I don't mind admitting that I thought it would be hard to review a weighted blanket in the height of summer but this is about more than warmth. I had recently been researching weighted blankets as a sleep aid because my sleep patterns have been all over the place. I've tried memory foam pillows, bamboo pyjamas, and already use a feather topper on the mattress but nothing seemed to work effectively.
Weighted blankets are designed to mimic 'deep touch therapy' which gives the illusion of being held or hugged. This type of pressure can (and here is the science bit) increase serotonin which is a neurotransmitter that helps with sleep by stimulating a calming effect. A weighted blanket can also encourage your body to produce oxytocin which relieves pain and stress, helping you to sleep better at night with studies showing that 63% of people have reported having lower levels of anxiety after using the blanket.
Weighted blankets have been used by adults with anxiety, people who are restless as they are trying to nod off and those who suffer from disturbed sleep through tossing and turning during the night. One strand of research said that they were recommended for children with sensory issues which was an interesting read for me due to my son having ADHD.
The weighted blanket that I have been using is the Xalm Blanket which is made with weighted micro-bead technology and comes in three different weights (advice is provided for you to select the correct weight for you). The blanket is 80" x 60" which fits across a double bed but is designed to be used by one person only. It also comes with a removable, washable cover. The instructions (who knew you needed instructions to use a blanket?) tell you to build up the use, starting with an hour or two at a time. This really helped me to get used to the weight as it can feel a little strange at first; almost claustrophobic - but this soon passes as you get used to the comforting feeling of weight on you.
I've used the blanket for a full night's sleep and also during a mid-afternoon granny nap on a lazy Saturday. I found that the more I got used to the weight, and the fact that you want to or need to move less to find a comfortable sleeping position
(a) the quicker I actually fell asleep,
(b) stayed asleep for longer and
(c) woke up more refreshed.
One extra point that I feel that needs making is that I don't feel too hot or too cold when using the blanket which helped with the warm summer nights but I feel that it can also be used with additional covers during the cold winter nights.
You can find out more about the Xalm Blanket on their website where they currently have a 100 night guarantee. You can also purchase the Xalm Blanket on Amazon.
For the purpose of this review I was provided with a #gifted weighted blanket from Xalm.
You can view my disclosure policy here.