By Laura Thompson
In recent years, I’ve come across numerous discussions surrounding weighted blankets, and each instance sparked the thought that my son could benefit from one. Since he was a baby, now a pre-teen, he has always been energetic and has struggled with sleep. Unwinding has always been a challenge, and his emotions can escalate rapidly, making it tough to help him find calmness during stressful moments.
Given his personality, he has always found comfort in being snugly wrapped in blankets (we affectionately referred to it as “being a burrito” in his younger days). So, when I learned our family had the chance to try a weighted blanket, he was eager to take part in this new experience.
For those unfamiliar with weighted blankets, they resemble standard blankets but are ingeniously designed with micro-pellets embedded within them, which provide gentle pressure. The materials used can range from cotton to fleece. We received a customized blanket from The Cozy Wrap Company, which tailored it to fit my son’s height and weight.
According to the Cozy Wrap website, these blankets have been known to assist with various conditions, such as sensory processing disorder, anxiety, and ADHD. They are believed to provide “proprioceptive input,” which may trigger the release of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine in the brain. This concept is not just a marketing gimmick; multiple studies support these claims. For instance, a 2008 study in Occupational Therapy in Mental Health noted that weighted blankets reduced anxiety in 63% of participants, while 78% preferred them as a calming tool. Another pilot study from 2012 published in Australasian Psychiatry demonstrated significant reductions in distress and clinician-rated anxiety among users of weighted blankets.
After receiving the custom blanket a few weeks ago, my son was initially apprehensive about its weight, concerned he might feel too hot at night. Fortunately, those worries proved unfounded. The blanket offers a gentle sensation of pressure without causing discomfort. “It’s quite comfy,” my son shared during our little interview. “It’s not as warm as you would expect. It strikes a nice balance between being too hot or too cold.”
The real question was whether this blanket would genuinely assist him in falling asleep and calming him down during stressful times. After using it for over a month, the answer is a definitive YES! “It’s surprisingly effective for helping you fall asleep,” he noted, although he added that it doesn’t necessarily keep him asleep through the night.
I consider this a significant victory. Regarding his ability to de-stress, my son’s feedback was even more enthusiastic. I’ve observed him seeking the blanket when feeling down, wrapping himself in it, and gradually finding his calm. “When I’m stressed, it helps me feel less stressed,” he explained. “If you have really strong feelings, it won’t fix everything, but it does help a lot.”
As a parent, my sentiments align closely with his. While weighted blankets aren’t a miracle solution for every issue, they serve as a valuable tool for soothing and comfort. The experience has catalyzed deeper conversations between my son and me about emotions and self-care, allowing him to recognize his feelings and explore ways to manage them.
Interestingly, I’ve also had a chance to try the blanket myself. Though it wasn’t tailored for me, I found it to be incredibly cozy, almost like being enveloped in a warm cocoon. It’s hard to resist the temptation to stay snug under it indefinitely, if only everyday responsibilities didn’t exist!
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Summary
In this article, Laura shares her experience with a weighted blanket that has helped her son manage his sleep and emotional challenges. After months of use, both she and her son have found the blanket beneficial for relaxation and comfort, sparking important conversations about feelings and self-care.