Maybe you have felt what many studies have shown? When you receive a hug from a loved one, the stress hormones, cortisol, and adrenaline, are reduced and the neurotransmitters, dopamine, and serotonin, which give you a sense of well-being, are released. We don’t think about all the chemical reactions going on in our brains, but we DO feel the results.
Researchers have found that Deep Pressure Stimulation therapy (DPS), which is firm but gentle, consistent pressure on the body, may help people with autism and sensory processing disorder feel more calm and relaxed. DPS has also been described as firm but gentle hugs, holding or squeezing that relaxes the nervous system. Sometimes we do this intuitively when someone is upset, like putting a firm hand on someone’s back, shoulder, or arm.
This comforting pressure can be mimicked with weighted blankets.
At night a weighted blanket can lessen tossing and turning contributing to longer periods of sleep or even deeper sleep. I don’t have to tell you how much better sleep helps with kid’s behavior right?! And in adults, sleep is huge when it comes to having patience.
Please see my recommendations for Weighted Blankets for Adults.
When Choosing Weighted Blankets for Kids
- Look at the weight charts carefully to choose the safest and most effective blanket for your child.
- Consider your individual child, don’t choose a heavier blanket but you can choose a lighter one to start with.
- Get it to fit the child, not their bed; think of it more like a throw blanket.
- Remember it may take time for them to get used to, be patient if they don’t want to use it at first.
- Remember: This is an investment in their health and yours (think more sleep)
- At the same time that doesn’t mean that a more expensive blanket is necessarily better. Compare what’s included and read the reviews.
- Check the return policy!
Note: Most experts recommend blanket weights for children: 10% of body weight + 1lb. but… as you can see below the Maxtid chart recommends less weight. I’ve also seen it said 7% to 12% and if in doubt go with the lighter weight.
It does take time to adjust to these even for adults, so again, keep it handy but be patient.
Please Read!!
Safety Musts When Using Weighted Blankets for Children
- Never use weighted blankets for children under 2.
- Consider using them only during the day for 2-3-year-olds.
- The child must be able to put the blanket on and take it off without help.
- Use children’s weighted blankets for children; don’t let them use yours.
- Don’t try to put a weighted blanket on a child who doesn’t want to use it.
- Don’t wrap a child in it.
- If your child has caregivers make sure they understand these Safety Musts.
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(The links below will open in Amazon in a new page)
MAXTID Weighted Blankets for Kids
Click Image to Order
Details:
- Fabric: One side 100% hypoallergenic cotton, the other side soft minky dot polyester
- Comes in light grey, blue, pink, and purple
- Does not come with a duvet cover.
- Glass beads
- Comes in 3, 5, 7, 10, and 15 lb sizes
- Machine wash cold on delicate, hang or lay flat to dry
- Full Refund, 30 days, no questions asked
- Available on Prime
- Currently a 5% off coupon
- 758 – 5 Star Reviews
Review: Having vibrant color choices is great for kids so I appreciate that. The minky fabric is so soft and those minky bumps are great for little fingers to fidget with. The beads are equally distributed. One reviewer said that since using this blanket her autistic son was calmer and sleeping better.
Maybe you can DIY a cover for it? Or see here for duvet only.
Quility Premium Kids Weighted Blanket
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Details:
- Removable, washable, minky duvet cover, 100% polyester
- Inner blanket: 100% Cotton
- Comes in lots of different colors, weights and sizes**
- Micro glass beads distributed throughout
- 8 Ties connecting the cover to the inner blanket
- Full refunds, no questions asked
- Available on Prime
- 5% off coupon
- Over 15,000 – 5 Star Reviews
Review: I like that this comes with a soft, comfy duvet cover that is available in pink, aqua, grey, navy, and ivory.
**Please Note: Not all of the sizes and weights being sold on this page are not suitable for kids. They are selling blankets from 7lbs to 30lbs. Only the 7, 10 and 12 are for kids and 15 will be ok for a teenager.
Sweetzer & Orange Care Hug Weighted Blanket for Kids
Click Image to Order
Details:
- Comes in 5 lb and 7 lb
- 100% Cotton inner blanket
- Removable, washable, silky soft, minky duvet cover; polyester
- Cover ties at the 4 corners and then zips
- Sleepy Animals with orange minky underside
- Sleepy Dinasours with teal minky underside
- Re-inforced stitching
- Glass beads
- Machine Wash inner blanket if your machine can handle the weight, hang or lay flat to dry.
