You climb into bed, and your joints ache, or your mind keeps running, and sleep just won’t come. The best heated weighted blankets for warm, cozy sleep may help.
This article explains how heat and gentle weight work, including for pain and Restless Leg Syndrome, then goes through the blankets and heating pads I like, with the downsides named.
One thing to know first: a heavy blanket can sometimes backfire. I explain why in my article on how weighted blankets can cause knee and leg pain.
How Can a Heated Weighted Blanket Help You Sleep Better?
1. Heat Can Relax You
Heat is well known for being relaxing. This is typically why you feel much better when you take a warm bath at the end of a long day. Or why you would want to hop in the sauna after an intense workout.
2. Heat Can Reduce the Pain
Heat is also well known for reducing pain. This is why you would apply a warm compress to sore joints or muscles. Staying well hydrated is another gentle way to help, and I explain how drinking more water to ease joint pain in my Hydration January article.
A heated blanket will offer a pain-reducing combination of compressed heat with deep pressure stimulation, which should minimize any joint discomfort or other pain you are dealing with.
3. It Can Help with Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
Restless Leg Syndrome is a common condition that can make it hard to sleep. Some people find a weighted blanket calming, but others find it makes their legs feel worse. Ask your doctor before trying one.
Symptoms of this condition can involve involuntary movements, and if it’s out of control, it can lead to sleep problems, including insomnia and even depression. [4]
Therefore, anything that eases the symptoms may help you sleep better, so it is worth asking your doctor what makes sense for you.
Best Heated Weighted Blankets Available
Now that you’ve decided you want in on the fun of getting better sleep, it’s time to choose the right weighted blanket. However, there are so many different options to choose from.
With seemingly every manufacturer and brand looking to tap into such a hot product, it can be disorienting to look at and choose between different blankets.
In this article, we will be going over some of the different heated weighted blankets that stand out as the best available.
Pure Enrichment WeightedWarmth Heated Weighted Blanket
Comfort. This should be your primary factor to consider when buying a blanket to help you sleep. Having a comfortable blanket should be key. Because this blanket comes with even weight distribution using high-quality glass beads and because it features an extremely soft and plush outer cover, it’s a blanket that will be comfortable to sleep with.
5-Year Warranty. Whenever you have anything electric, you want to be covered. This brand/manufacturer is willing to back its product with a 5-year warranty. Meaning you will be able to feel confident you will get your money’s worth when you buy it.
This is a standout combination of a heated and weighted blanket. This particular blanket combines a weighted blanket with an electric blanket, and it meshes the two together seamlessly. Using this blanket is extremely comforting and relaxing.
It features a good 13 pounds of evenly distributed glass beads. This allows the blanket to offer enough deep pressure stimulation throughout without overwhelming the user.
Best of all, the outer portion of the blanket is made of micro mink and sherpa. Meaning you are getting a blanket that is not only high-quality but one that is extremely soft to the touch.
This means you will spend less time tossing and turning in bed to get comfortable.
The blanket comes with everything you would need in a combination blanket. You get the blanket itself, an easy-to-use LED controller, and even a bag for storage.
Garvee Heated Weighted Blanket
If you want the weight and the warmth in one blanket, the Garvee Heated Weighted Blanket is worth a look. It is 50″×60″ and holds 15 lbs of weighted beads.
The heating wires run through the blanket and, according to the maker, reach a comfortable warmth in about 20 minutes. There are 10 heat settings, with a top temperature of 122°F. Built-in sensors keep watch on the temperature as you use it, and the blanket is ETL certified.
The controller has a digital display that shows the temperature you picked, so you are not guessing at a dial. It also shuts itself off after 9 hours, which helps if you fall asleep on the couch with it still on.
The blanket has two layers of plush fabric, so it feels soft against the skin.
Now the downsides. At 15 lbs, it is a real load to lift and move around. If you have trouble with heavy bedding, or you tend to get hot at night, this may not be the right pick.
It also has a cord and a controller, so it needs to stay near an outlet. That is fine on a bed or recliner, but it will not follow you around the house.
Sunbeam ConformHeat Heating Pad
This one isn’t a full blanket. It is a heating pad that is lightly weighted, so it gives you some of the same warm, snug feeling in one spot, such as your back, shoulder or neck.
The Sunbeam ConformHeat Heating Pad measures 14″ x 14″. It flexes to follow curved parts of the body, and a layer of beads helps hold it in place against you.
It heats up in about 30 seconds with Sunbeam’s XpressHeat technology, so you aren’t waiting around. A push-button controller gives you 3 heat settings, with LED lights showing which one you are on.
