Home / Blog July 15, 2022 Updated on April 22, 2024

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How to Choose a Weighted Blanket: Tips & Tricks

Our weighted blankets are so much more than snuggly loops – they can deliver real, medically-proven benefits. That’s why it’s important to choose a weighted blanket that’s tailored to your size and weight.

How to Choose a Weighted Blanket: Tips & Tricks

Did you know?
William Shakespeare is recognized by historians to be the first person to use the verb “blanket” in his 1608 play, King Lear.

There are specific measurements that you should pay attention to when shopping for a weighted blanket, to make sure you experience the full benefits of sleeping under weight. We put together this easy guide to finding your perfect nap!

How to Choose a Weighted Blanket

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many of us simply aren’t getting enough sleep. As we become more aware of the importance of rest and self care, the popularity of weighted blankets has seen a spike.And with so many weighted blankets on the market, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by choice.

To make sure you find the perfect weighted blanket for you, this guide will walk you through the three main features to consider: weight, size, and material. Let’s take a look at how the ideal specifications differ from person to person.

Cotton Weighted Blanket

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Cocoonable, couchworthy perfection

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Choosing a weighted blanket for adults

Let’s start with choosing the perfect weight. For adults, a weighted blanket should weigh around 10% of your body weight. For example, a 100-pound person would choose a 10-pound blanket, a 150-pound person would choose a 15-pound blanket, and so on.

It doesn’t have to be exact – just choose the weight that’s closest to your ideal number, and if you’re in-between, we suggest choosing the heavier of your two options.

You might want to consider the dimensions of the blanket, too. If you’re a solo sleeper with a larger bed, our Ocean Hugger may be just what you’re looking for! Designed to cover your whole bed, our Queen-size Ocean Hugger is 20 lbs and 60’’ by 80’’ while the King-size is 25 lbs and 76’’ by 80’’.

bearaby bag balance

Choosing a weighted blanket for couples

The best snuggle sessions start with a cozy, shared blanket—we get it! There are plenty of reasons why getting a weighted blanket to share with your partner makes sense.

Just because a weighted blanket is large doesn’t necessarily mean that it’ll work for a couple – it’s important that the weight of the blanket is distributed evenly between two people. That’s why we designed the Hugger, which is designed for couples and will deliver the benefits of Deep Touch Pressure for both of you. Take our Bearaby Quiz to find your ideal weight!

Don’t forget the kids!

Wondering how to choose a weighted blanket for your child? We’ve got you! Whether you’re shopping for a 10-year-old or a 13-year-old, you’ll want to look for a blanket that is 10% to 30% of their body weight.

Beyond that, it’s up to the kiddos to select their color of choice! Our Nappling comes in a range of calming hues that your kids will be sure to love.

bearaby stack nappers

A material world

Taking care of your mental health and wellness goes hand-in-hand with taking care of your environment. That’s why we make blankets that look beautiful in your home, and take care of the planet, too.

There are a lot of weighted blankets out there that fall short of these standards.. Weighted blankets filled with glass beads, plastic pellets and other synthetic materials often make their way to landfill or into our oceans.

We use only natural, organic cotton, sustainable TENCEL™, and eco velvet to make our blankets. Our cotton and TENCEL™ are so sustainable, both our Cotton and Tree Nappers are biodegradable! Our eco-velvet is an innovative material made from plastic cleaned up from the oceans – every single Velvet Napper helps to clean up 900 waste plastic bottles!

By choosing sustainable, natural materials, you’re choosing to be kind to yourself and to the planet, which is sure to help you rest more easily at night!