Why Weighted Blankets For Toddlers Aren’t Safe

Many deemed weighted blankets another fleeting fad, but these natural sleep supporters are steadily becoming bedroom staples. And because sleep is a whole family affair, questions about how to safely use weighted blankets for kids are often asked.

As with all things kid-related, safety first! Our kids' best weighted blanket for kids, the Nappling, is safe to use for kids aged four years and older – younger children will, unfortunately, have to wait their turn when it comes to trying out a weighted blanket.

Let’s provide a few explanations why sleeping with a weighted blanket isn’t safe for toddlers and babies, and look at how to safely use a weighted blanket for kids aged four years and up.

Is A Weighted Blanket Safe For A Toddler?

No, we don’t recommend that children under the age of four years old use a weighted blanket. Safety is paramount, especially when it comes to children - here and three key reasons why weighted blankets are unsafe for toddlers and babies under the age of four.

1. Too heavy

Toddlers aren’t yet strong enough to remove a weighted blanket from their little bodies. If the weighted blanket somehow covers their face, it means they won’t be able to take it off, which can end up causing breathing difficulties. You might have hoped to find a 2 lb or 5 lb weighted blanket for your toddler, but the truth is that weighted blankets can prove to be too heavy for them.

2. Too hot

Although our knitted weighted blankets leave lots of space for natural airflow, young children aren't yet fully capable of regulating their body temperature, meaning a toddler body can easily overheat under a too-heavy weighted blanket that covers their bodies.

3. Too risky

A recent study from the American Academy of Pediatrics showed that around 3500 infants die of sleep-related infant medical conditions, including Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) is a major reason weighted blankets for babies are never recommended. While a vast majority of SIDS cases occur before infants reach 6 months of age, an increased risk of SIDS persists in the first year.

While SIDS is it’s often associated with under-developed breathing regulation, environmental factors can also highly influence the occurrence of SIDS with overheating and heavy blankets being two well-recognized risk factors. Fortunately, the occurrence of SIDS in children older than one year is extremely rare and happens almost exclusively due to severe medical conditions.

There are an array of weighted sleep sacks and swaddlers tailor-made for the youngest members of the family. If you’re considering one of these for your baby, we recommend checking if the products adhere to safety standards; you should also make sure to and thoroughly familiarize yourself with how to safely use weighted sleep accessories for baby.

When can your child use a weighted blanket?

Great question! The Nappling, our best weighted blanket for children, is perfect for kiddos of four years and up. However it can also be considered when your child weighs more than 50 pounds (lbs.). This weighted blanket captures all the comforts of a cuddle, and lovingly covers your little one with calm and quiet rest. The gentle weight of a weighted blanket can help tiny bodies relax, helping them with their anxiety, as the serotonin produced from deep touch pressure calms your children down.

While weighted blankets aren’t safe to use during the earliest years of a child’s life, once your little one reaches preschool age, sleeping under the right weight can be very beneficial.

How can you best use the Nappling? Picture an overtired preschooler struggling to wind down, or an anxious elementary school kid feeling overwhelmed from a full-on day of learning. A natural way to help your child out, is to pull up a Nappling on their bed. Gently drape it over your child’s body and see how a sense of calm and relaxation from the gentle weight helps them drift off to sleep.

When your child is using a weighted blanket for the first time, you should pull it up slowly from the lower half of the body, and cover their bodies up to the shoulders. Ask your child how the weight feels, and be sure to check for any signs of discomfort the first few times they're using it - make sure that it does not impede with their breathing, and that they aren't overheating under a weighted blanket.

From One Parent To Another

If you’re ever in doubt about using a weighted blanket for your child, then who better to seek advice from than other parents? ? Luckily there’s places for that. 

If you should take any recommendation, then take it from parents just like yourself. Finding the best weighted blankets for your little one is essential. Remember that model and materials are only one part of the equation, the other is finding out how much the weighted blanket should weigh.

