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Weighted Blanket for Insomnia?

(66 Posts)
Sparklefizz Sat 19-Oct-19 08:49:07

Has anyone tried a weighted blanket for insomnia? I still have my 4 tog. duvet on the bed and have added a lightly quilted bedcover over it for more warmth until I need to change up to my winter duvet. I have noticed that I find the extra weight of bedding quite comforting and have come across weighted blankets quite a bit recently and am wondering about getting one.

They are expensive - has anyone tried one?

Farmor15 Tue 10-Dec-19 16:47:28

Noticed this thread before but didn't get around to reading till now. I think the success of weighted blankets for some has something to do with weight, not warmth. My mother claimed she could never sleep if she didn't have enough weight on her - if she was away, she would sometimes throw a heavy coat over bed.

I actually had opposite problem - grew up in cold house and sheets and blankets. On particularly cold nights I'd add an old-fashioned eiderdown, but found I slept very heavily and sometimes overslept in morning, but didn't feel refreshed. Then duvets arrived and I tried one. It was a proper down one, and very warm, but light and I found I could do with less sleep, but woke up feeling rested. Obviously the weight works well for some - glad to hear success stories.smile

BlueBelle Tue 10-Dec-19 16:36:27

I have no central heating so no heating at all upstairs I sleep under two winter duvets up and over my ears and have a hottie bottle by my back and one by my feet I love cuddling down so only my nose is out I m cosy cosy lovely

NanKate Tue 10-Dec-19 16:25:36

My son who has had insomnia since the break up of his marriage like you Sparklefizz has tried EVERYTHING to improve his very disrupted sleep. We have bought him one of these blankets which he got reduced down to £90 from £130. It’s early days but the last two nights he has had good sleep, waking occasionally but going back to sleep. He says for the first time in months he feels like his old self.

Tell me Sparklefizz have you continued to sleep well, I do hope so ?

Sparklefizz Mon 28-Oct-19 10:54:17

Cat doesn't go underneath it, by the way, as it would be too heavy for her.

Sparklefizz Mon 28-Oct-19 10:53:23

Good luck NotAGran. I hope you find it as successful as I have done. (Even my cat loves it! grin)

NotAGran55 Mon 28-Oct-19 10:31:14

Oops Sparklefizz

NotAGran55 Mon 28-Oct-19 10:30:20

That’s great news for you Sparkefiz - and hopefully for me smile Thank you .

SirChenjin Mon 28-Oct-19 08:32:11

Agree mumofmadboys - it's always very concerning when people post factually incorrect medical information.

Ellan - it's not a case of 'suiting yourself'. Keeping warm might ease symptoms or arthritis but being cold doesn't cause viruses, nor does wearing flimsy clothes or not looking after yourself cause arthritis which is what you claimed in earlier posts.

EllanVannin Mon 28-Oct-19 08:19:04

Suit yourself mumofmadboys, it works for lots of people.

mumofmadboys Mon 28-Oct-19 08:14:14

EllanV your post is totally incorrect medically. I hope no one takes it seriously or they will be misinformed

Pantglas2 Mon 28-Oct-19 08:07:25

I’m with crafty one - my wool duvet has got my husband sleeping seven hours straight through most nights since we bought it last month. I’ve always slept well but this has definitely been money well spent!

Sparklefizz Mon 28-Oct-19 08:00:37

NotaGran I am getting on brilliantly! Getting 8 hours' sleep most nights except for the night when I got 9!! shock

NotAGran55 Mon 28-Oct-19 06:27:04

Sparklefizz how are you getting on with the blanket please ? Has your improved sleep continued ?
I think I am going to push the button today and buy your recommendation whilst it is still on offer .

Thank you

craftyone Wed 23-Oct-19 07:29:21

All these poyester lightweight duvets don`t help sleep at all, they get too warm and don`t allow the body temperature to self regulate. Take a few steps back to childhood, well worn cotton sheets and heavy army blankets. I don`t remember older women complain about insomnia

Personally, a wool duvet, topped with a wesh wool blanket. A good 7 1/2 sleep last night. Its not all about weight but mostly about tmperature regulation in the night

Sparklefizz Tue 22-Oct-19 18:13:20

Red I have asthma too, and use preventer and reliever inhalers, but I have been ok with this so far.

RedRidingHood Tue 22-Oct-19 18:11:57

Just looked at those and I see you can wash them. I have asthma and even with a cover I wash my duvets.

Sparklefizz Tue 22-Oct-19 12:40:15

Urm I've tried everything else, including bedsocks, herbs, Qi Gong, yoga, EFT, hypnotherapy, relaxation CDs, no screen time after 8 pm. blah blah blah.... but I agree - start with the socks.

The Koala blanket website suggests you use a blanket which is approx 10% of your body weight - it's not just a guessing game but science.

My blanket cost £116. I've probably already spent more than that on things that didn't work over the years.

Doodledog Tue 22-Oct-19 11:20:23

Just to say that I also researched them, and tried a friend’s Gravity one, and the Costco one I mentioned is just as good. The beads don’t sink at all, and I found it every bit as comfortable as the Gravity blanket. The only problem for some people would be that it only seems to come in size medium, so if you are lighter or heavier than that it might not be suitable.

Urmstongran Tue 22-Oct-19 10:10:46

I recall reading an article that suggested bed socks for insomnia. Something to do with maintaining core heat. Cheap enough and worth a go for sufferers?

Sparklefizz Tue 22-Oct-19 09:33:05

My blanket is an early Christmas present to myself - thank you Santa !

SirChenjin Tue 22-Oct-19 09:20:29

You know that cold weather doesn’t cause viruses?

EllanVannin Tue 22-Oct-19 09:18:15

Iam64, not forgetting that arthritis can be caused by a virus too so it's vital to keep the joint/s warm along with the rest of the body to help it to heal. 40 years ago and out of the blue, my right knee swelled up to the size of a football----synovitis was diagnosed and the GP at the time told me to exercise it as much as I could, so I cycled a lot but I also made sure that I had pure wool next to my body when I went to bed----hence the merino covers that I began to buy.
At one point I was using a stick ! 79 now and I don't need one

Thankfully I avoided my knee having to be drained of fluid as in time the problem went as quickly as it had appeared. I'm sure the arthritic problem could/would have spread if I hadn't have looked after myself.

Synovitis can spread to all the joints and the finest material that can be used for such arthritic conditions is merino wool because it breathes and allows the moisture from your body to escape instead of remaining causing dampness next to your body which is what causes joint pain in the first place.

Sparklefizz Tue 22-Oct-19 09:17:57

Fabulous My new weighted blankie has a removable cover.

Fabulous50s Tue 22-Oct-19 09:16:32

I can’t bear overnight heated bedrooms, closed windows or being tucked in. I make my bed up loosely with heavy linen sheets that I find in vintage markets (v hot wash and line dried first) plus one or two cotton blankets.
As the weather has grown chillier this week I noticed I wasn’t sleeping as well so added another heavy cotton blanket and oh the difference - the weight is SO comforting and I am sleeping through to 7am again.
Have been thinking about a weighted blanket with a removable cover as this would be much easier for regular to laundering than a blanket - too much under paw to shut the cat out!

SirChenjin Tue 22-Oct-19 08:49:19

Thanks for the update and great to hear it’s worked for you smile