hugge Education Kids 1.5kg Weighted Lap Pad Blanket - British Made - Kids & Adult Sizes - Reduces Anxiety and Fidgeting

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So, when stimulated, the parasympathetic system lowers our blood pressure and pulse, slows down breathing, and increases the secretion of hormones like dopamine and serotonin promoting relaxation and calmness. Finding the perfect cover shouldn’t be too troublesome. It all boils down to the material of the cover if we’re being honest. And that's because the cover material dictates all of the important features you'd want: how easy it is to wash, how well it can regulate the temperature, and how soft it is to the touch. It’s important to note that many of the medical claims made by manufacturers of weighted – or “gravity” – blankets should not be taken as fact, and rather treated the same as we would the claims made by makers of things such as supplements and essential oils.

Lastly, if the purpose of getting a weighted blanket is to help a person with ASD to fall asleep, it can be worth reading our article on the relationship between autism and sleep. After all, the more you know, the easier it will be to find what works best for you. What is the right weight of a weighted blanket for me? When it comes to the material of the weighted blanket itself, there are two things to take note of – the padding and the filling.What I didn't expect is that the removable cotton cover makes this blanket feel the most like a duvet. It just felt a bit more familiar having this on the bed at night than a fleecy blanket or one of the ones without a cover on. Although we can't go too in-depth here, we'd like to give you a few tips when it comes to the covers you use for your weighted blanket. Most of the time, a cotton cover is going to be your safest option. Cotton covers and sheets typically have a high level of breathability, are soft to the touch, and aren't too expensive. One of the more commonly asked questions in regards to weighted blankets is how they can potentially help people with autism. And this is especially true when it comes to children. The fact of the matter is that we can't tell you with certainty whether a weighted blanket will or won't help you or your child. However, here's what we've found researching this topic. The main purpose of having the best weighted blanket is to make you feel at ease when you go to sleep and help improve the overall quality of your sleep. So, when you think about it, the advantages of owning the best weighted blanket are the same as a good night’s sleep. People who suffer from anxiety can benefit from weighted blankets the most, but overall, most people can benefit from weighted blanket hugs. In other words, weighted blankets can help but don't assume that they 100% will. Talk to a medical professional, try it out, and don't be afraid to search for other means if the weighted blanket doesn't seem to calm you down. Do you have to have a weighted blanket to deal with stress, anxiety, and ASD?

For example, the average weight of a 5-year-old is around 18kg, so a weighted blanket should be no heavier than 1.8kg. Lastly, while it can be romantic, we don't typically advise sharing a weighted blanket. This is especially true if you plan on sleeping with it. The last thing you'd want is for your partner to toss about and accidentaly cover your face with the weighted blanket. A very important consideration is cleaning, especially if you plan to use it as a bed cover. It either needs to be washable or come with a washable cover. And remember, if it’s washable but too heavy for your washing machine, that’ll be a problem. As the second most expensive weighted blanket on this list, the Simba Orbit feels very good quality. It’s about the size of a single duvet and only comes in one weight. But, unlike the pricier blanket from Emma, this one comes with a removable cover included. Sadly we weren't able to get our hands on the Oodie in time for this review so we can only compare this one in terms of specs. However, it’s the only blanket on this list that’s available in three weights, giving you ample opportunity to get the right weight for you.

Looking to ease the stress and strain of daily life? Enhance your bedtime routine with the best weighted blankets

There are four main points to consider when choosing a weighted blanket. The first is choosing the right weight for your body size and you can read more on that below. Secondly, it’s important to choose the right size blanket. They come in a variety of lengths and widths so if you intend to use it at night, make sure you get the right size for your bed or your side of the bed. According to research, applying “firm, but gentle” pressure, otherwise known as deep touch pressure, stimulates our body's parasympathetic system. Start by reading the care label. Then, according to the instructions, soak your weighted blanket in a tub filled with cold or lukewarm water and mild detergent for 15 minutes. Then, rinse and repeat until you're left with nothing but clean water. Or, wash your blanket in a machine. For added convenience, the cover can be removed and machine-washed at 30°C. It’s one of the most expensive blankets on our list, but if you’re prepared to pay a bit of a hefty price for a weighted blanket, you can’t really go wrong here. The effects of weighted blankets on our bodies are various. By affecting the hormone levels in our body, weighted blankets can help improve our mood, put us to sleep, and even alleviate symptoms of anxiety, ADHD, autism, and depression. After all, few things are more calming than a warm hug – even when it comes from a weighted blanket.

Lastly, cost will inevitably come into your decision making process. Some weighted blankets have very high RRPs but we regularly see them discounted, so if there’s a pricey one that takes your fancy, it’s always worth a look to see if it’s on sale. How we tested the best weighted blankets Generally, if a weighted blanket has a lot of padding, you might not feel the filling coming through that much. For some this is ideal but others might prefer a slightly “rougher” approach. For the safety reasons mentioned above, you should always choose a weighted blanket that weighs no more than 5-10% of the user’s body weight. This is especially important for those who may not be able to lift a heavy blanket unaided. Products on this list range from anywhere between 100g and 11.3kg, so there’s a huge variety out there to choose from. If you plan on sharing the blanket between different members of your household, make sure it will be safe for all of them. Can children use weighted blankets? Well, weighted blankets rely onsomething called deep pressure stimulationto help us calm down and fall asleep. And deep pressure stimulation or deep pressure therapy is known to stimulate the secretion of mood-boosting and sleep-inducing hormones called serotonin and melatonin. Furthermore, deep pressure therapy is also known to lower the levels of cortisol – a well-known stress hormone.This one can also be hand-washed or dry-cleaned and it comes with a drawstring storage bag to help keep the blanket clean and in good condition. Because the warmer cover is removable, the blanket needs to be tied to the cover to stop it from sliding around or falling to one side; the ties are located in all four corners and on all four edges, so it can be quite a mission to attach. But once it’s in, the blanket’s not going anywhere. In layman's terms, deep pressure therapy is a form of therapy that relaxes our nervous system by applying gentle pressure on our body. Whether the pressure is applied through hugging, squeezing, holding, or covering yourself with a gravity blanket does not make that big of a difference. This is because some children might have tactile sensitivities and simply not like the feeling of the weighted blanket. However, at the same time, other sources have claimed that weighted blankets can help lower this hypersensitivity to touch. Firstly, washing a weighted blanket isn’t impossible, but it can get a bit troubling. That’s why a removable cover is a welcome addition.