A Weighted Blanket Weight Guide for Beginners
New to the wonderful world of weighted blankets?
Well come right in! We have some exciting things to share with you about weighted blankets and how you can buy the best one for your body weight, and begin enjoying a good night’s sleep.
Willy Wonka had a chocolate factory, but here at Gravid, we have a range of comforting, high-quality, and beautiful weighted blankets that will improve your sleep quality and leave you feeling like a different person by morning.
Join us as we walk you through the options and provide you with all the information you need to make a confident purchase.
Let’s go!
Factors to consider before you choose a weighted blanket
There are a number of things you need to take into consideration before making your final choice. We have a weighted blanket weight chart that we will discuss with you shortly, but first, we want to discuss some factors that could influence your choices.
Materials used to construct weighted blankets
Weighted blankets weigh more than normal blankets, even comforters or duvets (pardon our French), for a good reason. Most weighted blankets are filled with either plastic pellets or micro glass beads that are kept in place in an inner blanket by sewing the beds into ‘pockets.’ You also have an outer removable cover that is zipped to the inner and this creates a heavy blanket.
The reason they have to be heavy is to give you the feeling of being ‘hugged’ or that you are securely lying in a cocoon, just waiting to sleep peacefully.
This is a simple and yet effective use of a therapeutic technique called deep pressure therapy. The right weighted blanket will provide a relaxing, comforting, soothing and peaceful sense of calm to your body, but the wrong weighted blanket will do the opposite - even aggravating your sleeplessness. This is why it’s important to buy the right weighted blanket size.
Further reading: How and why does a weighted blanket work?
Disorders that can cause sleeplessness
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There are a number of health disorders that can cause sleeplessness and each disorder may require a different approach to buying the right size weighted blanket. We’ll discuss some of these disorders so that you understand what we’re trying to convey.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD and other neurodevelopmental disorders
Often accompanying these disorders is difficulty in falling and staying asleep. ASD and ADHD cause individuals to experience restlessness and anxiety and this can lead to insomnia. Occupational therapists have long used deep pressure stimulation when working with their patients who suffer from these disorders and have seen positive results. Improvements in sleep and a reduction in nighttime anxiety are some of the benefits that have been reported.
The choice of material and size of the blanket can be highly personal for this category of disorders. Some people are hot sleepers and prefer to use a cooler material; others want the warmth and comfort of a plush material. A person’s body weight will play an important role in the choice. You can skip forward to the weight chart below if you’re interested in that information.
We recommend:
- Breeze™ Cooling Weighted Blanket - for hot sleepers (15 lbs - 30 lbs)
- UltraPlush Weighted Blanket - for warmth and a luxurious feel (15 lbs - 30 lbs)
Respiratory disorders
Sleep apnea, along with lung disorders such as COPD and asthma, can restrict easy breathing in sufferers. Weighted blankets work because they are filled with pellets or glass beads that give the blanket its weight and provide deep pressure therapy that greatly improves sleep quality.
However, the feeling of extra pressure on your chest may be uncomfortable if your breathing is already restricted, so if you want to purchase a weighted blanket, ensure you choose a lighter weighted blanket that only applies gentle pressure.
We recommend:
- Breeze™ Cooling Weighted Blanket - 15 lbs
Restless leg syndrome
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Restless leg syndrome is a sleep disorder that affects sleep quality and eventually leads to sleep deprivation. The reason a weighted blanket may be an effective sleep remedy for RLS is that gentle pressure has an inhibitory effect on the sympathetic nervous system, producing a calming effect on the patient.
We recommend:
- If a lighter blanket relieves your symptoms - Breeze™ Cooling Weighted Blanket or Chunky Knit - 15 lbs (twin size only)
- If a heavier blanket relieves your symptoms - Breeze™ Cooling Weighted Blanket - 20 lbs
Pain disorders
Individuals with pain disorders such as fibromyalgia, neuropathy pain and diabetic neuropathy struggle to fall asleep because of the constant and enduring pain felt in their bodies. Restful sleep seems to elude them and for this reason, any attempts to use a weighted blanket should be carefully considered.
The objective is to relieve stress and reduce the stress hormone cortisol. This can be achieved by deep pressure stimulation that provides sufferers with a relaxing hug, which in turn can stimulate the release of endorphins and dull the experience of chronic pain a little.
We recommend:
- Breeze™ Cooling Weighted Blanket - if you get pain relief from applying cooling therapies to painful areas (15, 20 or 30 lbs)
- UltraPlush Weighted Blanket - if warmth helps relieve your pain (15, 20 or 30 lbs)
Weighted blanket weight chart
As you see from our conversation above, the ideal weighted blanket weight depends on a number of factors. Healthy adults who do not suffer from the disorders mentioned but want to tackle sleep disturbances such as insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, and shift work sleep disorder.