- Responsive, helpful customer service, returns allowed within 30 days.
- Available on Prime
- $10 Off Coupon
- 648 – 5 Star Reviews
One reviewer said her autistic 5-year-old daughter slept 10 hours the first night she used it after not sleeping through the night for years. There are A LOT of other great reviews from happy, relieved parents.
Review: The minky cover is soft warm and comfortable and comes with cute animal covers which are rare for weighted blankets. 84% of reviews on Amazon are 5 stars. If you get the wrong size or weight, it’s easy to return.
Final Thoughts
I hope the information I have provided will help you choose the right weighted blanket for your kids or your loved ones kids and most of all I hope it helps with their insomnia and/or anxiety and in turn their behavior and ability to focus during the day.
Will you leave me a message please and just tell me that you visited my page and any thoughts you might have? I appreciate it!
Thank you and Here’s to many great nights of sleep for all!!
Alison
Disclaimer: The information on this website is for educational purposes only; it is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical or mental health conditions. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider to evaluate and treat your physical and mental symptoms.
Hello and thank you for writing about weighted blankets for kids. I’m planning to buy one for my nephew’s since his blanket is so thin that lately he always feels frozen in the night. I want to buy this a gift 🙂 Does the Sweetzer & Orange Care Hug comes with various cartoon character motives? I’ll take a look at that one. Thanks
Hi Alblue,
The Sweetzer and Orange comes only in the Sleepy Animals which has a bear, fox, owl and rabbit; and in the Sleepy Dinosaurs with a white background and teal Dinos.
It looks like there is still a coupon for this one.
Thank you for visiting!
Alison
Thank you so much for sharing with us a beautiful and informative article. The main content of this article is about Weighted Blankets for Kids. It is truly remarkable that you have presented this topic so well in your article. I have learned a lot by reading your article and gained a lot of knowledge about Weighted Blankets. Of the points mentioned in your article, I like MAXTID Weighted Blankets for Kids. I bought this blanket for my baby a few days ago which helped to give him warmth. It is very good quality for babies so from my experience I will say that if you buy it you will not lose money which will keep your baby warm.
Finally, I will say that I have read your article and I feel that I would like to share it on my social media group to inform people about the weighted blanket of the article so that they can know about it and buy it for their own children.
Thank you.
Just a note: Remember these blankets are not suitable for babies. I realize you could be calling an older child a baby but I just wanted to clarify for anyone reading this. Make sure you don’t use weighted blankets for children under 2 years old.
Best, Alison
Hello Alison, thanks for making this article really exciting and helpful to readers. Personally I have been making use of weighted blankets but I really never thought I could make use of them for my kids because if fear of suffocation and all. This would be very cool for my son who gets anxiety attacks a lot. Cheers
Hi Justin,
Trust your instincts. If you think he is too young or small or he has a disability that might make it hard for him to remove the blanket by himself, it might be best to have him use it only during the day when he has a panic attack or just when he’s sitting around on the couch. That way you could teach him to use it as a strategy for managing his anxiety, one of his tools for his toolbox.
Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment!
Best wishes,
Alison
Very interesting article and product. I had never seen or considered a weighted blanket before but thought that makes perfect sense. I also wondered if any adults every used weighted blankets as well when I saw your link to your review of adult weighted blankets. Thanks for sharing this useful tool.
You’re welcome Daniel.
Thanks for visiting and leaving your comment. Sometimes people (like me) research weighted blankets forever. I wanted to present 3 great options so you can just choose one and start feeling the benefits. With the return policies, it’s a no brainer.
Thank you Alison for such informative and valuable information.
Weighted-blankets gaining popularity, we saw different advertising in TV or from direct advertising brochure at home. We talked about it, and would like to try – may be not know, but sometime in autumn or beginning of winter. But it never occurred to us that this product is not designed for children under 2 years old.
Thank you for the information, so we know that we are not going to buy this for Christmas Present (Children under 2 year old)
All the best,
Kalle & Marie
Kalle & Marie,
I’m glad you stopped by and most of all learned about the safety rules for using weighted blankets for kids.
Best,
Alison
Like you said vibrant color choices is great for kids so I appreciate that. The minky fabric is so soft and those minky bumps are great for little fingers to fidget with. I think I have made my choice among this other once because I know my kid would love this one. More.
I think it’s a good choice!