase.

The cooling blankets are good in the hot weather for people with inflammatory conditions made worse by heat, including sensitive skin problems.

For general use or in winter it's a comfy blanket you want the softest cosiest option available , really look at your options as some of them can feel a bit .....well, bony , if the outer fabric is thin!!!

The Luna blanket in your link is one of the more recommended options although it's quite expensive.

I have a mid weight blanket which I would recommend and got from Kudd.ly

The Kuddly is usually in the top 5 weighted blankets in most lists and comes from a British company.

They usually feature in Good Housekeeping lists .

It is virtually identical to the Luna Blanket from Amazon but less than half of the price with a larger range of sizes and colours

They have a Black Friday deal at the moment so they cost about £49 , or less if you are buying more than one .

I bought three as gifts this year and they only cost £33 each.

It's probably better trying a recommended but cheaper version first just in case they really aren't for you because some of them are quite an investment, especially if it ends up being left in the laundry cupboard.

My other weighted blanket option , and I have one homemade one and one gifted one ( Bearaby ) are the blankets knitted from that really super chunky yarn. They aren't necessarily advertised as a " weighted" blanket but work that way because of the weight of the yarn in them.

They also feel really cosy , allow air flow and look lovely on the bed or as a throw in your room ( some weighted blankets just look a bit utilitarian or like a cover from a Space mission!).

I actually enjoyed using my homemade one as a nap blanket as I knitted it. You can download free patterns and buy giant knitting needles and the bulky wool from lots of places, lots of suppliers also include full kits and instructions for different size blankets which makes it easier to know how much wool you need and can make a nice Christmas gift for a crafty friend.

To find a similar affordable knitted blanket to the top recommended weighted yarn blanket ( which can come in at a whopping £250) you can look up the Bearaby. Tree Hugger as an example ,then shop around on Amazon etc. checking the stated weight in the item description and choose a size that works for you.

You can get these knitted blankets as Lap blankets too which are often more practical for people whom mainly have back and lower body pain , or still want to try a weighted blanket but can't use them on their whole body because of breathing conditions.

Hope that helps, let us know what you get , blanket hugs , Bee

[Estellemac in reply to Blearyeyed]

Extremely helpful. I think you’ve answered all my questions. I think I’ll leave it for now. Need to borrow someone’s first I think.

[AshPen9 in reply to Blearyeyed]

I like Kudd.ly too, Blearyeyed. Had bursitis in my foot and I bought a pair of sliders from them. They looked quite plasticky but they were SO comfy and I felt quite 'bouncy' when I wore them. Really hard wearing too. Thanks for all of your posts, they're always really informative.

[Blearyeyed in reply to AshPen9]

My pleasure , I will look at the sliders Didn't know they made them , although I've just treated myself to some new slipper boots so it would be a bit naughty to get something else , take care , Bee

[Estellemac in reply to Blearyeyed]

They have heated bootees with a zipper to take out the toe pads for the microwave!!! I’ve just got a pair you have to put the whole bootee in and have to do them one at s time as they are big. These look great. I’m considering which blanket to go for now.

[Blearyeyed in reply to Estellemac]

Are you planning to try a Kuddly blanket as well then? I'm quite tempted by the boots , but I have to be careful with heating them ironically, as the reason I need warming foot wear is because I have Raynaud's . If me feet get too cold even for a just a little while in Winter it's an instant bout of severe chilblains , but if I heat them too much , or too quickly it brings on chilblains too. It's the same for my fingers .... I basically have Diva Digits!!! 😆😆😆

[Estellemac in reply to Blearyeyed]

Yep the Kuddly single 6.5 weight? My heated slippers do burn if l heat too long got to be careful but so much better than a hot water bottle

[Blearyeyed in reply to Estellemac]

Actually just looked at them and I'm going to get a pair and cancel my others.They've got clay inserts which are so much better than gel ones because they retain the heat longer and you can just make them warm instead of hot.

It's a shame they only go up to size 8 as Mr.Bee would have liked a pair too.

