A growing number of insomnia sufferers are looking for a better night’s sleep under a weighted blanket. These trendy blankets are filled with pellets, balls, or chains, which give them their heft. Fans of the blankets say the pressure feels like a firm hug, giving new meaning to the word “comforter.”
A blanket that hugs you all night long sounds awfully nice. And some experts say it's plausible that weighted blankets could help fend off sleeplessness. “Given that insomnia is frustrating, it can lead to anxiety-related to sleep (or lack thereof) even in individuals who are not typically anxious,” says Courtney Golding, Ph.D., a sleep psychologist at Spectrum Health Sleep Medicine in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Some individuals may need a little extra soothing at bedtime—exactly the kind of soothing that a weighted blanket is designed to provide. Golding says that “steady sensory input and pressure can reduce the body’s physiological arousal level, leading to a reduction in feelings of anxiety and tension.” Still, Golding says there are more questions than answers about the benefits of weighted blankets for people with sleep issues.
Read more about the potential sleep benefits of weighted blankets.