Your body weight range will be the key to determining the correct weight of your blanket. Below is our recommended weight chart:
|
Blanket weight |
Body weight |
|
15 lbs |
Weigh less than 160 lbs |
|
20 lbs |
Weigh more than 160 lbs |
|
30 lbs |
Sharing with a partner (between 115-220 lbs each) |
How to choose between a light, medium or heavy blanket
A light weight blanket weighs between 10 lbs and 15 lbs. It is better suited for young adults, those with petite body frames, and those struggling with physical weakness and/or cannot lift anything heavy.
A medium weight blanket weighs between 20 lbs and 25 lbs. As a general rule, a weighted blanket should not be more than ten percent of your body weight, if you want to get better sleep and not be uncomfortable. The average adult will benefit from the deep touch pressure provided by this blanket, however personal preferences should be considered before making your final choice.
A heavy weight blanket weighs more than 25 lbs. This blanket is suitable for people who weigh more than 200 lbs or are sharing with a partner.
Twin, Queen or King?
The difference between a twin, queen and king size blanket is also important when choosing your weighted blanket. Unlike most blankets, a weighted blanket does not have to hang off the sides of your mattress. They are certainly aesthetically pleasing and therefore can be used like a comforter or duvet. What is important is that you are comfortable, you do not have to wrestle to move under the blanket and you do not have to wake up multiple times a night to pull the blanket back onto the bed. All this activity would completely defeat the purpose of a weighted blanket which is to KEEP you asleep.
Let’s take a look at the size and weight differences:
|
Size (inches) |
Weight (pounds) |
Recommended for |
|
Twin (60x80) |
15 or 20 lbs |
Individuals |
|
Queen (87x80) |
15 or 20 lbs |
Individuals and couples |
|
King XL (98x90) |
20 or 30 lbs |
Couples |
The right blanket weight is very much a personal choice, and even though we’ve made some recommendations, they are only guides to help you make a good buying decision. Perhaps you have some further questions you would like answered? Below you can find some popular questions that have come our way.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What happens if your weighted blanket is too heavy?
You will be uncomfortable, and it can aggravate sleep disturbances. Also, if you are a couple, one person may be struggling to sleep and enjoying the benefits of a heavier blanket while the other does not. In this case, we recommend you get a single blanket in the weight you prefer.
A too heavy blanket can worsen some health disorders, and cause overheating because you struggle to move the blanket off your body. These scenarios will impact your experience of weighted blankets negatively, when they can be highly effective for sleep disturbances.
Can you sleep with a weighted blanket every night?
Yes. There is no reason not to do so. However, when you first purchase your blanket and if the increased weight feels a little uncomfortable, then you can use it on alternative evenings until you are used to the feel of a heavy weighted blanket. This won’t take too long, but if it does you may want to consider a lighter blanket.
Is 25 lbs too heavy for a weighted blanket?
25 lbs is considered a heavier weighted blanket and should only be used if you weigh over 240 lbs, or the combined weight of you and your partner is +240 lbs. The heaviest weighted blanket can go up to 35 lbs and would suit couples who each weigh between 115 - 220 lbs.
How heavy should a weighted blanket be for a child?
Using a weighted blanket is not advisable for children under the age of 10 years old or lighter than 100 pounds. The best weighted blankets for young children are blankets made from plush material that does not contain any filling. You should also aim to buy these blankets in small sizes (i.e. they only cover the child’s body and not the entire bed or crib) so that you reduce the risk of overheating. Young adults can try lighter blankets between 10lbs - 15lbs, depending on their body weight.
What if you’re between weights, what should you do?
Sleep disorders are helped by the therapeutic effect of the blanket, and a heavier blanket does not necessarily mean greater benefits. If you have chosen the wrong size or weight blanket you have 14 days to return your blanket (without damage and in its original packaging) and we’ll either refund your money or exchange your blanket with the weight you require.
Conclusion
Sleep products such as weighted blankets have improved the sleep of sufferers all around the world. Weighted blankets are generally considered a safe, and effective way to improve sleep health, relieve stress and stay asleep for longer.
By using our weight guide and suggestions you can make a good choice for yourself. Or perhaps you want to buy a weighted blanket for someone as a gift? That’s also ok, you’ll be able to work it all out using the weight chart and taking their body weight and personal circumstances into consideration.
At Gravid our personal commitment is to help Canadians sleep better than anywhere else in the world. Don’t we deserve the rest and relaxation after all? We’ve discounted our best selling sleep bundle, called the Night Owl Bundle, so that you can get more value out of your investment. You’ll get a weighted blanket and 2 removable covers. It’s available in 3 sizes and you’ll receive a weighted sleep mask FREE.
That wraps up our tour through the magical world of weighted blankets. If you want better sleep, then commit to buying a weighted blanket today and we’ll send your night time ‘hug’ to you as fast as we can.
Until next time - Cheers to a healthier, happier, more relaxed sleep life!