I used to recommend a clay based back and abdominal belt by Dynamik , it literally my most essential item for lumbar , sacroiliac and hip pain but they've stopped making them.

But I've just found a multi use clay heated pad with belts from a company called Eazz which Mr.Bee is saying is as good as the Dynamik . The pad is really clever because you zip the clay insert in one part but it has a hole between that and the pad which means you can use it as a pillow or a hand muff as well as just a normal hot water bottle , or on the belt ( that inserts in the hole ) to put around your back. They are great because it means you can wear them and move about to do jobs or in bed at night and it doesn't move from where you need it while you sleep.

Really useful in the car or sitting at a desk too.

The smaller belt means you can put it in place on your upper back or shoulder too.

I think they are definitely as good as the Dynamik for heat and pain relief , the only thing you can't do with it is use it as back pain relief and support hidden under your clothes when you are just out and about becausecof the extra pad , but I can use the clay inserts with my Dynamik belt so it's all good.

It is the ultimate version of a heat pad , I'd never have a hot water bottle again.

I got ours as the full set on special price from a little British company called Thea Wellbeing because they are cheaper on there than on Amazon at the moment , around £26 .

The company do quite a few different types of comfort aids including weighted blankets.

I only payed for standard delivery but they sent in 24 hour delivery anyway and they plant trees to offset carbon with each order.

You might want to take a look.

[Estellemac in reply to Blearyeyed]

Will do sounds ideal. Thanks x

[Shiv14]

I ditched my duvet years ago and have been using bedspreads that I had. One in summer and two in winter with an extra throw on a cold night. It has transformed my sleeping. If I’m staying away from home and have a duvet I spend the night tossing and turning.

[Oh-my]

There is a really informative radio 4 podcast on bbc iPlayer called Sliced Bread about weighted blankets. Worth a listen if you want to go down that path Discusses pros and cons

[Estellemac in reply to Oh-my]

Just listened to the podcast on Sliced Bread good insight thanks

[Richmond162]

Hi. I am using a child’s size one as I always feel cold on my top half. At the moment I can say it is a nice comforting feeling. But don’t think I could stand the weight of a large one on my whole body as they are quite heavy.

[Pixix]

Not allowed for us! Hubby has Asthma & sleep apnoea & I have hypotension! I don’t mind. We have a 4 tog light duvet as the pain of anything on my toes prevents much needed sleep!

[Greensleeves]

I have one I use downstairs on the sofa Estelle .

It’s folded neatly, it’s too heavy to carry .

After dinner in the evening around 8/9pm I’ll lie on my side and pull it over myself while watching tv .

Within minutes I’m asleep, it’s like being snuggled and hugged .

i wouldn’t like it on my bed , as I’m up several times during the night, but for a couple of hours comfort it’s delightful.

I sleep so deeply that I’m disoriented when I wake .

I don’t move much , if at all, when I’m asleep . It isn’t hot . I suppose it’s like how we swaddle babies .

I’d try a lighter single bed one , it’s worth a go . x

[S4ndy]

I've recently crocheted a single blanket and added it to my duvet and bedspread. I find I sleep better with a bit of weight on me but when I get hot I kick it off. The blanket has really helped me get better sleep and only cost me £18 to make and a lot of crocheting time😀

I cannot sleep without a cover so in the summer bought a cooling blanket made of fabric that breathes and can lower your body temperature by 5%. I was very happy with it especially on hot sticky nights.

Guess you find what's best for you.

My crochet blanket

[Estellemac in reply to S4ndy]

I love your crochet blanket. It is so natural I appreciate anything home made especially the time and love put in to it.

[Blearyeyed in reply to S4ndy]

That looks beautiful , I have made my own before so I can see you put hours of work into that , I bet you are proud of it, take care , Bee

[random901]

I use mine to wrap around me for post-lunch nap. Very comfortable and accommodating. I can't get on with it overnight, however. Maybe I'll try again when the weather gets colder. Mine cost around £35.