How Heavy Should A Weighted Blanket Ideally Be?

You may wonder, what weight option for weighted blankets would be a good fit for your child? If you want to make sure you're choosing the right weight for yourself and for your kids, the general rule of thumb is that a weighted blanket should be around 10% of your total body weight, ideally even a pound or two more, for best results.

Our 6 & 8 lb Nappling weighted blanket is best suited to children between the ages of four and fourteen. 2 lb, 3 lb or 4 lb weights are generally not recommended weighted blankets for younger children as the size of the blanket would indicate your kid might not be ready for the additional weight yet.

For adults, we advise you to read through our article on the topic and find the recommended weight based on your body size on the weighted blanket weight chart or get a general idea of the ideal weight in the chart here.

 What Are The Benefits Of Weighted Blankets For Kids?

Our Nappling is an organic cotton weighted blanket for kids that naturally harnesses the therapeutic benefits of deep touch pressure, or DTP, to help children feel less anxious and ultimately sleep better. The health benefits babies experience from swaddling and cuddling have long been recognized – weighted blankets for children draw on these principles, as a weighted blanket mimics the same sense of comfort and safety at bedtime.

For children who have a hard time calming down at bedtime, a weighted blanket is a drug-free tool that can help them wind down, ushering their bodies and minds into restful sleep. Kiddos who are prone to frequent night-wake and toss and turns, can also benefit from the “grounding” effect of the weights provided by a weighted blanket.

For children with ADHD, weighted blankets are can help calm down their hyperactive bodies and minds and relax, helping with their anxiety; it can also help them cope with sensory processing difficulties, another symptom of ADHD.

Read more about all the ways a Nappling can help your child in our deep dive into the benefits of weighted blankets for kids.

How To Wash A Children’s Weighted Blanket

Good news for parents! The Nappling, made of 100% organic cotton, is machine washable. Because we don't use any pellets or beads to give our weighted blanket for kids its weight, you can easily clean it at home with no trouble, following these simple washing instructions when those inevitable spills happen.

• Wash on the delicate cycle in cold or lukewarm water (max 90F)
• Use mild, eco-friendly detergent
• Skip the bleach and fabric softener
• Tumble dry on low heat (note: the Nappling may take two cycles to fully dry)
• Don’t line dry the Nappling as this can stretch out the hand-knit weaves

What Materials Do You Use To Make The Nappling?

As our children's health is our priority first and foremost, the Nappling is completely made of organic material. Our kids weighted blanket is made from soft organic cotton, and carries a MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX® textile safety certification, which means there isn't a trace of any harmful chemicals or pesticides at any point of the manufacturing process. You can have peace of mind that your little one will be sleeping under soft, all-natural coziness with the Nappling.

And because we're passionate about preserving the planet for future generations, we took care of the materials of the packaging too: we'll deliver your Nappling in an organic cotton bag sitting in a biodegradable box, without any single-use plastic packaging in sight.

I'm Looking For A Weighted Blanket For A 4-year Old – Should I Get A Nappling?

Our organic cotton Nappling was designed to help children aged 4-years and older feel calmer and sleep better. To make our Nappling, we used the same breathable knitted design as for our adult-size weighted Nappers, but with a less chunky yarn of soft organic cotton knit in a slightly tighter weave, so that we can cover little bodies better for heightened relaxation.

The Nappling weighs 8 lbs and harnesses the gentle therapeutic benefits of deep touch pressure (DTP) to help reduce anxiety and help your tiny one relax in bed.

Is Bearaby’s Weighted Blanket For Kids Machine Washable?

Yes! We understand that parents need products made from natural materials that can help your children rest easier – and are also no trouble and convenient to use! We have the perfect solution - our Nappling is machine washable, and you can tumble dry them on low. We recommend washing your Nappling in cold water on the delicate cycle with mild detergent; and tumble dry on low heat to keep your Nappling in the best shape. Make sure to never hang them to dry, as that can stretch out the lovely loops of the Nappling.