Heavy blankets help you sleep better

Fluffy blankets contain a lot of air and have a high insulating effect, which makes it difficult for body heat to be absorbed by the outside air, so blankets are essential for a good night's sleep when the cold of winter gets severe. Also, many people feel a sense of security from the heavy weight of a blanket. A research team at Flinders University in Australia has announced the results of a study that suggests that heavy blankets may help improve mental disorders such as insomnia and anxiety.

Weighted Blankets as a Sleep Intervention: A Scoping Review | The American Journal of Occupational Therapy | American Occupational Therapy Association
https://research.aota.org/ajot/article-abstract/78/5/7805205160/25951/Weighted-Blankets-as-a-Sleep-Intervention-A

Improving sleep with weighted blankets – News
https://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2024/10/18/improving-sleep-with-weighted-blankets/

Weighted Blankets Really Can Do Wonders For a Good Night's Sleep : ScienceAlert
https://www.sciencealert.com/weighted-blankets-really-can-do-wonders-for-a-good-nights-sleep

Dr Suzanne Dawson, an occupational therapist at Flinders University's Caring Futures Institute, and her team analysed the results of 18 existing studies, which had trials with up to 4,092 participants.

A key finding of the study was that the use of weighted blankets in adults improved sleep quality and helped people fall asleep more easily. The researchers explain that the warm, hug-like sensation that a weighted blanket gives to the body provides similar benefits to those of human touch.

However, results from studies on children have been more mixed: for children with ADHD or autism spectrum disorder, the effects of improved sleep have been inconsistent, but many parents have reported positive results, observing their children being better focused and less anxious during daytime activities.

The researchers point out that not getting enough sleep can increase or exacerbate the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke and mental health problems, so weighted blankets may be a useful support tool, especially for adults with mental health issues such as insomnia, anxiety and depression.

Dr Dawson reveals that a related project evaluating the feasibility and effectiveness of weighted blankets as a sleep intervention for people with dementia is also in the final stages. The impact of this research has already led to changes in practice, leading to changes in protocol for the use of weighted blankets across South Australian public mental health services.

However, there are no standardized recommendations for optimal use of weighted blankets, and it is unknown what the differences are between blanket types, weights, frequency of use, duration of use, etc. An important requirement is that users should be able to easily handle the blanket themselves, especially when using it with cognitive difficulties.

The research team acknowledges that this study provides important scientific evidence that weighted blankets may be an effective tool for improving sleep, but stresses that further rigorous research is needed.