Most people know the benefits of good sleep, but they might not know the health benefits of a weighted blanket.
A weighted blanket can have incredible health benefits, including reducing stress, improving mood, and increasing relaxation.
On the other hand, what is the danger of weighted blankets, are they suitable for everyone, are there any contraindications?
This is the question we will try to answer in this article.
Also read Benefits Of A Weighted Blanket.
Let’s go.
First Of All, What Is A Weighted Blanket?
A weighted blanket is a type of blanket designed to provide comfort and relaxation through the weight it provides.
This weighted blanket can be used for both personal and professional use.
A weighted blanket is often filled with micro-glass beads or plastic to make it heavier.
These materials are compartmentalized in small bagged squares of 10cm x 10cm, thus crisscrossing the cover so as to distribute the weight evenly.
It is this feeling of heaviness on the body which is also called deep tactile pressure or Deep pressure Touch which soothes the body.
Our mind tends to focus more on these sensations of support on the different parts of the body, it feels that we are touching it and therefore releases the pressure by not thinking of anything else.
Some of the commonly found health benefits of a weighted blanket are:
- Reduction of stress and anxiety,
- Helps improve the quality of sleep,
- Alleviation of sensory processing disorders in children and adults,
- Improved cognitive functions (concentration) and general health
- Restless Leg Syndrome Relief
- Soothing people prone to anxiety attacks
What Are The Negative Effects Of A Weighted Blanket?
What warning(s) when using them?
Weighted blankets are becoming increasingly popular as they offer multiple therapeutic benefits, but there are a number of risks and contraindications associated with their use.
For example, young children and the elderly may need extra supervision when using weighted blankets with the potential risk of:
- suffocation if they are not properly adjusted to the body of the child or the elderly,
- compression if the weight of the latter is too great.
It is strongly recommended that the person be able to move around under the blanket and manipulate it as they please!
Is Sleeping With A Weighted Blanket All Night Safe?
Infants and very young children should never use a weighted blanket. The micro-beads can escape and present a risk of suffocation, even if to date no accident has been declared.
The heavy blanket can cover the child’s face while sleeping.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, breathing problems, or any other chronic health condition, consult your doctor before using a heavy blanket.
Ask your child’s pediatrician or therapist for advice before letting him sleep under a weighted blanket. They are not safe for children with:
- epilepsy,
- breathing or heart problems,
- skin allergies,
- blood circulation problems
or for those who cannot remove the cover themselves.
The Advantages And Disadvantages Of These Blankets For Children And The Elderly
Weighted blankets have been used for decades and reviews from healthcare professionals such as occupational therapists, doctors and ordinary people using them show positive results. So there are reasons to believe that blankets can be useful.
Advantages
Weighted blankets can provide many benefits to the user. Regular pressure is meant to mimic “deep pressure tactile stimulation” as discussed above.
This deep-pressure touch has a calming and soothing effect on people’s moods. Similarly, weighted blankets have shown similar effects on people with anxiety.
The positive effects on the body:
Turn into a hug
Research shows that hugs can make a person relax and soothe. When people hug, the body releases the hormone oxytocin.
This hormone helps lower blood pressure, slow the heart, and provide a feeling of relaxation.
A weighted blanket essentially mimics the warmth and security that a hug provides. Both the blanket and the hug exert gentle, firm pressure that penetrates deep into the body, providing a feeling of calm that allows the body to relax.
Releases serotonin
Researchers have found that pressure on the body in certain areas triggers the release of chemicals in the brain, including serotonin, which leads to reduced stress while improving mood.
Melatonin release
Melatonin is a hormone that promotes sleep and helps regulate the sleep cycle. Due to the hormone’s connection to serotonin production, the pressure this chemical exerts will also result in the production of melatonin.
Improves sleep
A weighted blanket’s pressure can help to create a relaxing environment for sleeping.
The practice is that the blanket creates a feeling of envelopment and the physical connection one feels with the blanket gives a sense of warmth and security.
Thus, the mind calms down and the body can relax.
Weighted blankets were originally developed to address some of the anxious tendencies associated with people diagnosed with autism.
A youngster may need special care when using a weighted blanket. Indeed, a heavy blanket can apply tremendous pressure.
The Inconvenient
Although there is minimal study on the safety of these blankets, makers make the following observations based on online expert advice and feedback:
1. Pediatricians and sleep experts do not recommend weighted blankets for toddlers and infants. Unfortunately, we now know that these sleep devices can be associated with suffocation in infants.
2. Most blankets are sold for children 3 years and older, but we do not recommend that smaller children use them in their sleep, especially if they are too heavy and difficult to handle.
3. Only parents, on the advice of a doctor, occupational therapist or qualified pediatrician, should advise parents to use weighted blankets for their child.
4. We believe that the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) may be related to the issue of using these blankets.
5. Make sure to be vigilant if the cover comes undone and the contents come out, in this case, the glass microbeads; this could pose a risk of suffocation for the child.
6. Blankets should only be purchased from a reputable dealer, come with a list of precautions, and meet higher safety standards than other blankets available on the market.
There are, however, many advantages to using weighted blankets for children and the elderly. First, they can help reduce stress and improve sleep quality.
In addition, they can also improve overall health and well-being. However, using weighted blankets for children and the elderly also carries some risks.
These include excessive weight in individuals or groups, leading to orthopedic problems.
In 2008, a death in a Canadian school was attributed to the improper use of a weighted blanket on an autistic child.
This death triggered an investigation which highlighted the potential risks and dangers of these weighted blankets but also to warn about their use in terms of safety.
Scientific Studies And International Research On The Benefits And Precautions To Adopt In The Face Of Weighted Blankets
According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, adults who used a weighted blanket had lower brain activity (fewer reports of rapid thoughts) and lower anxiety.
Due to the rapid physical response that weighted blankets provide, 78% of participants selected the weighted blanket as their preferred method of soothing.
A Northwestern College literature review demonstrated that heavy blankets are an “effective means of anxiety reduction” for patients with symptoms of anxiety.
You will also find by clicking on the link below a recent study of 09/15/20 published in the Journal of Sleep Medicine, demonstrating that study participants over a period of 4 weeks reported that weighted blankets had helped:
A significant decrease in the severity of insomnia,
better sleep,
A reduction in symptoms of fatigue, depression, and anxiety.
Conclusion
In summary, the important points to remember before buying a weighted blanket
Make sure the weighted blanket you are purchasing is safe to use and has undergone testing from a professional.
You should also ensure that the weight and size of the blanket is suitable for you and/or your child.
I have an extended article stating: How To Choose A Weighted Blanket?