Weighted blankets use gentle pressure to promote a sense of calm and relaxation and reduce feelings of anxiety. “The pressure of the weight stimulation from a weighted blanket can have a soothing, calming effect on the body, which is then relayed to the mind through the power of the mind-body connection,” says Nichola Henderson, a holistic life, self-development coach and wellness specialist.

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.” Simply pop your Weighted Plush into the washing machine when you feel like it needs a clean. Each wash makes the plushie softer to touch! We were also thrilled with the quality for the price because weighted blankets aren’t always the most budget-friendly buys. But the blyss is an excellent value-for-money investment that is brilliant for use in bed and for getting cosy during the day while working from home or evenings in front of your favourite Netflix series. The blanket also comes with a drawstring dust bag to keep it fresh while it’s not being used. 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

How we tested

Another option is to have one placed on top of a lighter tog duvet, so you can easily remove one or the other as needed. In the winter, both together has the additional benefit of warmth and weight to help encourage a good night’s sleep. The verdict: Weighted blankets Nothing beats falling asleep with a hug from our weighted plushies! You'll fall asleep faster than ever before.

As the weighted blanket that proved most effective at soothing our testers to sleep and keeping them in the land of the Nod until the alarm went off in the morning, the Simba orbit weighted blanket had to be our best buy. It’s not the cheapest blanket, but the quality and design warrant the investment.

Is a weighted blanket better to use instead of a duvet?

Our plushies are made with high-quality, environmentally-safe cotton and fabric which is ensured to last a lifetime. Henderson recommends practising deep belly breathing when using a weighted blanket, to help activate our “rest and digest” response. “The mind’s focus is then on the sensation of the blanket and the breath, not any thoughts that had been racing beforehand, meaning it can also be used as a mindfulness tool when used in this way,” she explains. What is the science behind weighted blankets?

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.Eron K, Kohnert L, Watters A, Logan C, Weisner-Rose M, Mehler PS. Weighted Blanket Use: A Systematic Review. Am J Occup Ther. 2020 Mar/Apr;74(2):7402205010p1-7402205010p14. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2020.037358 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. 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. 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 It’s up to you – some people like to replace their duvet with a weighted blanket, whereas others like layering them both, particularly during the colder months. If the sizes match up, you can also use a duvet cover on your weighted blanket, to keep it clean.

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.

Weighted blankets FAQs

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. 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. Losinski M, Sanders SA, Wiseman NM. Examining the Use of Deep Touch Pressure to Improve the Educational Performance of Students With Disabilities: A Meta-Analysis. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities. 2016;41(1):3-18. doi:10.1177/1540796915624889 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. 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.