I haven’t been sleeping great the past few weeks, dealing with middle-of-the-night insomnia and anxiety. I’ll wake up at 3 a.m., and won’t be able to fall back asleep for another hour or two. My mind just won’t turn off, thinking about the stress of the day before, or things I have to get done for the week. Getting crappy sleep not only affects how I feel during the day, but I’m also too tired to get up and work out, which also affects my mood and energy levels.
To help improve my snooze time, I decided to try sleeping with a weighted blanket. I know this isn’t a new concept or anything, but it’s new to me! I’d never tried one and figured other people rave about weighted blankets — I had to see for myself.
What Are the Benefits of Sleeping With a Weighted Blanket?
I got a slightly heavier blanket, the 15-pound, 60-by-80-inch Luna Cotton Weighted Blanket ($100). I sleep in a king-size bed and really wanted the blanket to engulf me. I put it on top of my regular blanket, which is just thin plush fleece, and when I slipped into bed, I immediately felt a sense of calmness wash over me. It wasn’t too heavy since the weight was distributed evenly, but felt more like gentle pressure on every inch of my body.
The heaviness immediately relaxed my muscles and mind, and I was shocked at how quickly I felt like I could nod off. I just felt so comforted; like I had been in Savasana for 10 minutes, or just had a full-body massage. Not only did I fall asleep faster, but the best part is that I stayed asleep. I didn’t even get up to use the bathroom, which has been a given since becoming a mom. I woke up feeling so rested and happy. And those weren’t just the effects for one night. I slept with this weighted blanket for two weeks, and every night, my sleep was incredible.
Is Sleeping With a Weighted Blanket Too Hot?
This weighted blanket is made with bamboo, and is actually considered a “cooling blanket.” So I honestly didn’t feel hot at all. I felt the weight on me, but wasn’t overly hot. I sometimes have an issue with sweating at night (thank you, period!), but I felt totally comfortable and dry.
Are There Any Cons to Sleeping With a Weighted Blanket?
The only issue I had the second night was that when I woke in the morning, I realized that the blanket had started slipping off onto the floor. That’s because instead of putting it on top of my comforter, I put it on top of my flat sheet, and then put my comforter on top. I guess the sheet was too slippery against the soft bamboo fabric. So the third night, I put it back on top of my comforter and had no further issues.
Will a Weighted Blanket Improve My Sleep?
For me, the answer is a million times yes! Sleeping with a weighted blanket was a game changer. I honestly didn’t think it’d make such a huge difference, and was worried I’d actually get worse sleep with being too hot or feeling like I was being smothered. It helped so much= that I got a seven-pound Huggaroo ($30) weighted blanket for my energetic 9-year-old son who often is too wound up at bedtime to settle down. As soon as he slipped under it, I noticed he was much calmer, and fell asleep faster, too. He loved how cozy it felt, and I totally agree. If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, this is absolutely worth the price! Now the only issue is how will I sleep without it?
