Well, they were first used in the autistic community with great success but now they are considered security blankets by many outside the community who need to feel a hugging sensation to sleep like a fat healthy baby.

Weighted blankets can be helpful for people with various kinds of pain, stress, anxiety, chronic circulatory or respiratory issues, asthma, low blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and claustrophobia.

But like with every health and wellness product, it wouldn't be wise to just buy into the idea without erring on the side of caution. Even doctors know well to include caution when describing these bed coverings to their patients. 

We'll begin with the most obvious and then talk about some you perhaps haven't thought about.

Suffocation Hazard

Weighted blankets are just bed coverings that have additional weight added to them, usually spread out evenly across the surface of the blanket. Usually, it's 10 percent of the sleeper's body weight, if not a bit more. The gentle pressure from the added weight is meant to provide a calming influence and facilitate better sleep.

However, while the sleeper may enjoy the feeling that's like being wrapped in a cocoon, it won't be the same for infants and small pets. Be careful when using weighted blankets around your toddlers, infants, or even pets. They may crawl underneath, get trapped, and potentially suffocate.

Won't Cure Your Insomnia

Insomnia affects almost half of kids and a third of adults. But while the soothing, hugging sensation of weighted blankets can be a game changer, it's no magical cure. You'll still need to follow several other guidelines including regular exercise, reducing caffeine, lowering alcohol, and sticking to a consistent sleep pattern.

Many people do extremely well in adding a weighted blanket to their snuggling or nighttime routine.

It Takes Time to Get Used To

Sleeping under a weighted blanket will feel strange at the jump. After all, it's a bed covering weighing about 10% of your actual body weight, if not more. But there's a way to ease into the habit. Start with a 12–15-pound blanket and only use it on the lower half of your body.

Once you get used to it, you can drape it all the way to the top for full effect. Once you get into the habit, you'll enjoy the gentle pressure that many say feels like the comforting sensation of a hug. Benefits of weighted blankets include improved mood, reduced anxiety, reduction in pain, sensory processing support, and increased feeling of security.

A Traveling Hassle

If you are thinking of buying a weighted blanket for use in your jet-setting adventures, it won't be easy. While it would be relaxing to snuggle under such a cover on the plane or the road, there's the whole matter of the covering's additional weight. Imagine lugging something amounting to ten to 20% of your body weight into a tight car and past airport checking. It's no fun, especially if you have additional heavy luggage. It's a disadvantage you'll have to contend with.

Real talk though, weighted blankets are comfortable to snuggle under whether in the comfort of your own home or unfamiliar places. You just have to err on the side of caution around infants, toddlers, or pets and also take care of the issues causing your insomnia.

For those looking for something to bring along in your adventures, you just have to get creative. Perhaps consider a kid-size version, designed to offer enough comfort to adults too.

We have many kinds of hypoallergenic weighted blankets for people with different needs. Reach out and let us help you find something to help you sleep comfortably.