It is also machine-washable, which is handy for something that sits against your skin.
The trade-off is size. At 14″ x 14″ it warms one area at a time, so it won’t take the chill off your whole body in bed the way a full heated blanket does. If you want all-over warmth, look at the full-size blankets above.
It suits someone with a sore back, shoulder or neck who wants steady heat and a gentle bit of weight. It plugs in, so you will need to stay near an outlet.
Sunbeam Extra Warm Weighted Blanket
Hand Slit. The unique design of the hand slit makes it the perfect option for those who are looking to wear a blanket while getting ready for bed. If you are looking to use the blanket while you are relaxing on the couch, you may want your hands free to do other things.
Comfortable. The blanket itself is one of the most comfortable you will find in the marketplace.
Sunbeam is well known for producing some of the very best heated blankets in the marketplace. They are well-versed in creating heated blankets with some top-selling options.
This is one of their first swings at the weighted blanket market, and they hit it out of the park with this product. This product is weighted with glass beads and comes in a good size (54 x 73 inches).
The cover is made out of extremely soft and comfortable microfiber, and it even features a built-in slot for your arms to allow you to use your hands freely while you have it wrapped around your body.
While it’s not an electric blanket, it does offer ample warmth due to the cozy dual-fabric design. The blanket comprises plush velvet and microfiber to ensure maximum comfort and heat retention.
It weighs 15 pounds, which is on the heavy side. Weighted blankets are usually picked at about 10 percent of body weight, and anyone who has trouble moving or lifting heavy covers should check with their doctor first.
L’AGRATY Weighted Blanket
This one is not an electric heated blanket. It is a weighted blanket, and it suits people who want gentle pressure and a sleep surface that does not trap too much heat.
The L’AGRATY comes in a 15 pound version at 48″ x 72″. It is made of soft, breathable microfiber and filled with glass beads (0.8 to 1 mm, non-toxic and hypo-allergenic). The maker says it feels cool in summer and gently warm in winter, so it works through the seasons. It is also washable.
The maker suggests a blanket weight of 7% to 12% of your body weight. Do that math before you buy, because 15 pounds is right for some people and too much for others.
The size is meant to cover you, not the whole bed. That means it fits a twin, full, or queen bed, but it is a one-person blanket. The maker advises against two people sharing one, since it works best when it wraps around a single sleeper.
The trade-off is that this will not give you real heat on a cold night. If you want a blanket that warms up, pair it with a heated one or look at an electric option. Also, anyone who has trouble moving under heavy covers should talk with a doctor before trying a weighted blanket.
Sharper Image Massaging Vibrations Weighted Heating Pad
Targeted Relief. If you are suffering from aches and pains that are causing you to be unable to fall asleep, this is what you want.
Weighs Just Enough. The pad itself only weighs 4 pounds. However, this is enough when you have targeted a specific area of your body since the weight isn’t being distributed across your entire body.
This is a good one for those who are looking for a basic weighted heating pad that they can use to target sore joints and muscles.
This pad is meant to provide targeted heat and deep pressure stimulation to various aches and pains you may be experiencing. These pains could contribute to an inability to fall asleep or an inability to get quality sleep.
The pad offers nine unique relaxing combinations, and you will find that the weighted pressure provides the right amount of stimulation for relief. Also, it features vibration options which can help the heat penetrate deeper for greater relief.
Give Hugz Weighted Plush Monkey
Coco is a weighted plush monkey with extra-long arms that wrap around you like a hug. It weighs 3.8 pounds and stands 10 inches tall. It is soft, scent-free, and can be heated in the microwave or cooled.
This one suits someone who finds comfort in holding something, whether that is for stress, anxiety, or a sensory condition. It would also make a gentle gift for a grandchild or for an adult who likes a stuffed companion. The weight comes from glass beads mixed with polyester fill, and it is certified CE and OEKO.
The trade-off is that it is a plush toy, not a blanket. It will not cover you or keep your whole body warm at night, so it works best as a companion to a blanket and not a replacement for one.
Wrapping Up
As you can see, it is worth exploring weighted blankets for seniors who may be suffering from aches and pains or sleep issues. These blankets offer numerous benefits.
Only one manufacturer is currently producing combination blankets for sleep, but you will find a lot of weighted blankets that can retain sufficient warmth or can provide targeted relief. You can’t go wrong with any of the options above.
References:
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233228002_Exploring_the_Safety_and_Therapeutic_Effects_of_Deep_Pressure_Stimulation_Using_a_Weighted_Blanket
- https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/134/2/298.long
- https://www.appliedbehavioranalysisedu.org/what-is-deep-pressure-stimulation/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12390051/
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